After certifying an upgrade to install its eABS anti-skid braking system in Beechcraft King Airs last year, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Advent Aircraft Systems received STC approval for anti-skid brakes for the Pilatus PC-12 in April. The STC applies to all PC-12s equipped with a WAAS-capable GPS, including those with Honeywell Apex avionics or Garmin or IS&S WAAS GPS receivers.

The Advent eABS weighs just 27 pounds installed, comes with all required installation hardware, and requires no changes to the existing PC-12 brake system. List price for the PC-12 eABS is $50,604, not including installation at an Advent-authorized dealer.

Pilatus authorized fleet service center Atlas Aircraft Center performed the installation of the eABS on the PC-12 for the STC program. The PC-12 is owned by Atlas customer Joe Howley, past president of the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association. “Joe Howley’s agreement to let us use his PC-12NG for the certification aircraft was absolutely key to getting off to a great start,” said Advent managing director Ken Goldsmith. 

“Atlas’s performance was instrumental in completing the STC installation,” said Advent president Ron Roberts, “together with supporting all Advent company and final FAA ground and flight testing in a remarkable total elapsed time of only 24 calendar days, March 6th to 30th. This enabled us to work with the FAA to support the first customer delivery by the end of April, altogether a model of collaboration by all parties.”

The eABS reduces pressure on the braking system to provide the anti-skid modulation that prevents flat-spotting or blown tires. After landing, the eABS gives the pilot the capability to “confidently apply” the brakes immediately after touchdown or in other situations where hard braking is needed, such as a rejected takeoff. Essentially eABS acts as an alternative to reverse thrust, reducing prop erosion and the risk of FOD ingestion.

During the ground test and FAA flight testing, Advent pilot Peter Simpson noted that the eABS allowed “the pilot to immediately apply full braking on all surfaces, safely and reliably, with full directional control and tactile feedback from the pedals. The eABS system completely eliminates the past concern of skidding or blowing a tire when the braking force is too great, which was previously impossible to determine from the cockpit. At light, medium, and heavy weight configurations, on wet and dry paved runway surfaces, we consistently averaged landing ground rolls of about 710 feet at normal Vref approach speeds and light winds, which was truly remarkable.”

Advent’s eABS is certified on the Eclipse EA500/550 (multiple countries), King Air B300 and Textron Aviation T-6B/C, and in June, the King Air B200 will be added. Pilatus and King Air certifications are planned for Canada, Australia, and Europe and other countries.