Century Turbo Aero Commander Still Flying Strong

The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.’s (Sanborn) Aerial Acquisition Team Responds to Hurricane Ida

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Recently, Hurricane Ida has devastated a significant portion of Louisiana and parts of surrounding eastern states. On August 29, 2021, aircraft N940U dispatched on an aerial survey mission out of Horn Lake, Mississippi, where Sanborn has a hanger for the plane. N940U, a 1969 Turbo II Commander 680W, responded flying another aerial survey mission in its 52-year life, as it always has. With a certificate of air worthiness issued in April of 1969, the aircraft operates daily by Sanborn of Colorado Springs, Colorado who purchased the plane in 2006.

N940U is still flying due to its maintenance team consisting of Ed Dent, Katie Heuermann, and Rodney Wingert of Sanborn with support from Ruben Correa of Aerofix Structural Services in Horn Lake. The Sanborn plane, piloted by Shelton (Tait) Fisher, with a camera operated by Randy Jakus, flew numerous missions collecting high-resolution aerial survey imagery in severely devastated parts of Louisiana to aid in response to the hurricane.

Landing at airports damaged by the hurricane with no electricity, running water, or toilets, in over 100 degree heat, the airport ground and aircraft crew were able to refuel the plane to keep the mission going.

Mr. Fisher commented, “Although the N940U is over 50 years old, it is still a very stable and reliable aircraft that can navigate the thunderstorms and high winds for high-resolution imagery collection.” Mr. Fisher also flew N940U in response to Hurricane Maria collecting the entire island of Puerto Rico basing out of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic due to the devastation at the San Juan Airport.

With N940U providing an impressive 52 years of service, Sanborn thanks those employees of the North American Rockwell Corporation in 1969 who built the aircraft and forecasts significant future contributions to aerial survey missions along with the rest of an 11 aircraft fleet operated by Sanborn.

ABOUT THE SANBORN MAP COMPANY, INC.

Sanborn (www.sanborn.com) is a preeminent innovator in the geospatial industry, delivering state-of-the-art mapping, visualization, Web GIS™ and 3D solutions to customers worldwide. Embracing cutting-edge technology, Sanborn specializes in a host of geospatial software products such as, oblique imagery, lidar, orthophotography, 3D visualization, indoor mapping, and more.