The Kepplair 72 project The Forest Keeper
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THE PROJECT
Kepplair Evolution presents the KEPPLAIR 72, an innovative project to convert an ATR 72 into a multi-role water bomber, designed to meet the growing challenges of forest fire fighting and post-disaster response. By building on an existing platform, this ambitious project will considerably reduce time-to-market, scheduled for 2027, while optimizing initial investment costs.
A multi-role water bomber based on an ATR 72
FIRE-FIGHTING
- Kepplair-designed 7,500-liter tank controlled by Trotter FRDS gen IV.
- Two release options: “blast” effect for direct attack with water, or constant peak flow distribution system for indirect attack with retardants.
Faster, more precise intervention to combat forest and urban fires, improving the efficiency of fire-fighting operations.
MULTI-MISSION TO BOOST PROFITABILITY
- Cargo
- Large loading door
- Capacity 8,500 kg / 75m3
- Compatible with standard LD3/ABZ pallets
- The aircraft can quickly transport equipment to disaster zones. Its large cargo area and high load capacity make it a versatile tool for rescue and logistics missions.
- Ready for medical evacuation and troop transport
- The aircraft can be used for medical evacuation missions and passenger transport in emergency situations.
- In the future, the aircraft could be converted for troop transport, in addition to fire-fighting and freight transport missions.
An unrivalled aircraft
Rapid arrival on the market
– the time-to-market is reduced to three years (from July 2023), compared with eight to ten years for competing projects. This speed is crucial to meeting the urgent needs of civil security services in the face of increasing forest fires.
Optimized release performance
– In collaboration with the IMFT, enables precise control of release, guaranteeing unrivalled footprint regularity. This precision enhances intervention efficiency, reducing the number of passes required and optimizing the use of resources.
Virtually no industrial risk
– The use of a proven platform and an industrial chain already in operation – over 1,200 ATR 72s are currently flying worldwide – means that we can benefit from a well-established maintenance and parts supply chain.
– The Kepplair 72 is directly derived from the cargo version of the ATR72, and as such benefits from all the structural reinforcements included in the STC P2F or in the ATR72-600F version.
– The STC Kepplair 72 creates no significant modifications to the aircraft (the hatches are in the belly fairing area, and no frame is cut).
– The signing of a CAP between our DOA and EASA means that the regulatory framework is fixed from the very start of design work.
Reduced development costs
– With an initial investment of less than 50 million euros, the project is well below the billion-euro development costs for new aircraft. This cost reduction is made possible by using an existing platform and optimizing development processes.
Lower operating costs
– The KEPPLAIR 72 offers over 30% lower operating costs than other aircraft on the market. These savings are due to the efficiency of the release system, simplified maintenance and the versatility of the aircraft, which can be used for a variety of missions throughout the year. What’s more, Kepplair 72 pilots don’t have to practice scooping, which reduces training hours by over 50%. For some operators, this represents up to 25% of their activity, with the number of cycles saved having a direct impact on the equipment’s depreciation period.
High availability
– Based on the ATR 72 platform, the project benefits from the maintenance and parts supply chain of the world’s leading regional aircraft. Over 75% of commercial airports know how to service an ATR 72, guaranteeing simple, efficient maintenance in all aircraft configurations.
Mastered maintenance environment
– Aerotec & Concept, a key partner in the project, has the necessary approvals for aircraft maintenance and modification.
It all began with a meeting
In June 2012, David Joubert, President of Kepplair EVOLUTION, met Professor Dominique Legendre in his laboratory in Toulouse.
Kepplair Evolution’s European and ethical dimension immediately appealed to the researcher.
Contact
- 231 rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris, France
- +33 (0) 6 76 85 40 34
- KE72@kepplair-evolution.com