WICHITA, Kan. (Dec. 15, 2009) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced the delivery of four Beechcraft King Air C90GTi turboprops to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Bill Boisture, HBC Chairman and CEO, and John Allen, FAA Director of Flight Standards Service, participated in the delivery ceremony today at HBC headquarters in Wichita, Kan. The FAA has operated a fleet of King Air aircraft for many years and will use the new King Air C90GTi fleet to further support the FAA’s Flight Standards Flight Program.
“The FAA’s selection of the King Air C90GTi is not only a testament of the aircraft’s proven performance and reliability, but also its unmatched versatility,” Boisture said. “These aircraft will be great assets to the FAA in its continued mission to ensure the safety of civil aviation.”
The recently awarded FAA contract includes the four new King Air C90GTi turboprops, with an option for two more aircraft. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2010, all four aircraft will be equipped with the new King Air 90x package at HBC’s factory-owned service center, Hawker Beechcraft Services. The upgrade includes enhancements to both payload and performance.
The performance and technology capabilities of the King Air C90GTi will provide the Flight Standards Program Office with an improved fleet of aircraft. The Flight Standards Flight Program provides direct support to more than 600 Aviation Safety Operations Inspectors (ASIs) throughout the country. It is their responsibility to ensure flights within National Air Space operate at the highest level of safety and within regulatory requirements. As the industry evolves technologically, ASIs must keep pace with the changes and use modern aircraft to assess the currency and proficiency of pilots. The King Air C90GTi has the latest available avionics technology and is representative of modern general aviation and air carrier aircraft in use today. Additionally, the FAA will use the new King Air aircraft to support its disaster relief and emergency response operations.
The King Air C90GTi is incredibly fuel-efficient, which contributes to its low operating costs, while offering increased performance and greater system redundancy over both previous models and other competitive aircraft. It features a fully-integrated Collins Pro Line 21TM avionics suite, the same system found in the King Air B200GT, King Air 350, Premier IA, Hawker 750 and Hawker 900XP.
Advanced capabilities not found in other entry-level turbine avionics systems include a multi-sensor flight management system that utilizes several aircraft position inputs, solid state weather radar and Collins patented Chart Link TM automated chart selection system, all of which greatly reduce pilot workload. Other features include TAWS+, TCAS-I, a high speed USB database loader and optional Collins HF radio. Its advanced digital capabilities in collecting, processing and displaying communication, navigation and surveillance data keep pilots wired into a network of ever-changing information. The Rockwell Collins avionics suite also incorporates an Integrated Flight Information System, which offers pilots a wide range of tools, including map overlays and Electronic Jeppesen charts, to enhance safety and situational awareness.
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is a world-leading manufacturer of business, special-mission and trainer aircraft – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; Chester, England, U.K.; and Chihuahua, Mexico. The company leads the industry with a global network of more than 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.
