The Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) has taken delivery of a factory-new Cessna 208 Caravan, after having it completed by Metro Gulf, a division of Metro Aviation and a specialist in aircraft completions and aviation solutions, along with Tejas Advanced Solutions.

“The delivery of the new Cessna 208 Caravan marks a major step forward for public safety operations in north Texas,” states Marcus Tomerlin, TXDPS assistant chief. “This aircraft will be a true force multiplier, enhancing our ability to support our law enforcement partners and better serve the people of Texas.”

The aircraft features Metro Gulf's new fixed-wing special mission console, a modular and ergonomic workstation engineered to support a wide range of missions including surveillance, law enforcement and border patrol operations. Developed with direct input from mission operators, the console integrates advanced functionality and durable construction to meet the demanding needs of special mission aviation. Key features include rapid reconfiguration capability, a lightweight design, an optimised layout to reduce operator fatigue and increase efficiency and compatibility with multiple airframes including the Cessna 208/B Caravan, Cessna 408 Sky Courier, King Air and Pilatus PC-12.

The Cessna 208 Caravan is equipped with a full tactical flight officer (TFO) workstation and integrated mission system, featuring a Wescam MX-15 EO/IR imaging system, dual 17” ViewPoint mission monitors, cellular and Starlink connectivity, and other advanced components. The result is a next-generation law enforcement platform capable of supporting multi-domain operations with efficiency and precision.

“Our goal was to create a truly operator-focused solution that can adapt to evolving mission requirements. We feel that we've done exactly that,” reveals Joey Calandra, director of maintenance at Metro Gulf. “This new console brings the same level of innovation and reliability that customers have come to expect from Metro Aviation, now available for fixed-wing platforms.”

Austin, Texas-based engineering consultancy Tejas Advanced Solutions partnered closely with Metro Gulf and TXDPS to design, configure and integrate all mission systems for the Caravan, ensuring that the aircraft meets TXDPS's operational and technical standards.

“Our focus was on creating a mission system architecture that was both reliable and intuitive for the officers in the field,” says David Magocsi, co-founder of Tejas Advanced Solutions. “We worked hand in hand with Metro's team to make sure every component was configured, tested and optimised to perform exactly as DPS required. As a result of this partnership, TXDPS will now be operating one of the most advanced law enforcement aircraft in the skies.”

“This project was a true collaboration between Metro Aviation, Tejas Advanced Solutions and TXDPS,” adds Andrew King, co-founder of Tejas Advanced Solutions. “Metro brought its deep experience in aircraft completions, while our team focused on mission system design, integration and coordination. Working together, we delivered a mission-ready aircraft that meets TXDPS's long-term operational goals.”

Beyond delivery, Tejas Advanced Solutions will continue to provide hands-on training for all mission equipment, along with ongoing technical and operational support for TXDPS. This ensures that the agency's teams can deploy and sustain mission operations effectively over time.

With this successful delivery, Metro Gulf and Tejas Advanced Solutions reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing public safety aviation and providing the tools and technology that help agencies like TXDPS protect and serve their communities with excellence.