Empire Aviation Group, the Dubai-based private aviation specialist, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Quest Aircraft Company, the US manufacturer of Kodiak utility aircraft.

The international dealer agreement covers 12 countries across the region including the GCC, Levant, Yemen, Turkey, Iraq and India, where Empire Aviation Group is about to open its first branch, in Mumbai.

The Kodiak is a 10-place single engine turboprop utility airplane, designed for STOL (short take off and landing) use and float capability. The Kodiak's rugged aluminum construction combines STOL performance and high useful load.

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 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.

"The Kodiak provides operators the versatility needed to accomplish any mission regardless of the destination.” said Steve Zinda, director sales and marketing, Quest Aircraft.

“Whether your travels require you to land on grass, gravel, water, or any runway, the Kodiak 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.”

Steve Hartley, executive director of Empire Aviation Group, said: “This exclusive partnership with Quest Aircraft is an exciting new development for EAG because the Kodiak 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,” he added.

Quest began customer deliveries of the Kodiak in 2007 and it is now in operation in more than 10 countries in a variety of applications. – TradeArabia News Service