Blackhawk XP42A performance upgrade for the Cessna 208B Caravan aircraft has won European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification.
The company said that it will soon complete delivery of the first XP42A package and begin upgrades on European Caravans that were pending EASA certification.
The federal aviation authority issued a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the XP42A programme in June 2011. The first Caravan delivery will be completed about three months after US approval, Blackhawk added.
The engine performance solutions provider added that it offers full technical support for the life of the aircraft.
The XP42A system includes a new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A engine rated at 850shp (634kW) continuous, exchanged for the Caravan's existing engine. The engine has a 1,000h, no-calendar-limit engine warranty from P&W.
In addition, the system features a factory-new, wide-chord, 100in (254cm) diameter Hartzell four-blade propeller, a new autoclave-cured carbon-fiber composite cowling and high efficiency inlet duct, produced by Blackhawk Composites.
The XP42A incorporates a new, 40% larger oil cooler, a four-point engine mount ring assembly and all new engine mount isolators, a new engine hose kit, new Blackhawk Hawkeye DigiLog engine gauges and two new Frakes exhaust stacks.
The upgrade leads to a 4% increase in takeoff weight, a 15%increase in cruise speed and a doubled rate of climb with less fuel consumption.
The package provides a 3,600h time between overhaul (TBO) or 5,000h TBO for qualified operators with a qualified trend monitoring program.
Source: Flight Daily News
