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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2151.PDF
>ns: RVSM based LJSC sales representative Larry Price. Newton, Kansas-based Avcon plans to complete flight testing of its RVSM upgrade, using five aircraft - a Learjet 25, two 25Ds, a 25 B and a 24XR - in October, with a group STC projected for November. Tulsa, Oklaho ma-based Bizjet International is a risk-shar ing partner on the project and is authorised to perform the upgrade. Kits will also be installed at West Star Aviation and Avcon. LJSC plans to complete a group RVSM STC for the Learjet 20 series by late January. The company's solution is designed to eliminate what Price says are "issues inher ent with the autopilot system's Mach trim switches" that often result in pilots having to disengage the autopilot and fly the air craft manually. Exton, Pennsylvania-based Innovative Solutions and Support will sup ply the equipment and LJSC will provide the RVSM upgrade as a kit to dealers. Targeting Learjets Owners of 35 and 36 series Learjets are being targeted by West Star, which received a group STC in August for these aircraft. "Of the 600 Learjet 35s and 36s delivered to the corporate market, about 400 are considered candidates for our RVSM solution," says Greg Laabs. "The other 200, which are fly ing with the Jet FC-530 autopilot, are being upgraded for RVSM under a Bombardier ser vice bulletin." West Star's solution applies to Learjet 35 and 36 models with the Century III Soft Flite wing and Jet FC-200 autopilot. West Star may not stop with the Learjet 35/36. Laabs says the company is studying an RVSM upgrade for those Cessna Conquest 441 turboprops re-engined by West Star with Honeywell TPE331-10 tur boprops. A decision is likely by year-end. "The Conquest 441, with those engines, is among the few turboprop types that has a certified service ceiling [35,000ft] within RVSM flight levels," he says. "We see a [RVSM] market potential of 250, out of the 330 Conquest 441s operating worldwide." Cessna is active in retrofits for all its Citations from the model 500 to the model 650, which account for 1,900 of the 4,000 aircraft in service. The manufacturer will retrofit all except Bendix/King KFC-325 autopilot-equipped models, says Marcelo Casenove, supervisor of RVSM services. Cessna has created an RVSM service group that offers a turnkey package as an option. The package includes installation, test flights and paperwork leading to RVSM operational approval, and is available for an additional $4-4,500. "Of the nearly 400 aircraft we have up graded [for RVSM] over the last 12 months, "Most customers are requesting RVSM and TAWS installations to be done at the same time" BRUCE THIGPEN, GULFSTREAM 300 have been upgraded under the total package," adds Casenove. "About 80-90% of our RVSM customers are asking for other work to be performed at the same time. People are being very cost conscious and trying to have as many things done on their aircraft per visit as their budgets allow." Columbia Avionics has received certifi cation for an RVSM upgrade for the Cita tion I, II, S/II and V, and expects to com plete RVSM certification for the Citation HI Dassault's by year-end, says general manager Lance Falcon Fox. Since receiving its first RVSM STC in family is a June, the company has performed 12 prime target installations at its facilities in Columbia, for RVSM Missouri, and Uvalde, Texas, and at desig- upgraders nated dealers. This includes two early www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 30 SEPTEMBER - 6 OCTOBER 2003 57
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