A new DA62 MPP SurveyStar has been delivered by Diamond Aircraft Austria to RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems where it will be immediately put into service for test and calibration flights.

RIEGL and Diamond Aircraft Austria have been collaborating for almost 20 years. Since 2007, RIEGL has owned and operated the DA42 MPP GeoStar, which has completed all missions to date successfully. Now, the increased requirements in recent years have made it necessary for it to upgrade to the new DA62 MPP SurveyStar.

The DA62 SurveyStar involved close collaboration between RIEGL and Diamond Aircraft in order to professionally integrate and efficiently utilise the entire RIEGL sensor and system portfolio.

Mario Spiegel, Diamond Aircraft Austria, sales manager special mission aircraft division, says: “The use of carbon fibre makes the DA62 MPP SurveyStar one of the most robust aircraft on the market. State-of-the-art, fuel-saving engines from Austro Engine ensure cost-saving and environmentally friendly operation. Comfort and safety are not neglected, thanks to the state-of-the-art avionics and the latest safety systems. The aerodynamically sophisticated design of the DA62 ensures outstanding flight behaviour at low and high speed.”

Paul Kuntner, RIEGL manager special projects, comments: “It was particularly important to us that the entire product portfolio of medium-sized RIEGL airborne laser scanners could be easily integrated into the multipurpose nose pod. The 20-inch hatch in the fuselage also enables the installation of all large RIEGL systems and the use of gyro-stabilised mounting platforms. Furthermore, every precaution has been taken to ensure that additional equipment such as data recorders, camera mounts and a camera system can be installed, both in the front baggage compartment in the nose of the aircraft and in the rear baggage compartment. With all these possibilities, the DA62 MPP SurveyStar shows how versatile it is, making it ideal for our various test missions.”

Markus Fischer, Diamond Aircraft Austria, director special mission aircraft division, states: “It is a great privilege to have perhaps the world’s most innovative manufacturer of airborne laser scanners as a partner and customer and to develop an optimal solution together with it. It was a very special pleasure for me to be able to hand over the aircraft, and I wish RIEGL much joy and many years of successful use of the DA62 MPP SurveyStar.”

RIEGL CEO Dr Johannes Riegl, an enthusiastic pilot himself, says: “The DA62 SurveyStar is exactly the right choice to keep us at the cutting edge of technology in the field of airborne applications for many years to come. And one thing I can already say after the first flights with our new aircraft: it is a real pleasure to fly it.”

The DA62 MPP is the latest variant of Diamond Aircraft’s successful special mission aircraft portfolio. The all-carbon fibre, twin engine aircraft is equipped with a glass cockpit and a fully integrated autopilot. The carbon fibre provides for unlimited airframe life and is not subject to corrosion, even when operated in saline and humid environments. It is powered by two turbo charged jet fuel engines with good fuel efficiency.