Conair Aviation is studying the feasibility of re-engineing Cessna 400-series and Piper Navajo piston twins with fellow Canadian company Orenda Recip's OE-600 Vee-8 aero-engine. The study is to be completed in mid-September, after which the pair plan to sign a commercial agreement under which Conair would certificate OE-600 installations, which Orenda would then use in remanufacturing both aircraft.
Orenda Recip general manager Peter Jackson says that it has yet to be decided whether the agreement with Conair will involve a joint venture, profit sharing or a subcontractor relationship. Abbotsford, British Columbia-based Conair would develop the supplemental type-certificates for the re-engineing programmes. The company has modified and re-engined Grumman S-2 Trackers under its Firecat aerial-tanker programme.
Orenda plans to retrofit the OE-600s at an aircraft-remanufacturing plant to be established alongside the engine production-line now being set at at Debert, Nova Scotia.
Aircraft would be purchased, refurbished and re-engined for resale, says Jackson. Certification of the initial 450kW(600hp) OE-600 is scheduled for later this year, and re-engineing programmes are already under way on the de Havilland Beaver, Raytheon Beech King Air C90B and Rockwell Aero Commander.
Source: Flight International
