LONG BEACH, California – December 5, 2016 – Cascade Aircraft Conversions has signed a contract to purchase GE's H Series turboprop engines for its conversion supplemental type certificates (STCs) on Thrush and Air Tractor 300, 400 and 500 series agricultural aircraft.
The announcement builds on a deal signed in 2009, when Cascade signed a contract to purchase GE's M601 turboprop engines for its conversion supplemental type certificates (STCs) on Thrush and Air Tractor 300, 400 and 500 series agricultural aircraft.
In 2010, GE Aviation named Cascade Aircraft Conversions as an Authorized Service Center for M601 and H80 engines. As part of the agreement, Cascade Aircraft Conversions offers comprehensive line maintenance, removals and re-installations of engines and LRUs and engine spares for the M601 and H80 engine families. GE Aviation provides Cascade Aircraft Conversions with comprehensive material support and training.
"Cascade Aircraft Conversions has a deep understanding of the M601 and H Series engines and the benefits the engine conversions offer to Thrush and Air Tractor aircraft owners," said Norman Baker, President & Managing Executive of GE Aviation Czech, GE's Business & General Aviation Turboprops. "GE is pleased to build on its relationship with Cascade and looks forward to working together to offer the best-in-class capability of the H Series turboprop to operators around the world."
"We are pleased and gratified to be in a working relationship with GE Aviation, and we look forward to continuing our long and mutually beneficial association, providing engines and service to the agricultural aviation industry,” said Doran Rogers, founder and CEO of Cascade Aircraft Conversions, LLC. “By incorporating the latest technological advances of the GE H Series turboprop, we’ll begin a new generation of Cascade conversions that builds on the significant fleet we’ve established in the agricultural marketplace.”
The H Series turboprop family incorporates GE's 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and advanced materials to create a powerful, fuel-efficient, durable engine with no recurrent fuel nozzle inspections and no intermediate hot section inspection required for a multitude of uses: agricultural, business turboprops, commuter and utility aircraft. GE offers H Series turboprop engines with 4000-hour time between overhaul (TBO) for Agriculture, Utility and Business Aviation Aircraft. An extension program is also offered to extend TBOs for in-service engines.
About Cascade Aircraft Conversions
Cascade Aircraft Conversions is a diverse multi-faceted total aircraft rebuild and refurbishing company in addition to its aircraft conversion offerings. Located in Washington State, Cascade has been serving the agricultural aviation industry nationally and internationally for more than 35 years.
About GE Aviation
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.