Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Neb., reports it is developing a number of products and services including more emphasis on its ambitious reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) compliance project. Initial participants in the program, the Lockheed JetStar 731 and JetStar II, Duncan announced, have now been joined by the IAI Astra, Challenger 600 and Gulfstream II/IIB jets, and plans are under way to include other airframes in the near future.

Steve Elofson, company modification sales representative, noted there are a great many airframe designs with no existing OEM RVSM program that could benefit from Duncan Aviation’s experience. “Our solution brings RVSM compliance within reach as RVSM mandates between now and 2004 affect an increasing number of flight departments.”

The RVSM regulations are designed to cut separation minimums from the current 2,000 ft to 1,000 ft in the airspace between FL 290 and 350. Duncan Aviation’s Lee Bowes, manager of marketing, told AIN all current aircraft producers began looking at RVSM four to five years ago and found most aircraft can meet the requirements. “Older designs need to address the problem and our program runs tests on aircraft and upgraded avionics to ensure they can do the same,” said Bowes.

This calls for obtaining both operational and equipment STCs for those designs. Presently, Bowes reported, only the JetStar has obtained both of those, while equipment STCs have been earned for the JetStar II, JetStar 731, GII and GIIB and Challenger 600. Work is going forward to add operational STCs for all of those models.

To aid industry people needing to confront the sometimes confusing aspects of RVSM, the company has announced the release of a free booklet titled Straight Talk about RVSM, available by contacting Duncan by e-mail at rvsm@duncanaviation.com or by calling (402) 475-2611 or (800) 228-4277.

The last noted phone number also can be used to contact Chris Gress, components sales and marketing representative, about a new warranty agreement covering selected Parker Abex NWL pumps. Gress pointed out that while most warranty periods are only for one to two years, the arrangements with Parker’s ABEX NWL customer service center provide a warranty of five years or 3,500 hr on specified pump types.

Gress also can provide information on the company’s new approval as an authorized Honeywell lighting sales and service center for Grimes Lighting products.

Enhancement of its rapid response in-the-field aircraft-on-ground (AOG) and maintenance support for operators needing help for airframe or engine problems also was reported. Earlier in the year, for instance, TFE731 engine rapid response teams were added in the Dallas and Denver areas. Together, it was noted, these teams make four to six trips each week and provide service for Falcon, Hawker, Learjet, Citation, Astra, Westwind, Challenger, Gulfstream and King Air models. They also have experience with JT15D and CF44 engines. A toll-free number has been established to reach the groups, (877) 522-0111.

The company also announced it has earned multiple STCs for both the Challenger 600 and Gulfstream II/IIB and III models. An STC that applies to all those designs covers the Goodrich Aerospace GH-3000 ESIS (electronic standby instrument system) which replaces all three traditional instruments with a single, fully digital LCD display. Other STCs for the Gulfstream series cover the RVSM compliant Honeywell AZ-960 air-data unit and the Rockwell Collins FDS-2000 Phase II software upgrade.

Remaining STCs obtained by Duncan Aviation for the Challenger 600 include the FDS-2000 flight display; IS&S (Innovative Solutions and Support) air-data computer system; Rockwell Collins AHS-3000 AHRS; and Securaplane XL2410 emergency battery system. The Rockwell Collins digital attitude heading reference system (AHRS), Duncan Aviation noted, “uses an ultra lightweight, solid-state, micro-machined device in place of conventional spinning wheel gyros to deliver significantly greater reliability than traditional gyros or AHRS-based attitude and heading components.” The IS&S ADC, Duncan pointed out, is RVSM compliant “and is a key component in our RVSM program for the Challenger 600.”