Condor Aviation, a Yurok Tribe company based in California, has taken delivery of a Cessna Grand Caravan EX. The special missions aircraft will increase the Tribe's capacity to perform large-scale environmental restoration projects, evaluate long term natural resource management decisions and quantify the effects of climate change. They will make use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems and high-end aerial imaging equipment to create accurate three-dimensional maps of the earth's surface and collect an infinitely broad range of data regarding terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including rivers, lakes and oceans.

“This new aircraft will significantly enhance our ability to holistically restore salmon-spawning streams and make our landscape more resilient to climate change,” says Yurok vice chairman Frankie Myers. “We employ LiDAR data and high-definition aerial imagery to maximise the efficacy of our efforts to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems and repair fire-damaged forests in northern California.”

The Grand Caravan EX joins a Cessna Turbo Skylane already in service with Condor Aviation.