EASA Lifts EAD on Tamarack Aerospace Active Winglets
Sandpoint Idaho, USA, July 8, 2019 - Tamarack Aerospace Group, Inc. announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted restrictions put in place by the April Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) on Cessna CitationJets equipped with ATLAS Active Winglets. This comes in the form of an STC amendment that includes EASA Service Bulletin SB1480.
The new Service Bulletin requires that all Textron Aviation models 525, 525A, and 525B fitted with Tamarack’s Active Winglet technology incorporate all existing product improvements.
This allows compliant aircraft to resume flying normally.
“Tamarack made product improvements available prior to the EAD which enhance the safety and reliability of the ATLAS active winglets. We are pleased that EASA has agreed that these improvements address the safety concern that prompted the EAD.” says Jacob Klinginsmith, President of Tamarack. “EASA and the FAA have been meeting regularly and we anticipate that the FAA will offer a solution to the limitations very shortly, in the spirit of the bi-lateral agreement in place between the agencies.”
SB1480 requires that the affected jets incorporate all existing product improvements, including SB1467, issued in April 2018, which enhances reliability of the TACS Control Unit (TCU), found to be at fault in an April 2019 incident preceding the EASA EAD.
SB1480 also requires that the affected jets incorporate SB1475, issued in March 2019, which consists of centering strips attached to the upper and lower trailing edge of the Tamarack Active Camber Surface (TACS). In the unlikely event of a system fault, the centring strips aerodynamically force the TACS back to their faired position, reducing the impact of the fault.
Tamarack founder and CEO, Nicholas Guida, says, “I offer my sincere thanks to our loyal and supportive customers. They have been our staunchest advocates despite the inconvenience and hardship of having the use of their aircraft restricted. The resolution of the EAD is great news for Tamarack and its European customers.”
