Guardian Flight orders jet upgrades

Guardian Flight, which provides air medical services in Alaska, US, has inked a deal for six Hawker 400XPR upgrade packages. A signing ceremony was held with the planes’ manufacturer Beechcraft Corporation, part of Textron Aviation, at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention & Exhibition in Orlando. Deliveries are planned to start in the first half of 2015.

The Guardian Flight planes will gain new winglets and more powerful engines. The manufacturer said that, combined, these modifications are projected to realise a 33-per-cent increase in range along with improvements in runway and hot/high performance.

Part of the Air Medical Resource Group, Guardian Flight flies patients from rural facilities to tertiary care facilities from seven bases across Alaska.