STC issued to Distributor Alpha Aviation – Increase of market potential – STC for Piper PA-28 underway
Lichtenstein/Germany – The installation of the kerosene piston aircraft engine Centurion 2.0 in different models of the Cessna 172 series, has now also been certified in Japan. The Japanese aviation authority Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) handed out the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to Centurion Distributor Alpha Aviation Co., Ltd. in Tokyo on April 28, 2010. Thereby once again the sales potential has expanded for modern kerosene piston aircraft engines in the Asian market. Alpha Aviation is now aiming for the STC for the installation of the Centurion 2.0 in the Piper PA-28.
In Europe, the installation of the fuel-saving Centurion 2.0 in the Cessna 172, from American as well as French production, has already been certified since fall of 2006. The U.S. Supplemental Type Certificate of the Centurion 2.0 for installation in the Cessna production series 172 F to S and F 172 F to P followed in March 2007. The Cessna 172, also known under the name “Skyhawk”, is the best sold light aircraft in the General Aviation sector and has a total fleet number of 40,000 aircraft worldwide. Due to its robust design and good flight qualities, the Cessna 172 is mainly used in the area of pilot training.
“The current additional certifications are contributing to a significant increase in our sales potential in Asia,” explains Centurion CEO Jasper M. Wolffson. “In particular, the Japanese regional market is hardly developed for kerosene piston engines,” adds Wolffson. The approval of JCAB is important for the aviation market, since kerosene is much easier to purchase on the Japanese market than aviation gasoline (avgas). To that extent, the market is similar to many other countries in Asia and Africa where the availability of leaded avgas for conventional engines is extremely limited. In these regional markets Centurion also represents an important alternative propulsion option. The Centurion engines are fueled with kerosene, the standard aviation fuel, and are thus not affected by the availability of avgas. Recently, the lifetime of the Centurion 2.0 has been increased from 1,200 to 1,500 hours. All customers flying an aircraft still equipped with Centurion 1.7 can upgrade to the Centurion 2.0 to benefit from the lifetime extension. This is not only an opportunity for Cessna, Robin and Piper types but explicitly for all Diamond DA40 and DA42 as well. The weight of the Centurion 2.0 is the same as the weight of the Centurion 1.7 and it can be installed without any change of the cowling and the existing engine periphery. Thanks to its low consumption and emissions this modern aircraft engine is one of the most environment-friendly powerplants of General Aviation.
