Flight Operations - ASEC Incorporated

Flight Test Support

Our Flight Department offers full spectrum Flight Test Support including aircraft modification and FAA certification, training, test planning, range liaison, flight test risk mitigation review, flight operations and test reporting.

Research & Development

We currently operate three Part 91 General Aviation aircraft specially modified to conduct research and development of advanced sensors.

Experienced Test Pilots

Our Navion aircraft and three of our experienced test pilot instructors previously conducted Qualitative Evaluations for the USNTPS Short Courses under contract N00421-12-P-0002.

ASEC’s flight department grew out of a customer need to demonstrate various systems on other than government research aircraft. ASEC first acquired a Navion L-1A aircraft to support unmanned aircraft flight systems in the National Airspace. From these early beginnings in 2004, it expanded to include DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, Beech Super King Air 300 and our most recent addition a Basler conversion Douglas DC-3 aircraft. These low cost, easily configured aircraft have been ideal platforms for supporting multiple programs over the years.

ASEC flight personnel have the critical experience to conduct a variety of research and development testing. With office space conveniently located right outside Gate Two of NAS Patuxent River and two ASEC aircraft hangared within 8 miles of NAS Patuxent River, we provide convenient and cost-effective research and development testing. ASEC’s Flight Department has a 14 year history of conducting safe and efficient flight support to government and commercial partners.

FAA Part 91

ASEC operates to commercial best practices.

ASEC operates to FAA Part 91 commercial best practices including an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certified Flight Operations Manual, use of Flight Safety simulator training and adherence to member guidelines provided by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

ASEC flight personnel have the critical experience to conduct a variety of research and development testing.

Navion

The Navion is a single-engine, low wing, four-seat, aircraft originally built by North American Aviation as a general aviation successor to the P-51 Mustang. The aircraft is of all-metal construction with conventional flight controls and manually operated elevator trim. It meets all requirements of the FAA regulations for Part 91 aircraft. In the fourteen years of operating this aircraft, reliability has exceeded 99%. The aircraft is ideally suited for testing UAV size avionics and sensor packages.

Beechcraft 300 Super King Air

The Beechcraft Model 300 is based on the B200’sKing Air airframe and outfitted with more powerful engines (PT6A-60A, rated at 1050 SHP) with MTOW increased to 14,000 lb. The 300 Series offered “higher and hotter” performance and greatly improved the payload capability with full fuel compared to earlier models. Enhanced engine performance supported operations to the ceiling limit of 35,000 ft MSL.

BASLER BT 67

The Basler BT-67 is a fixed-wing aircraft produced by Basler Turbo Conversions of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is built on a retrofitted Douglas DC-3 airframe, with modifications designed to significantly extend the DC-3’s serviceable lifetime. The conversion includes fitting the airframe with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboprop engines, lengthening the fuselage, strengthening the airframe, upgrading the avionics, and making modifications to the wings’ leading edges and wing tips.