50Dash4 Performance Upgrade for Falcon 50 Gains European Certification; Duncan Aviation, Jet Aviation Become Distributors

East Alton, Illinois – October 21, 2009… Premier Aircraft, LLC has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its 50Dash4 Performance Upgrade™ for the Falcon 50. The company also announced today that the 50Dash4 STC will now be available through new distributors Duncan Aviation and Jet Aviation, in addition to current distributor Midcoast Aviation and Premier Aircraft LLC co-founder, West Star Aviation.

In 2007, the 50Dash4 Performance Upgrade received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for Falcon 50s registered in the US, and now the EASA approval allows its operation on European-registered aircraft. The program is supported by Honeywell, which is responsible for converting the three TFE 731-3 engines, standard on the Falcon 50, to the more robust and fuel efficient TFE731-4-1C (“Dash 4”) configuration.

Important to both European and North American markets, the FAA STC fully meets both FAA FAR Part 36, Stage 4 and EASA ICAO Chapter 4 noise regulations. The certification allows higher Hot-High takeoff weights, resulting in up to 620 nm additional range, lower noise and carbon emissions, increased payloads, shorter time to climb - direct to 37,000 ft at ISA+10C, and shorter runway requirements. Cruise speed increases of 35 KTAS are also verified. Operational benefits include lower MSP engine maintenance costs and longer inspection intervals.

Jet Aviation’s primary market will be the over 40 Falcon 50 operators in the European region as well as operators in the Middle East and Asia. Jet Aviation offers maintenance, modifications, engineering, fixed base operations, and aircraft management, sales and charter services in over 25 facilities around the world.

Midcoast Aviation, Duncan Aviation and West Star Aviation will market the 50Dash4 Performance Upgrade primarily to the more than 200 Falcon 50 owners in the Americas. Duncan, Midcoast and West Star also offer a full range of aircraft maintenance, modification and technical support services in multiple locations across North America. 50Dash4 distributors do not have exclusive sales territories however, allowing customers to choose whichever member of the network that best fits their preferences or requirements.

Premier Aircraft president, Jim Swehla, said, “EASA approval and the appointment of an increased, world-class distributor network is the next step in our deployment of the 50Dash4 Performance Upgrade to customers. Bringing these first-class distributors on board means we are now able to offer our STC to over 240 Falcon 50 owners world-wide. The upgrade will enhance critical performance characteristics, as well as allow owners to enjoy longer maintenance intervals and increased engine durability. This will ultimately reduce maintenance costs and increase the immediate and long-term affordability of the aircraft.”

West Star has two company-owned Falcon 50s (s/n 088 and 170) equipped with the 50Dash4 upgrade available for purchase or lease. These aircraft are ideal for operators seeking to step up from their present aircraft to the level of performance and comfort offered by the 50Dash4, or in exchange for their current Falcon 50.

In addition to converting the Falcon 50’s existing engines to the TFE731-4-1C configuration, the STC incorporates a newly-designed engine nozzle, minor nacelle modifications and re-marked cockpit instruments.

Premier Aircraft, LLC is a limited liability company jointly owned by Yankee Pacific Aerospace, Inc., and West Star Aviation, Inc.