Twin Commander Fleet Support Continues; Now Includes
Resolving Insurance Issues
More than half a century after Ted Smith's legendary Aero Commander
emerged, some 1,800 are still flying, half of them turboprops.
Improvements and support offered by Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation
(Booth 3635) include the Meggitt MAGIC EFIS suite, which will
soon be available for all 690 and 695 versions and is being offered
at the show this week with generous discounts.
Also available are more extensive airframe upgrades in the form
of the Dash 10 (TPE330-10T turboprop re-engine; 153 completed
so far) and factory refurbished Renaissance Grand Commander (the
36th of which is shortly to emerge.) Operators of the 500S, 690
and 695 can also obtain replacement main spars built to a higher
specification than the original.
Now available as an option for Dash 10s is the Aero Air Super
Q three-blade quieter propeller retrofit, while an RVSM package
is being prepared in conjunction with AeroMech Inc for 690C/D,
695/A/B versions originally marketed as the Commander Jetprop
840, 900, 980 and 1000.
Meanwhile, Twin Commander's general manager Jeffery Cousins has
been working on behalf of owners to assure nervous insurers that
the Commander fleet is "actively supported and superbly maintained
and that Twin Commander pilot training is the best there is."
This initiative has brought results, with underwriters now differentiating
between supported and unsupported aircraft and carefully evaluating
hull value according to the presence or absence of upgrades.
