Just four months after it’s unveiling at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), Raytheon Aircraft has announced the certification of the new Beechcraft Premier IA. The Beechcraft Premier IA features a totally redesigned interior, Rockwell Collins ProLine 21 avionics upgrade, as well as several systems’ improvements as part of the planned evolution of the Beechcraft Premier I. The Beechcraft Premier IA comes standard with a class-leading 5-year warranty. Customer deliveries began in September.

“Customer feedback is an important component to our product improvement strategy for all Beechcraft products,” said president and general manager of Beechcraft, Randy Groom. “We continually listen to our customer’s needs, incorporating their ideas to make our products even better. With more than 125 Premier I’s now flying around the world, the new Beechcraft Premier IA is a perfect example of the evolution of a revolutionary aircraft,” said Groom.

The 2006-model Beechcraft Premier IA features a more streamlined and luxurious interior with more options for new owners. Modeled after the Hawker 800XP cabin, the Beechcraft Premier IA features a new contoured cabin headliner that increases passenger headroom, adjustable LED downwash lighting and repositioned passenger reading lights. Cabin chairs have also been completely restyled, adding side bolsters to the seat back and bottom cushions for increased comfort and new seat base contouring for more foot room for fifth and sixth seat occupants. Other improvements include a smooth single-action passenger work table incorporated into the lower sidewall, improved temperature control and table storage with 110 VAC outlets and provisioning for the optional Satcom flight phone. Four restyled cabinetry choices allow integration of the Rockwell Collins cabin entertainment system with CD/DVD and Airshow capability.

Up front, the Beechcraft Premier IA’s flight deck incorporates Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information Systems (IFIS) into the existing Pro Line 21 (PL21) avionics suite. This advanced upgrade offers Premier IA pilots a wide range of safety and situational enhancing information to include map overlays (airways, airspace, geopolitical) as standard features.

In addition to these standard features, options include: Electronic Jeppessen charts, XM Graphical Weather (US), Universal Graphical Weather (International), and Integrated Rockwell Collins HF System. Additional avionics and cockpit upgrades now standard in the new Beechcraft Premier IA include a three-display PL21 arrangement, digital radio and audio systems, and IFIS cursor control panel. The cockpit also includes improved rail-mounted sun visors and a 110-VAC laptop computer outlet.

The Beechcraft Premier IA also combines several systems and design improvements into one functionality and improvement package that includes:

• New, standard 5-year customer care warranty
• Pilot “Lift Dump On Demand” control for improved landing performance
• Improved hydraulic brakes and anti-skid system for better brake feel and pilot feedback at all braking levels
• Sound dampening "acoustical liner" that creates the quietest cabin in its class
• Lowered landing approach reference speeds

The new Beechcraft Premier IA utilizes the basic design of the fastest single-pilot jet in the world, the Beechcraft Premier I. State-of-the-art composite construction methods combined with metal swept wings provide faster cruise speeds, better altitude performance, superior handling and increased cabin size. The cabin is eight inches taller and eight inches wider than competitive entry-level business jets, and the Beechcraft Premier I is also built with fewer parts than its competitors for higher maintainability and reliability. The new Beechcraft Premier IA, like its predecessor, the Premier I, offers unmatched performance with a maximum speed of 451 KTAS, and 1,430 NM range capability.

FMI: http://www.raytheonaircraft.com/beechcraft