Nextant has wound up certification testing for the integrated single-lever power control system in the G90XT and expects to secure US airworthiness approval for the twin-engined turboprop within the next 30 days.
The validation is the final hurdle in the remanufactured King Air’s certification campaign, and will allow Nextant to begin deliveries of the six-seat type.
Speaking at the show yesterday, Nextant executive vice-president Jay Heublein described the King Air as “the most successful business aircraft platform in the history of our industry”. However he says it has lacked the technology that the jet market has benefited from for more than a decade. Until now.
Nextant says the G90XT is the first business turboprop to feature single-lever power control combined with an electronic engine control system, providing an entirely new level of safety for operators.
Launched in 2013, in partnership with GE Aviation, the XT also features the latter's H75-100 turboprops, a Garmin G1000 avionics suite, a digital pressurisation and environment control system, and a redesigned cockpit and interior offering a “bespoke level of refinement”.
Nathan Marker, Nextant’s vice-president of flight operations and lead test pilot, says the G90XT “brings a level of simplicity which will drive overall safety to the turboprop market which operators will benefit from for years to come”.
The aircraft is priced at $2.8 million, although Nextant is offering an engine and avionics retrofit programme to C90 owners for $2.4 million.
The company has secured several deposits for the aircraft and will begin a demonstration tour following the show.
Source: Flight Daily News
