Blackhawk to Sign Milestone Contract with European Charter Operator During EBACE 2012

Geneva, May 13, 2012 – A UK-based charter operator will join Blackhawk Modifications in celebrating the sale of its 150^th King Air 200 engine upgrade during a contract signing ceremony at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) May 14-16 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Blackhawk is the world’s leading provider of single- and twin-engine turboprop aircraft performance improvements.

Jim Allmon, Blackhawk’s president and chief executive officer, will present a signature leather flight jacket to Alison Steel, director of South Coast Air Charter.  Malcolm Craft, managing director of MCA Aviation, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, will also be in attendance. MCA Aviation is the authorized distributor that will install the PT6A-61 engines on the King Air B200.

South Coast Air Charter, based in Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom, operates Hawker Beechcraft B200 Super King Air G-JOAL at Southampton International Airport.  “We are delighted to enhance the performance of our excellent Super King Air aircraft,” said Steel.  “The upgrade will improve the aircraft’s reliability and efficiency while adding an increased safety margin in flight operations.”

“Blackhawk’s latest upgrade is a clear indication that our company has established firm leadership in the market for aircraft performance improvements,” Jim Allmon added.  “We are pleased that South Coast Air Charter is our 150^th King Air customer, and we are confident that MCA Aviation, our trusted partner in the United Kingdom, will deliver a flawless system installation.”

The XP61 upgrade package is available for all King Air 200 series aircraft.  It installs two factory-new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-61 engines, each mechanically rated at 850 shaft horsepower, but carry a higher thermodynamic rating with new engine warranties from Pratt & Whitney Canada.  The package also includes complete installation instructions, STC paperwork, a flight manual supplement, instructions for continued airworthiness, Pratt & Whitney engine logbooks, a Blackhawk logbook case, cycle book and aircraft decals.  In addition, customers receive prepaid enrollment in CAMP System’s aircraft maintenance tracking program and The Trend Group’s Turbine Trend Analysis Program.

The performance advantages of the XP61 upgrade include an improved rate of climb with lower fuel consumption, a higher single-engine service ceiling, and an increase in true air speed (TAS).  These improvements optimize reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) platforms. These efficiencies reduce flight time on Super King Air airframe and engines, cutting required maintenance hours and saving up to $50,000 in annual operating costs.   King Airs with Blackhawk upgrade packages also can produce higher revenue in commercial service and enjoy superior resale value.  

Blackhawk, founded in 1999 in Waco, Texas, is a recognized aviation leader in providing engine performance solutions to the turboprop fleet. The company has the largest installed fleet of STC twin-engine turboprop engine upgrades, making Blackhawk the largest non-OEM buyer of new Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines in the world. A worldwide network of approved dealers and service support centers complements Blackhawk’s U.S. facilities.  For more information, please visit http://www.blackhawk.aero.