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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Forecast International’s Airborne Retrofit & Modernization Forecast provides operators in the military and commercial aviation sectors with the information they need to maximize their current investments rather than expand their fleets, a trend that is opening up multiple opportunities for the expansion of retrofit and modernization programs. It offers a one-stop service for tracking the status of commercial and military R&M programs in progress worldwide, and pinpoints key developments in the aviation industry that will impact the market in the future.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
