GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Honeywell secures FAA STC approval for avionics package as new regulations for turbine-powered aircraft take effect
Honeywell has clinched US Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certification (STC) approval for an avionics package to enable Cessna Citation 500 operators to meet Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (DRVSM) requirements.
The DRVSM mandate, scheduled for implementation in the USA and Canada on 20 January 2005, requires aircraft at FL290-410 (29,000-41,000ft/8,850-12,500m) to be capable of regulating their altitude more accurately so controllers can space aircraft at 1,000ft intervals. Around 6,000 turbine-powered business aircraft are affected, and as demand for STCs increases over the next few months Honeywell is expected to unveil further upgrade packages.
Unlike previous DRVSM STCs developed in collaboration with other companies, Honeywell has worked alone to gain the latest approval - which covers Citation 500 models up to and including serial number 274 - and modifications will be performed by authorised Honeywell Bendix/King dealers. Cessna has decided not to pursue an STC for these early models, but is offering and developing packages for other Citation types in service, it says.
The Honeywell package includes AM 250 altimeter systems with a KFC 325 flight control system (FCS) and EFIS 50 electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), with the altimeters alone being available to aircraft already equipped with the FCS and EFIS.
Honeywell has partnered with Elliott to provide an avionics package that will enable the Beechjet 400 and Mitsubishi Diamond 1/1A to meet both DRVSM and terrain awareness warning system requirements.
Source: Flight International
