Quest Delivers Three KODIAKs to Ecuador’s TAME Airlines
Aircraft Part of Government’s Amazon Connectivity Project
January 15, 2014, Sandpoint, ID….Quest Aircraft Company is pleased to announce that TAME EP Airlines has taken delivery of three KODIAKs, which will be used for passenger transport and eco-tourism in conjunction with the Ecuadorian Amazon Connectivity Project. One aircraft is already in Ecuador, while the others are enroute this month. With this delivery the KODIAK is now certified in 14 countries, and additional new certifications expected yet this year.
“We are very proud that the KODIAK was selected as the right aircraft for this very exciting mission,” said Steve Zinda, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The Amazon Connectivity Project is an initiative of the Ecuadorian Government offering reliable transportation to and from remote areas of the country for those living there, and eventually for those wishing to visit the area. Ecuador will also be promoting eco-tourism to this region, and the KODIAK will play a key role in the growth of this industry.”
“We took a hard look at several aircraft before selecting the KODIAK,” said Marco Velastegui, Project Manager of “TAME AMAZONIA”, who manages the operations of this program under government contract. “The KODIAK’s size, payload capacity and superior STOL capability are extremely well-suited to how we need to use the aircraft. We were also impressed with the dispatch reliability and low operating costs.”
“We have seen a lot of interest in the KODIAK in Latin America among a variety of market segments,” added Zinda. “The versatility of the aircraft makes it perfect for a wide-range of applications. The number of KODIAKs in this region continues to grow, and over the next few months we will have several more deliveries.”
The KODIAK’s multi-mission capabilities, efficiency and low direct operating costs make the aircraft very attractive for operators in Latin America. The aircraft’s ruggedness, along with its performance and STOL capabilities are especially well-suited to the Amazon Jungle region.
The KODIAK’s rugged aluminum construction combines superior STOL performance and high useful load. It offers proven turbine reliability with the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engine, has the ability to land and take off from unimproved surfaces and is capable of working off floats without structural upgrades. The KODIAK can take off in under 1,000 feet at full gross takeoff weight of 7,255 lbs and climb at over 1,300 feet per minute. A 3-panel Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite including Synthetic Vision Technology is standard equipment on the KODIAK.
Quest Aircraft Company, headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, is the manufacturer of the KODIAK, a 10-place single engine turboprop utility airplane, designed for STOL use and float capability. Since beginning customer deliveries in late 2007, the KODIAK has been deployed around the world in a variety of applications. KODIAKs are in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, U.S. and international governments, and humanitarian organizations. For more information, please visit www.questaircraft.com.
Media Contact: Julie Stone
Office: (912) 898-8673 ▪ Mobile: (912) 398-0498
jstone@questaircraft.com