GE Aviation has named Cascade Aircraft Conversions as an Authorized Service Center
As part of the agreement, Cascade Aircraft Conversions will offer comprehensive line maintenance, removals and re-installations of engines and LRUs and engine spares for the M601 and H80 engine families. GE Aviation will provide Cascade Aircraft Conversions with comprehensive material support and training.
“Cascade Aircraft Conversions has a deep knowledge of the M601 engines with more than 50 installed conversions currently operating in the agricultural aviation segment,” said Paul Theofan, president and managing executive of GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Aviation. “This knowledge is well suited to Cascade’s new role as an Authorized Service Center for M601 and H80 engines.”
Cascade Aircraft Conversions holds supplemental type certificates for the M601E-11 and M601D-11 engines on the Thrush aircraft and the Air Tractor 300, 400 and 500 series aircraft. The benefits for M601 engine conversions on the aircraft compared to existing piston engines include lower acquisition and maintenance costs with no nozzles, no hot section inspections and no engine teardown required in a wire strike event. The M601 engine also offers improved hot and high performance.
Cascade Aircraft Conversions is a diverse, multi-faceted total aircraft rebuild and refurbishing company in addition to its aircraft conversion offerings. Located in Washington State, Cascade has been serving the agricultural aviation industry nationally and internationally for more than 35 years.
Certification testing continues on the 800 shaft horsepower H80 engine, which is scheduled to enter service on the Thrush 510 later this year. The H80 engine combines the elegant, robust design of the M601 engine with GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials and will power business and general aviation, utility and agriculture aircraft. The new turboprop engine is a more powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine compared with the M601 engine with no calendar limit and no hot section inspection. The H80 engine will also feature an extended service life of 3,600 flight-hours and 6,600 cycles between overhauls, significantly enhanced hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise speeds. The H80 will provide the option of a single or dual acting governor, allowing customers to select their propeller.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation.
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For further information, contact:
Rick Kennedy (513) 243-3372 rick.l.kennedy@ge.com Mobile: 513.607.0609
Deb Case (513) 243-0094 deborah.case@ge.com Mobile: 513.418.1644