Page 6 - Volume 15 Number 1

Additional STCs announced for IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle for Beechcraft King Air operators
Textron Aviation also announced supplemental type certification (STC) approval of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle on Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft including new production King Air 260 turboprops. STC approval on Pro Line 21-equipped King Air 300 series aircraft is anticipated soon.
These STCs are in addition to the approvals of the autothrottle on the Beechcraft King Air 200 series equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics, the Beechcraft King Air 300 series equipped with Pro Line Fusion avionics and new production Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprops, announced in August 2020.
The IS&S ThrustSense Autothrottle delivers precision control to optimize power output. The enhancement reduces pilot workload by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise and descent phases of flight.
The company says the ThrustSense Autothrottle is robust but lightweight and can be installed with minimal downtime and no structural modifications to the existing throttle quadrant. Implementation is seamless and pilot control is intuitive.
STC approval of Garmin G1000 NXi-equipped Beechcraft King Air C90, 200 and 300 series turboprops is expected early this year.
Besides incorporating the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle in the King Air 260 cockpit, an STC has been approved for the Pro Line Fusion-equipped Beechcraft King Air 200 series aircraft. STC approval on Pro Line 21-equipped Beechcraft 300 series aircraft is anticipated soon.
Also included is the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar which provides pilots with a fully automatic system that is optimized to detect short-, mid- and long-range weather. The system is designed to present an accurate picture of the weather around the aircraft, further reducing pilot workload.
Besides the cockpit, the King Air 260 cabin features newly designed seats created through an innovative pressure-mapping process that identifies ways to provide a more comfortable, relaxing journey for passengers, especially on longer flights.
“The Beechcraft King Air lineup is the most popular business turboprop in the world,” said Rob Scholl, senior vice president, Sales and Flight Operations for Textron Aviation. “It’s essential for us to continue exploring ways to bring innovation to such a renowned aircraft, and these enhancements will allow owners and operators to accomplish their various missions with greater comfort, technology and ease.”
This introduction comes on the heels of the recently announced King Air 360, which achieved FAA type certification in October with customer deliveries already underway. Production has already begun for the King Air 260, and certification and deliveries are expected early this year. KA
4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2021