On the eve of the LABACE show, Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) received ANAC validation of the FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for its blended winglets on the Dassault Falcon 900. The surfaces offered by the company for the Falcon 900 are “high Mach” blended winglets, based on the company's previous blended winglets but optimized for the high cruise speeds that the Falcon can achieve.

When the drag-reducing winglets are installed, Falcon 900 operators can expect to achieve a 5 percent range increase at Mach 0.8 and an improvement of more than 7 percent at optimum long-range cruising speeds. Because of the lower fuel burn, the winglets also reduce carbon emissions, while adding significantly to the visual impact of the aircraft, according to API.

The blended winglets on offer for retrofit are identical to those installed by Dassault on the Falcon 900LX and 2000LX/LXS/S at the factory.

Currently more than 450 Falcon 50s, 900s and 2000s are flying with API’s winglets. Penetration of the STC into the in-service fleet stands at around 50 percent of the Falcon 2000s and 30 percent of the Falcon 900s. Dassault Aircraft Services, Duncan Aviation and StandardAero, all of whom are represented at LABACE, are amont the companies API has authorized to install the winglets.

API’s blended winglet designs are also available for the Hawker 800, while the company’s split-scimitar winglet is factory-standard on the Boeing BBJ range, with retrofits available for older aircraft.