CASA C-212 Aviocar

infobox Aircraft
name= C-212 Aviocar


caption= CASA C-212 of the Swedish Coast Guard
type= Medium transport
manufacturer= EADS CASA
designer=
first flight= 26 March 1971
introduced= May 1974
retired=
status=
primary user= Spanish Air Force
more users= Swedish Air Force Mexican Navy
produced=
number built=471
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=
developed from=

The EADS CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium transport aircraft designed and built in Spain for civil and military use. C-212s are also produced under licence in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, formerly called IPTN but now known as IAe. The design was initially marketed under the name of "Aviocar", but EADS-CASA no longer uses that name in referring to the C-212.

A total of 471 C-212s of all variants had been delivered through the end of 2006. EADS-CASA predicts that an additional 85 aircraft will be delivered in the 2007-2016 time period. [Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 October 2007 issue, p. 66] EADS-CASA currently builds only the C-212-400, which received Spanish certification in 1998. The C-212-200 is currently built in Indonesia, and IAe is also preparing to begin assembly of -400 models, probably in 2008.Fact|date=September 2008

Design and development

During the late 1960s, the Spanish Air Force was still operating the already outdated Junkers Ju 52 and Douglas C-47, unpressurized and non-turbocharged piston-powered three- or two-engined craft. CASA developed the C-212 as a more modern alternative using the lighter and more reliable turboprop engine, with the first prototype flying on March 26 1971. In 1974, the Spanish Air Force decided to acquire the Aviocar to update its fleet.

Airlines took note of the type's success with the military, so CASA developed a commercial version, the first examples of which were delivered in July 1975. In August 2006 a total of 30 CASA C-212 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service around the world. [Flight International, 3-9 October 2006]

The C-212 has a high-mounted wing, a boxy fuselage, and a conventional tail. The tricycle undercarriage is non retractable. It has space for 21-28 passengers depending on configuration. Since the C-212 does not have a pressurized fuselage, it is limited to relatively low-flight-level airline usage (below 10000 ft MSL). It is thus ideal for short legs and regional airline service.

Variants

eries 100

;C-212A: Original military production version. Also known as C-212-5, C-212-5 series 100M, and by the Spanish Air Force as the T-12B and D-3A (for medevac aircraft), 129 built.;C-212AV: VIP transport version, T-12C.;C-212B: Six pre-production C-212As converted for photo-reconnaissance missions, TR-12A.;C-212C: Original civil version;C-212D: Two pre-production C-212As converted for use as navigational trainers, TE-12B.;NC-212-100: Manufactured under licence in Indonesia since 1976, IPTN producing 28 NC-212-100s before switching to NC-212-200.

eries 200

Stretched version with updated engines (Honeywell TPE331-10R-511C or -512C, rated at 900 shp (671 kW) each), introduced in 1979. The CASA C-212-200 is also a popular skydiving aircraft, known for its large capacity, fast climb, and large tailgate exit ramp.;C-212 series 200M: Military version known as T-12D in Spanish service and Tp 89 for the Swedish Air Force. Specialised ASW and maritime patrol aircraft have been built from this version.;NC-212-200: C-212-200 built under licence by IPTN.

eries 300

Standard production version from 1987 on. Engines were Honeywell TPE331-10R-513C, also rated at 900 shp continuous (925 shp maximum). The propellers were changed from four-bladed Hartzell composite blade propellers to four-bladed Dowty-Rotol all-metal propellers. Winglets and a larger vertical stabilizer area provide improved performance, and the addition of a nose baggage compartment gives the nose a more streamlined look than the Series 200. Various systems have been incrementally upgraded, including the addition of an integrated autopilot system.;C-212-M series 300 (Series 300M): Military version.;C-212 series 300 airliner: 26 seat regional airliner.;C-212 series 300 utility: 23 seat civil utility version.;C-212 series 300P: Civil utility version with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65 engines

eries 400

Updated version first flying in 1997. US military designation is C-41. Engines are Honeywell TPE331-12JR-701C, derated to 925 shp (690 kW) maximum. Airframe dimensions and flight performance are practically identical to those of the Series 300. Compared to the Series 300, many of the various aircraft systems have been refined and improved. Standard instrumentation has been updated to include a four-tube Rockwell-Collins Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), a two-tube Integrated Engine Data System (IEDS), and a Universal UNS-1K Flight Management System (FMS) with integrated Inertial Reference Unit (IRU).

Currently, this version is built only in Spain, and is not certified for civilian use in the United States.

Operators

*flag|Abu Dhabi
*ANG
*ARG
*AUS (Australian Antarctic Division)
*BOL
*BIH
*BOT
*BIR (Myanmar)
*CHA
*CHI (First foreign costumer of C-212A)
*COL
*DJI
*DOM
*GNQ
*FRA
*GUI
*GHA
*IDN
*JOR
*KIR
*LES
*MLT
*MEX
*NIC
*PAN
**Panamanian Air Force/National Air Service
**Air Panama (recently)
*PAR
*POR
*PRI (Prinair)
*RSA
*ESP
*SWE
*SUD
*SUR
*THA
*USA
*URY
*VEN
*ZIM
*USA
**Arctic Transportation Services, Bighorn Airways, Blackwater Security, ConocoPhillips, Bering Air, Murray Aviation

Incidents and Accidents

The CASA C-212 has been involved in 71 hull-loss incidents with a total of 499 fatalities. [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/type/type-stat.php?type=140 Accident statistics for CASA C-212] from the Aviation Safety Network en icon] [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?field=typecode&var=140%&cat=%1&sorteer=datekey&page=1 List of incidents] in the Aviation Safety Network Database en icon] This is a high occurrence, however the aircraft is generally not considered accident-prone as the cause of most crashes have been attributed to its being used in high-risk operations at low altitudes.
* November 27, 2004: Presidential Airways CASA C-212-200 (registration: N960BW / serial nr: 231) was contracted by the US Department of Defense to supply American forces deployed in remote areas of Afghanistan. The airplane entered a box canyon and struck the 14,650 foot level of Baba Mountain, which has a peak elevation of 16,739 feet. The flight was about 25 nm north of the typical route between Bagram and Farah [ [http://www.semar.gob.mx/boletin/2006/bol_252_06.htm SEMAR aircraft crashed in Mexican Gulf] from the SEMAR sp icon] .

* October 26, 2006: Swedish Coast Guard CASA C-212-200 (registration: SE-IVF/serial nr: KBV 585) crashed in the Falsterbo Canal during a surveillance mission, killing all four onboard. [ [http://www.kustbevakningen.se/kbvtemplates/PressReleasePage.aspx?id=949 Press release] from the Swedish Coast Guard sv icon] [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20061026-0 Accident description, October 26, 2006] in the Aviation Safety Network Database en icon] Eye-witness accounts suggest that the accident was caused by one of the wings of the aircraft somehow detaching from the plane. [ [http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=5325&date=20061026 Four dead after coastguard plane crash] , The Local, October 26, 2006. en icon] The preliminary report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Board suggests that the right wing detached due to a fatigue crack which had developed in the load-bearing structure in the wing [ [http://www.havkom.se/ Statens Haverikommission] , (Swedish Accident Investigation Board) en icon] ] .

* November 15, 2006: Mexican Navy CASA 212-200 Maritime Patrol (serial AMP-114) crashed in the sea in Campeche coast over the Mexican Gulf during a surveillance mission, all crew managed to survive, due to a smooth maneuver, reasons of the accident still unknown. [ [http://www.semar.gob.mx/boletin/2006/bol_252_06.htm SEMAR aircraft crashed in Mexican Gulf] from the SEMAR sp icon]

* June 26, 2008: Indonesian Military CASA C-212 was flying from the capital to Bogor, carrying 12 military personnel and six civilians, and was due to test a digital mapping camera, but it disappeared in the Salak Mountain region, about 90km (60 miles south) of Jakarta. An air force spokesman said it was assumed it had crashed. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7476714.stm Plane goes missing over Indonesia] from the BBC en icon] .

pecifications (Series 300M)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref={name of first source}
crew= Two (pilot and co-pilot)
capacity=Up to 20 troops, 12 litters, or 2,820 kg (6,217 lb) of cargo
length main= 16.15 m
length alt= 53 ft 0 in
span main= 20.28 m
span alt= 66 ft 7 in
height main= 6.60 m
height alt= 21 ft 8 in
area main= 41 m²
area alt= 441 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 4,400 kg
empty weight alt= 9,680 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 8,000 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 17,600 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-10R-513C
type of prop= turboprop engines
number of props=2
power main= 690 kW
power alt= 925 shp
power original=
max speed main= 370 km/h
max speed alt= 200 kts, 230 mph
cruise speed main= 170 kts
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main= 200 kts
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 1,433 km
range alt= 774 nm, 895 miles
ceiling main= 7,925 m
ceiling alt= 26,000 ft
climb rate main= 497 m/min
climb rate alt= 1,630 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of weapons on two hardpoints. Typically, machine gun pods or rocket launchers.
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.eads.net/1024/en/casa/c212/c212.html EADS CASA C-212 official site]