Atlanta, Ga. – October 19, 2010 – StandardAero announced today that experimental flight testing of its planned PT6A-135A engine upgrade Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) was successfully conducted with a Cessna Caravan 208. The flight test occurred on September 22, 2010 at Wipaire, Inc in St. Paul, Minn. STC certification is expected in the first quarter of 2011 for Caravan 208 models and second quarter 2011 for Caravan 208B models pending FAA approval.
“We are excited about this new STC and the benefits it will provide to Caravan 208/208B operators,” said Manny Atwal, vice president, Turboprop Programs, StandardAero. “With improved efficiency in the air inlet ducting, operators will see increased engine horsepower and increased aircraft performance with rate of climb, cruise speed, fuel efficiency and landing performance.”
StandardAero’s PT6A-135A engine upgrade STC for the Cessna Caravan 208/208B gives operators an additional option besides repair or overhaul for their existing PT6A-114/114A engine. Operators will be able to replace their existing PT6A-114/114A engine with a factory new PT6A-135A engine with a rather simple (non-extensive) firewall forward aircraft modification. Customers will be able to perform the PT6A-135A engine upgrade on an exchange basis in lieu of repairing or overhauling their PT6A-114/114A engine.
Other approved engine upgrade STC’s for the Cessna Caravan 208 incorporate a powerplant from a different OEM and therefore require much more extensive modifications beyond the firewall, or require a different family of PT6A engine which can add more cost to the upgrade StandardAero’s engine upgrade STC incorporates the PT6A-135A which originates from the same engine family as the original PT6A-114/114A engines, offering more horsepower. As a result, the existing three-bladed McCauley propeller type certified with the Caravan 208/208B aircraft is retained.
StandardAero, a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) company with nearly $1.4 billion in annual revenue, specializes in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, and nose-to-tail services that include airframe, interior refurbishments and paint for business and general aviation, air transport, and military aircraft. The company, part of the DAE Engineering division, forms a global services network of 12 primary facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia, with an additional 14 regionally located service and support locations.
About DAE: www.dubaiaerospace.com
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is building a globally recognized aerospace corporation with operations from aircraft leasing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and Aviation IT solutions. It is creating an innovative business that builds on the dynamics of Dubai and continuous growth in aviation.
Headquartered in Dubai, the group is growing through a series of phased developments and acquisitions to become a global player and to produce an integrated aerospace cluster, based at Dubai World Central – the new 140 square kilometer airport and logistics city being constructed in Jebel Ali, Dubai. It is forming international partnerships at the highest level of industry with the aim of establishing one of the most innovative and successful businesses in the global aerospace industry within the next decade.