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Nextant Aerospace To Unveil First Fully Conforming Production Aircraft At EBACE

Dépèche transmise le 12 mai 2011 par Business Wire

Nextant Aerospace To Unveil First Fully Conforming Production Aircraft At EBACE

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nextant Aerospace, a pioneer in the field of aircraft remanufacturing, announced today that it will unveil the first fully conforming production 400XT aircraft at the 11^th Annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) May 17-19, 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland. Demonstrating the future of aircraft design, Nextant Aerospace is committed to providing innovative, well-designed products that compete aggressively and effectively with current production aircraft.

“The company’s goal was to create a product that offered the latest in business jet technology without layering in the overwhelming R&D costs that are typically associated with clean-sheet design aircraft”

Launched in 2007, the remanufacturing process, pioneered by Nextant Aerospace, was conceived in response to evolving market trends and customer needs. “The company’s goal was to create a product that offered the latest in business jet technology without layering in the overwhelming R&D costs that are typically associated with clean-sheet design aircraft,” stated Kenn Ricci, company founder. “The release of the first fully conforming production aircraft is a significant accomplishment for Nextant and it brings us one step closer to our first retail delivery later this summer.”

N402XT, the tail number given to production number one, will be available for public viewing at the static aircraft display, (Booth #16), and will feature the custom paint design and luxurious cabin interior that will be standard on all 400XT aircraft. The cabin environment will feature several enhancements including the Rockwell Collins Venue^TM in-flight entertainment system and the Aircell Axxess^TM voice and data communication system. The cockpit is configured to demonstrate the full capability of the Pro Line 21™ avionics suite. The company intends to utilize the aircraft as a demonstration platform for customers until the final STC is issued later this quarter.

“EBACE provides an ideal venue for us to introduce the 400XT to the European marketplace. By connecting face-to-face, pilots and operators can see firsthand the reliability, safety and technological advances of a remanufactured product,” stated Jay Heublein, vice president of sales and marketing.

As a pioneer in the field of general aviation, Nextant is the first company to introduce the concept of remanufacturing to the business jet market. This unique process applies an environmentally-sound approach to aircraft manufacturing which allows the company to deliver an end product that exhibits significantly evolved technology, improved reliability, and a life expectancy that meets or exceeds other competitive products. The remanufacturing process involves a comprehensive protocol that takes over 6,000 man-hours to complete. The process begins with a thorough inspection of the airframe to ensure that it is free from corrosion and any detrimental wear and tear. In subsequent phases, all life-limited components are taken to zero-time status either by replacement or complete overhaul which effectively makes the 400XT a new plane in all material aspects. The 400XT cockpit is updated to include the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21^™ avionics system and the performance of the aircraft is significantly enhanced by the Williams FJ44-3AP engine. Several aerodynamic enhancements are made to the airframe including a new pylon and cowling design. The resulting aircraft has a range of 2005nm (4 passenger, NBAA IFR reserves) and a 35% improvement in fuel efficiency. All work is performed at Nextant’s factory in Cleveland, Ohio. Remanufacturing differs significantly from other “modification” programs in that it creates a truly standardized product. The standardization leads to an inherently safer product in that it will allow flight crews to train to a common training curriculum. The 400XT is sold with a complete tip-to-tail warranty, two flight crew type ratings and Nextant has established a national service network to support the plane.

Nextant expects to certify the 400XT in the second quarter of 2011 and plans to deliver 11 aircraft this year with the first delivery slated to take place in July.

For additional information, please visit www.nextantaerospace.com.

About Nextant Aerospace

Nextant Aerospace was founded in 2007 for the primary purpose of developing an aircraft modernization program. The company is credited with being the first to introduce the concept of aircraft remanufacturing to the business jet market.

The Nextant 400XT is a remanufactured Beechjet 400A/XP equipped with the Williams FJ44-3AP engines and Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics suite. The new aircraft also benefits from significant aerodynamic enhancements including newly designed nacelles, pylons and an improved engine mounting configuration. The 400XT is delivered as a new aircraft with a 2 year tip to tail warranty. In October of 2010, Nextant announced that they had secured an order for 40 aircraft from the fractional ownership company Flight Options.

Nextant’s design and manufacturing facility is located in Cleveland, OH at the Cuyahoga County Airport (KCGF). For more information, please visit www.nextantaerospace.com.

About Williams International

Williams International is the world leader in small turbine engines and customer support, with headquarters in Walled Lake, Michigan, and a design-to-production facility in Ogden, Utah. For more information about the company, its products, and support, please visit www.williams-int.com.

About Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by nearly 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries. To find out more, please visit www.rockwellcollins.com.

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