Gives Buyers Two Options For Icing Protection

CAV Aerospace Ltd. and its American subsidiary, Aerospace Systems and Technologies, Inc., are teaming to offer proven TKS "weeping-wing" anti-icing and de-icing protection for the Columbia line of single-engine piston aircraft.

"AS&T and CAV Aerospace are very pleased to be partnering with Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing to offer the proven TKS anti-ice system as a new option and retrofit upgrade on all Columbia 400s and Columbia 350s and soon the Columbia 300s," said AS&T President Kevin Hawley. 

CAV Aerospace -- headquartered at Consett, County Durham in the UK -- will provide TKS shipsets for installation by Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation on new Columbia 400 and 350 aircraft for customers who select the ice protection option. In addition, AS&T will retrofit TKS systems on Columbia 400 and 350 airplanes already flying for customers who want this anti-icing and de-icing option.

The TKS system works by exuding a measured amount of glycol-based anti-icing and de-icing fluid through microscopic holes in wing leading edges (shown below) fashioned of titanium, along with a slinger ring dispersion mechanism for propellers. 

The retrofit work will be done by AS&T at facilities near Columbia Aircraft's manufacturing plant in Bend, OR and at AS&T's American headquarters in Salina, KS.

"Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation is delighted to offer the TKS option for Columbia owners," said VP of Sales and Marketing Randy Bolinger. "Columbia likes to provide customers a choice and TKS is brand that consumer are familiar with and respect."

With the addition of TKS, Columbia Aircraft owners now have two options for icing protection. The planemaker also offers the E-Vade thermal de-icing system -- Columbia's term for the Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems' Thermawing Deice System.

AS&T will display a Columbia 400 equipped with the TKS system at EAA Airventure 2007 July 23-29 in Oshkosh, WI. Columbia Aircraft will also display a TKS-equipped Columbia 400 at its exhibit, west of Aeroshell Square. 

Columbia 400 and 350 customers will join 4,000 other aircraft owners who have grown to rely on their TKS anti-ice systems, now flying on aircraft ranging from single-engine pistons to medium-sized business jets. Aircraft flying CAV’s TKS systems include Cessnas, Columbias, Cirrus airplanes, Socata Trinidads, Mooneys, Bonanzas, Barons, Commander Aircraft, Rockwell Aero Commanders, Hawker business jets and the Predator UAV.

Basic cost of the Columbia after-market TKS installation is $27,500. Peak shipset production for the Columbia program will reach more than 40 TKS units monthly by this fall; CAV Aerospace is providing more than 1,600 TKS shipsets annually to aviation markets around the world.

FMI: www.cav-aerospace.net, www.weepingwings.com, www.flycolumbia.com