(Berlin, Germany) Following extensive research, Cordner Aviation Group (CAG) has announced it will enter the growing worldwide mining, exploration and energy market sectors, offering aircraft with conversions based on proven Bae 146 and Avro RJ platforms. These are purpose-outfitted for the mining industry’s unique requirements. According to Stewart Cordner, the company’s president, “You might say we found a golden opportunity in this often overlooked market and the initial reactions to the Surveyor and our range of design concepts–resulting from many candid conversations with prospects in the mining industry–have been totally positive.”
The Surveyors will come from CAG’s growing remarketing portfolio of BAe 146s and Avros in a range of models. The selection process is owner-driven and the aircraft selected for conversion depends on the specific requirements, such as average number of passengers, operational locations, distances, cargo capabilities and landing/takeoff conditions.
Says Cordner, “The 146s and Avros are not strangers to mining and energy exploration and in fact have earned high marks over the years in operations worldwide. So what we are doing now is building on a proven basic platform and greatly enhancing it based on our extensive customer needs analyses and using new technologies now available to us. For example, we have identified and plan to reduce the operating weight empty (OWE) by over half a ton over the basic passenger aircraft currently in use worldwide. The benefits are significant in terms of fuel saving, increased performance and positive environmental contributions.”
He points out number factors that will make the Surveyor so attractive to mining and exploration companies: “The aircraft has all-around excellent hot and high performance, as well as outstanding short field capability. That can be nothing more than a gravel or dirt airstrip, located potentially right where the mine is located. By taking this mine/customer-centric approach, we can minimize the permanent “land take” for the airfield, which also greatly reduces the environmental impact and, naturally, provides the industry with a maximum production and logistical upside.
The aircraft, with 112 seats or less, is also approved for short runways, such asLondonCity, which means it can make very steep approaches over rough terrain typical of mine locations. And when it lands, it is quite independent with an electric internal starter system and integral air stairs and several other autonomous features.
The initial Surveyor designs include a quick-change (QC) capability. For example, from all-passengers, to passengers and a separate VIP module, to passengers and a Medevac LifePort™ separate cabin. But at the end of the day, it all depends what the customer requires for his flight operation.
Adds Cordner, who has worked with the Bae 146/Avro series over 20 years, at least half of those “hands on” in the field with customers and their operations. “These aircraft have been simply and ruggedly built originally to airline standards and for high utilization at remote locations. Considering their fuel efficiency, low acquisition and operating costs, and a 60,000-hour lifespan barely touched, they have to be the best bargains in the air. Add to that the fact that it has the lowest noise print of any similarly sized jet and meets all current emissions standards, our Surveyor is kind to the environment as well.”