Clifford Development (Booth 1866 and static park) is highlighting re-engine program to fit Cessna Citation IIs with Williams FJ44 turbofans.
Clifford is not the only company to offer such retrofits, but chief executive Jim Clifford believes the company has an advantage over its rivals: “What makes us different is we are OEM friendly, and we incorporate a lot more into our retrofits than our competitors. Where our competitors are actually modifying the fuselage, we’re using Cessna parts,” he says.
“I had to look at this from a customer’s perspective. We needed longevity with the upgrade. I thought, what if I buy this upgrade and then two years later the company goes bust? With our upgrade you can get your spares direct from Cessna, albeit at a premium, if you can use the Cessna AOG hotline.”
A Clifford install also includes a heavy-duty brakes kit. “More importantly, the brake upgrade is done in accordance with a Cessna service bulletin,” adds Clifford.
Clifford says the FJ44-3A engine retrofit on the Citation II/S-II (Model 550/S-550) can offer at least a 35% reduction in DOCs. “And with volatile fuel prices, if fuel goes up, so do your DOCs savings,” he says.
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Clifford says that for the average user who flies around 450h per year the retrofit would pay for itself in just five years. “This option really does give a customer a return on investment.” He also believes a lot of the Citation II fleet is nearing the time for the second engine overhaul: “Of that market there are probably 35-40% of owners who are happy with their aircraft but want a little more performance. That’s a fairly big market.”
Also added to the mix is compliance with Stage 4 noise. “We are three times above the minimum noise limit - we are easily Stage 4 plus. And that’s a real benefit not just for airports with restrictions, but inside the cabin too,” says Clifford.
Source: Flight Daily News
