Tempe, Arizona-based Van Horn Aviation is expanding the market for its composite 206L LongRanger main rotor blades with STC validations from Canada and Brazil. Canadian STC approval was granted on December 3 after the Brazilian ANAC greenlighted the STC on November 29. These approvals followed an FAA STC nod in August and both cover the 206L-1, -3, and -4 fleets. In addition, Transport Canada validation applies to 206Ls.

“We’ve had orders from several Canadian 206L operators since the FAA STC was announced in August,” said Van Horn Aviation president Dean Rosenlof. “We’re pleased that both Transport Canada and ANAC were able to validate the FAA STC within a few months so we could get the product to our customers in these countries.”

The blades are designed with corrosion and damage-resistant carbon fiber skin, titanium root grip plates, foam core, and electroformed nickel and stainless steel abrasion strips along the leading edge. Van Horn Aviation customers have reported speed increases of one to three knots thanks in part to the NASA-designed laminar flow airfoil that enables air to move more efficiently over the blade.

“Our 206L main rotor blades offer performance and fiscal improvements over the OEM blades, at nearly the same initial acquisition cost,” said Rosenlof.