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Elliott Aviation in Expansion Mode
 A
booming business in avionics upgrades has driven 66-year-old Elliott
Aviation into a major expansion that began with an interior completions
shop four years ago and will culminate with the opening in February
2003 of a state-of-the-art painting facility.
When opened, the new 48,000-square-foot completions facility at
Quad Cities Airport in Moline, Ill., will offer a fully integrated
range of services including paint, interiors, cabinetry, cabin amenities
and avionics modifications. "It will be," says Elliott
Aviation President Wynn Elliott, "the most advanced aftermarket
completions center in the industry, rivaled only by those of the
major airframe manufacturers."
Elliott Aviation has managed to buck the trend that has afflicted
other completions centers by, as Wynn Elliott puts it, being successful
for enough years with its balance sheet and business strategy to
build a strong underpinning for its expansion plans. Closer scrutiny
shows that it has gradually added the capability to provide cabin
refurbishment and painting while an aircraft is stripped out for
major avionics refit.
Yes, Wynn Elliott allows, the avionics business has been crucial
in bringing in the airplane in the first place. Performing other
work at the same time was a natural evolution.
"Just to paint an aircraft is not in itself an attractive
business proposition," he says. But it makes sense when it
is part of a value-adding package.
Elliott Aviation holds more than 50 STCs, including at least 35
for TAWS and TCAS alone. It has no fewer than 15 STC programs currently
under way, and will make some announcements here at NBAA.
It recently completed the first certification of Universal Avionics'
flat-panel products for the Raytheon Beech King Air 200/300/350.
The program was designed to provide operators a variety of options
in equipment and price points: a single MFD-640, a single EFI-550,
two EFI-550 displays or four EFI-550 displays. Operators can add
an MFD-640 to any of these combinations. This also includes an STC
for Universal TAWS. Several customers have already signed up, according
to Wynn Elliott.
Similar programs are now under way for the Hawker 700, Falcon
10 and Learjet 35.
The Falcon 10 program includes STCs for TCAS-4000, Universal TAWS
and RVSM. RVSM certification was done using dual Integrated Solution
& Support Air Data Display units interfaced with the AP-105
autopilot in cooperation with Aeromech, Inc. of Mojave, Calif. Eventually
all Falcon 10 autopilots will be certified.
The Learjet 35 program will provide options for up to four Universal
EFI-550 flat-panel displays and Universal TAWS displayed on an MFD-640.
Again, a variety of options are available to meet operator price
points.
Another program currently being developed is an STC for a Rockwell
Collins Pro Line 21 Continuum radio package in the Hawker 700A.
Multiple STCs will be available, including a five-display FDS-2000,
Mark VIII EGPWS to meet the TAWS mandate, TCAS-4000 and AHC-3000
AHRS. RVSM certification will also be included with the initial
package.
Elliott Aviation continues to pursue launch customers for other
Universal and Collins flat-panel installations in a variety of aircraft,
according to Wynn Elliott.
Elliott Aviation's exhibit here at NBAA includes a live mockup
of the five-display flat-panel avionics package for the Hawker 700,
as well as a mockup of a typical cabin completion.-John Morris
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STC Awarded
Elliott Aviation and Ultra Electronics are announcing
here at NBAA that they have been awarded Supplemental Type
Certification for a new Active Noise and Vibration Control
System for the Raytheon Beech King Air B200. The system, which
has been jointly developed by the two companies, significantly
reduces propeller noise throughout the aircraft, with the
reduction in noise being especially dramatic in the cockpit
and noteworthy throughout the cabin.
Instead of loudspeakers the system uses small,
active shakers mounted to the fuselage frames and completely
hidden behind the trim. These shakers introduce vibrations
opposite to those being produced by the propellers (the cause
of the noise vibrations); the two vibrations cancel each other,
thereby reducing noise and vibration and creating a far quieter,
more comfortable and relaxing interior.
The systems use technology that Ultra has been
supplying to Bombardier Aerospace for the Challenger has been
fitted as standard equipment to the Q Series regional turboprops
since 1997.
Raytheon is installing the system in two of
its new King Air B200 demonstrator aircraft. The system will
be offered as a customer option by Raytheon, with the possibility
of becoming a standard feature of the B200 aircraft.
Meanwhile Elliott's speaker-based cabin noise reduction system
is available for retrofit for King Air 200s, 300s, 350s, Raytheon
1900Ds and Twin Commanders, and is standard equipment on all
new King Air 350s. It has been installed in well over half
of all King Air 350s produced.
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