More Upgrades
Raytheon Aircraft
Company unveiled the new Beechcraft Premier IA at the 5th annual
European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE)
Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland. The Premier IA features a totally
redesigned interior, avionics enhancements, and improvements in
several systems. A 5-year limited warranty is standard.
"We continually listen to our customers' needs, and their
feedback is critical to our product improvement strategy for all
Beechcraft products," said Beechcraft president and general
manager, Randy Groom. "With more than 100 Premier I's now flying
around the world, the new Beechcraft Premier IA is a perfect
example of the evolution of a tremendous aircraft, based on
customer input."
These enhancements, part of the planned evolution of the
aircraft, will be available later this summer. The 2006-model
Beechcraft Premier IA features a more contemporary, streamlined and
luxurious interior and offers more options.
The Beechcraft Premier IA features a new contoured cabin
headliner that increases passenger headroom, with adjustable LED
downwash lighting and repositioned passenger reading lights.
Cabin chairs have been completely restyled. Side bolsters are
added to the seat back and bottom cushions for increased comfort
New seat base contouring provides more foot room for fifth and
sixth seat occupants.
Other improvements include a passenger work table incorporated
into the lower sidewall and table storage with 110 VAC outlets and
provisioning for the optional Satcom flight phone. Improved
temperature control will help maintain a comfortable
environment
Four restyled cabinetry choices allow the Collins cabin
entertainment system with CD/DVD and Airshow capability to be
integrated.
Flight deck upgrades incorporate Rockwell Collins Integrated
Flight Information Systems (IFIS) into the existing Pro Line 21
(PL21) avionics suite. This offers Premier IA pilots a wide range
of safety and situational-awareness enhancing information,
including map overlays (airways, airspace, geopolitical) as
standard features.
More options include: Electronic Jeppessen charts, XM Graphical
weather (US), Universal Graphical Weather (International), and an
Integrated Rockwell Collins HF System. A three-display PL21
arrangement versus a two-display in the Beechcraft Premier I,
digital radio and audio systems and IFIS cursor control panel are
all standard in the new Beechcraft Premier IA.
To keep pilots happy, the cockpit also includes improved
rail-mounted sun visors and a 110-VAC laptop computer outlet.
The Beechcraft Premier IA combines several systems and design
improvements into the package.
- New, standard 5-year limited warranty
- Pilot "Lift Dump On Demand" control for improved landing
performance
- Improved hydraulic brake, anti-skid system for better brake
feel and pilot feedback at all braking levels
- Sound dampening "acoustical liner" for lower cabin sound
levels
- Lowered landing reference speeds
The new Beechcraft Premier IA, like its predecessor, the Premier
I, offers a maximum speed of 451 KTAS (835 km/h), and 1,450-nm
range.
Composite construction methods and metal swept wings provide
faster cruise speeds, longer range, better altitude performance,
superior handling and increased cabin size. The cabin is seven
inches taller and eight inches wider than competitive entry-level
business jets.