Engine Delivers 40% More Power, Reduces Operational Costs For Cessna Caravans

EASA has certified Honeywell’s TPE331-12JR turboprop engine for the Cessna Caravan, which reportedly enables European operators to take advantage of the engine’s improved power, lower cost, enhanced fuel efficiency, and low noise levels. Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc., a major Honeywell partner in this market, helped drive this important milestone.

With the TPE331-12JR engine, Honeywell claims that operators experience up to 40-percent more power than the production engine. They also save as much as $40 per hour in operations costs due to longer maintenance intervals, fewer lifecycle-limited parts and better fuel efficiency when compared to the standard OEM engine. The engine also passes Germany’s stringent maximum fly-over noise level of 78 dB(A).

Donnerflug Aviation Services, a Germany-based skydiving operator, owns a Honeywell-powered Cessna Caravan conversion aircraft from Texas Turbines. Since operating the plane, Donnerflug has seen nearly a 77 percent increase in business due to greater capacity per flight and ability to attract new skydiving customers. “We have attracted more jumpers and have been able to accommodate other business activities. This aircraft differentiates us from our local competitors and is directly tied to our success,” said Markus Bastuck, managing partner and pilot, Donnerflug Aviation Services GMbH.

The TPE331-12JR has demonstrated improved maintenance intervals of up to 3,500 hours between hot section and 7,000 hours between overhaul further reducing cost of operation. At cruise, the TPE331-12JR burns as much as four gallons an hour less fuel for similar speeds than the original production motor on the Caravan.

The TPE331 engine series now includes 18 engine models and 106 configurations. More than 13,000 engines have been delivered to date and more than 116 million hours of flight time have been accumulated. The TPE331 is one of the most reliable and proven turboprop engines in the world.

FMI: www.honeywell.com, www.honeywellnow.com