“We were delighted to have been part of the conceptualization and certification of the 50Dash4 program. Now that it’s a proven performer, the best future for the program is in the hands of a strong, full-service business aircraft MRO such as West Star,” Ken Goldsmith, Jr., managing director of Yankee Pacific Aerospace, said. The relationship goes back to 2006. “When we were Premier Air Center in East Alton, Illinois, we came up with the idea of a Falcon 50 upgrade to Honeywell TFE731-4-1C engines. The upgrade significantly increases range and payload through improved takeoff performance, higher initial cruise altitudes, increased cruise speed and reduced fuel consumption. The TFE731-4-1C also has increased inspection intervals and a special MSP rate from Honeywell versus the standard TFE731-3/3D-1C engines,” Jim Swehla, president of Premier Aircraft and executive v-p of sales & marketing for West Star, told AIN. “We teamed with Yankee Pacific in 2006 for their engineering expertise and formed Premier Aircraft, with West Star doing the installations–six since May 2007.” Swehla said the upgrade takes about six weeks. The company made the STC available to other MROs, and Midcoast Aviation, Duncan Aviation and Jet Aviation became membership partners.