Nextant Aerospace says its G90XT certification programme is racing towards the finishing line, with final approval of the remanufactured Beechcraft King Air C90 on course for June.
The Cleveland, Ohio-based company is now eyeing its next product and has set its sights on aircraft in the super midsize to long-range sectors including the Falcon 50/2000/900 families and the Bombardier Challenger 600 series. Nextant says it has been discussing various platforms with its customer advisory boards in the USA, China and Europe – a meeting was held on the eve of the show – and could result in a programme launch at NBAA in November.
“We need to have a product which gives overwhelming value to potential buyers,” says Nextant president and chief executive Sean McGeough. “The type must also have a minimum inventory of 375 aircraft.”
The new product will join Nextant’s 400XTi light business jet – a remanufactured Hawker 400A – which entered service in 2013, and the G90XT, which is scheduled to go into service at the end of the third quarter.
The aircraft replaces the C90’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engines with GE H75-100 engines – the first twin-engined turboprop application for the powerplant. Other upgrades include the addition of a Garmin G1000 flightdeck, a new interior and a refresh of all life-limited components.
Source: Flight Daily News
