by Matthew Beres, Airborne Retrofit & Modernization Analyst, Forecast International.
Quiet Technology Aerospace (QTA) recently received STC approval for its third PW305 carbon-graphite engine inlet upgrade program. The carbon-graphite inlet mitigates aluminum inner barrel inlet corrosion and acoustic screen degradation through replacement with the new carbon-graphite barrel. The lighter weight alternative looks identical to the original aluminum barrel.
This follows a September 2016 STC for the carbon-graphite engine inlet upgrade on Gulfstream G200s. QTA now provides the retrofit option for the Hawker 1000, Learjet 60, and Gulfstream G200.
The new upgrades come with a lifetime structural warranty. QTA has also implemented a low-cost inlet loaner and exchange program that keeps aircraft free from extended AOG conditions.
The upgrade has proven quite popular with Learjet 60 operators. Within the first 90 days of operation, the Learjet 60 program took orders for 14 modifications. Company sources expect demand for at least four to eight installations a month for the next few years.
The upgrade is one of the few major propulsion retrofits for the Gulfstream 200, Learjet 60, and Hawker 1000 series aircraft. Propulsion upgrades as a whole, though, represent just over 40 percent of the market forecast for light aircraft retrofit. Although a majority of this is attributed to re-engining, which represents 89 percent of the light aircraft propulsion retrofit market, there are still opportunities for major modifications such as the engine inlet upgrade in this limited, niche market.
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