Beech King Air: No more over-torque or over-temp - Curt Lewis

Nextant G90XT single-lever power system set for August approval

Nextant Aerospace is hoping to secure certification in the third quarter for the single-lever power control system in its G90XT twin-engined turboprop, a key requirement to allow deliveries of the remanufactured Beechcraft King Air C90 to begin.

Meanwhile, Nextant is preparing to launch its next business aircraft programme, with October's National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando the most likely venue for the unveiling.

The G90XT was awarded US type certification in November, but the digitally-controlled single-lever power system required additional testing.

"This is a key feature of the aircraft for our customers," says Nextant's executive vice-president of global sales and marketing Jay Heublein. "It is the first application of digitally-controlled single-lever power technology in the industry," he says. "Think of it as the equivalent of [a] FADEC with complete exceedance protection. The pilots cannot over-temp or over-torque the engines."

Flight testing is now complete and Heublein expects the US Federal Aviation Administration to issue an amendment to the G90XT's type certificate in August; deliveries will begin soon after, he says.

The G90XT was launched by the Cleveland, Ohio-based airframer in 2013, in partnership with engine manufacturer GE Aviation. The upgraded aircraft features GE H75-100 turboprops, a Regent flightdeck, based on the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, and a redesigned interior and cockpit.

The $2.7 million twin is the second aircraft in Nextant's lineup after the 400XT/XTi light business jet. The remanufactured Hawker 400/Beechjet 400A entered service in 2011 and more than 60 of the type have been delivered to date.

Its next project is also nearing launch. "We have been looking at a third programme for some time and hope to make an announcement later this year," Heublein says. 

He declines to reveal which sector it will target, but it is likely to be either the super-midsize, large-cabin or long-range segments. Candidate feedstock aircraft include the Dassault Falcon 50/2000/900 families and the Bombardier Challenger 600 series, all of which have large global fleets.