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.
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