Empire takes up the Quest to reach new markets

The rugged aircraft - seen as a competitor to the Cessna Caravan - is especially well suited to the demands of the region with proven short field performance of rugged terrain.

Empire's international dealer agreement covers 12 countries across the region including the GCC (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE), Levant  (Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine), Yemen, Turkey, Iraq and India, where Empire Aviation Group is about to open its first branch, in Mumbai.

The Kodiak has been impressing since it was first shown at Oshkosh in 2007. It is a 10-place single engine turboprop utility airplane, designed for STOL (short take off and landing) - in a 360 metres. It can also be fitted with float capability. The aircraft can also be used as a VIP aircraft in what it calls its'Summit' configuration.

It offers 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 provides operators the versatility needed to accomplish any mission regardless of the destination.” said Steve Zinda, quest's director sales and marketing. “Whether your travels require you to land on grass, gravel, water, or any runway, it can take you there. This 'go anywhere' identity is the foundation of Quest and makes it ideal for the Middle East and India. So, we are delighted to sign this distribution agreement with Empire Aviation Group in accessing these important markets.”

Quest began customer deliveries in 2007 and it is now in operation in more than 10 countries in a variety of applications including   skydiving operations, and with governments, and humanitarian organisations.

Steve Hartley, executive director of Empire Aviation said: “This exclusive partnership with Quest Aircraft is an exciting new development for EAG because the aircraft offers a new dimension to aviation in the region and meets many of the mission demands, including special missions capability, flown across the Middle East and India. As we prepare to launch EAG in India, this agreement will ensure that we have access to aircraft that suit the prevailing conditions in India, as the country’s infrastructure for private aviation continues to develop. The timing is also perfect as the regional economies strengthen and aircraft sales begin to recover.”