US engineering company and aftermarket specialist Blackhawk Modifications has received US certification for its Cessna 208 and 208B Caravan engine upgrade, and says it has launched a worldwide certification effort to boost sales of the single-engined turboprop revamp.
The power upgrade with the 867hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine replaces the 600/675hp version of the PT6A installed on Caravans without the Garmin G1000.
“FAA [US Federal Aviation Administration] certification now allows Blackhawk to quickly install this extremely cost-effective system that is going to take operators above and beyond their current capabilities,” says the company's chief executive Jim Allmon.
“The system allows operators to retain many components from their original -114/-114A engines, while boosting performance at the same time.”
The aftermarket specialist, based in Waco, Texas, says upgrade slots are filling up fast, with float manufacturer Wipaire named as one of the first customers.
Flightglobal's Fleets Analyzer database records a fleet of more than 2,300 Caravan turboprops, of which around 1,600 are suitable for the upgrade.
Source: Flight International
