Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA) is adding two service centres for its Mitsubishi MU-2 utility turboprop aircraft and is undertaking a feasibility study into a life extension programme.
MHIA took back product support for the aircraft from Raytheon in 1998 after it halted production two years previously, throwing the aircraft's future into doubt (Flight International, 11 February 1998). The two new service centres, Winner Aviation in Youngstown, Ohio, and Nashville Jet Center in Nashville, Tennessee, bring the total in the USA to five.
MHIA says that it is now committed to supporting the aircraft under contract to Addison, Texas-based Turbine Aircraft Services. The aircraft has over 370 owner-operators in the USA and a further 100 around the world and Turbine Aircraft Services is currently looking into the feasibility of a life extension programme for the ageing airframe. The MU-2, a pressurised twin-engine turboprop with a maximum capacity of nine passengers, was first produced in 1966. With a cruising speed of 280 kt (520 km/h) at 12,000-24,000ft (4,000-8,000m) altitude, the aircraft is popular in rural communities.
MHIA took over control from Raytheon, after the aircraft's original manufacturer, Mitsubishi Aircraft, was dissolved in 1996. MHIA had originally handled support at its Dallas, Texas, base, but is increasingly keen to see work carried out at service centres. Japanese parent company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries continues to handle product development, including supplying aircraft manuals and written documents.
Operation of the Honeywell TPE331-powered aircraft was made cheaper last year when the US Federal Aviation Administration scaled back an icing airworthiness directive.
Source: Flight International
