BLR Aerospace (Booth No. C7034), announced here at NBAA that it expects supplemental type certificate (STC) approval soon for a King Air 90 Ultimate Performance Package, which will allow operators to realize the full potential benefits that BLR’s winglets can offer in operating efficiency. Approval was delayed by the U.S. government shutdown and furlough of non-essential FAA employees.

The STC, which would apply to the King Air 90’s flight manual supplement, will permit operators to take advantage of the performance improvements provided by the winglets, said Dave Marone, v-p of sales and marketing at BLR. These improvements include up to a 35-percent reduction in runway length requirements for Part 91 operations; up to 27-percent reduction in the same for Part 135 operations; and useful load increases of up to 1,500 pounds when operating on short fields.

The Ultimate Performance Package for the King Air 90 “will provide access to more runways, increase the margin of safety, provide practical access to higher flight levels, increase climb rate and improve virtually every aspect of King Air 90 flight,” said BLR.

BLR recently delivered its 600th winglet system, which are approved for the Beechcraft King Air 90, 200 and 300 models. The 600th winglet system, fitted to a King Air 200 GT, was delivered to Bssx Administradora e Participacoes of São Paulo, Brazil. “My client needs to land on short fields and wanted a better margin of safety,” said Alex Fischetti, who brokered the sale. He is director of aircraft sales for Aircraft Sales of Brazil.