WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Beechcraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Textron
Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced
that it has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
certification for its new Pro
Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 350i/ER and 250 turboprop
aircraft with cabin enhancements, paving the way for deliveries
throughout Europe.
“The King Air’s reliability, versatility and operating efficiencies
continue to make the entire family of turboprops a popular choice in the
European market,” said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Sales and
Marketing. “We’re looking forward to getting the upgraded King Air
350i/ER and 250 into the European marketplace, where owners/operators
have responded enthusiastically to the investments we’ve made in
bringing the latest technology, safety and comfort to the cockpit and
cabin.”
Beechcraft announced the upgrades at the European Business Aviation
Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in May 2015. The Fusion-equipped King
Air 250 earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in
July 2015 and the 350i/ER earned the certification in November 2015.
Avionics
Pro Line Fusion for the King Air brings one of the most trusted avionics
architectures to the first full touchscreen flight display system. The
new avionics system changes how operators fly through a one-of-a-kind
intuitive flight deck interface. Its three 14-inch displays are
interchangeable, high-resolution and touch controlled. Other
performance-enhancing capabilities include:
-
Integrated touchscreen checklists
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Intuitive graphical touchscreen flight planning
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High-resolution Synthetic Vision System (SVS) with patented airport
dome graphics
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Convenient presets to reconfigure all three displays with a single
touch
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Full multi-sensor flight management system
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Available automatic wireless database and chart uploads
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Open and scalable architecture for future upgrades and mandates
Pilot training for the Pro Line Fusion King Airs will be offered at TRU
Simulation + Training’s new ProFlight training center near Tampa,
Florida. Additionally, TRU will offer aircraft maintenance training for
the new models in its newly renovated Wichita, Kansas facility.
Cabin upgrades
In addition to new Pro Line Fusion avionics, the cabin now offers an
enhanced passenger experience. With Wi-Fi capability standard on the
King Air 350i/ER and King Air 250 aircraft, the personal device-centric
cabin environment allows customers to stay connected and productive
throughout their flight experience. Also standard are electronically
dimmable window shades, offering a simple interface that provides more
effective shading and faster dimming at the touch of a button.
Segment leadership
More than 7,300 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to
customers around the world since 1964, making it the best-selling
business turboprop family in the world. The worldwide fleet has
surpassed 60 million flight hours in its first 52 years, serving roles
in all branches of the U.S. military, and flying commercial missions
ranging from traditional passenger and cargo transport to electronic and
imagery surveillance, air ambulance, airway calibration, photographic
mapping, training and weather modification.
Images
King
Air 350i
Fusion
cockpit
About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the
leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna
and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general
aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna
Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades
of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes.
It provides the most versatile and comprehensive general aviation
product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business:
business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft,
high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft,
and a complete global customer service organization. Its broad range of
products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker
business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer
aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global
service network. For more information, visit txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company
that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and
finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and
services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such
as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex,
Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation +
Training. For more information visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements
which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or
other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date
on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause
our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the
efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products
or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of
significant new products or programs; our ability to keep pace with our
competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with
features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in
government regulations or policies on the export and import of
commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in
worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our
products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; risks
related to our international business, including relying on joint
venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives,
consultants and other business partners in connection with international
business, including in emerging market countries.
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Source: Textron