Nearly 3.5 Hours of Ice Protection Now Offered Via Retrofit

CAV Aerospace tells ANN that they will begin retrofits of Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in a matter of days. New production Cessna Caravans began receiving TKS upgrades in 2008, when Cessna made the switch from pneumatic boots to the TKS system. The retrofits in Salina will bring the existing fleet up to current ice protection standards.

"Caravan operators need safety and dispatch reliability. TKS provides both," explains CAV Aerospace President, Kevin Hawley, adding that, "The TKS system on the Cessna Caravan has set a new, much higher standard for ice protection. It's easy for an already burdened flight crew to use and is the only ice protection system that provides runback ice protection aft of the leading edges."

The runback protection noted above is the product of the TKS system's unique design. The TKS system provides ice protection by pumping a freezing point depressant fluid from thousands of laser drilled holes in titanium panels on the leading edges of the aircraft's wings, struts, horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizer. The fluid then streams along both the bottom and top of the airframe until it is carried off the trail edge.

The TKS system for the Cessna 208B holds 20.8 US gallons of TKS fluid which provide a maximum endurance of 3 hours 25 minutes. The system has 3 modes of operation, Normal, High and Maximum as well as a separate on demand pump dedicated to clearing the windshield. Standby systems provide an added layer of protection.

Operators of Caravans other than the 208B model are not without their own TKS option. CAV Aerospace President, Kevin Hawley, explains that "If it's a Cessna Caravan, there's a very good probability that we can get a TKS system for it. CAV Aerospace has delivered TKS systems for over 6,000 aircraft, from single engine pistons, like the Cirrus SR22, to business jets and even UAV flying in combat. There is a great pride and no small amount of humility in providing the most effective ice protection for the aviation community."

CAV delivers TKS ice protection systems to aircraft manufacturers and provides retrofit installations to after-market aircraft customers. CAV Aerospace, Inc. is headquartered in North America at the SLN Aviation Service Center on the Salina Airport in Kansas. 

FMI: www.weepingwings.com