Commuter Air Technology to provide 5‐blade MT composite propellers for King Air aircraft

PARIS, June 2015. Commuter Air Technology (CAT), an AGC Aerospace & Defense company headquartered in Oklahoma City, has added 5-blade MT Composite Propellers to its portfolio of King Air modification products. A new agreement with Finnoff Aviation Products grants CAT exclusive rights to sell MT Propellers to U. S. Department of Defense (DOD) customers and foreign government military sales (FMS) in which the U.S. Government is the contracting and/or financing agent.

“This product expands our performance-enhancement offerings for government and commercial clients,” says CAT President Darryl Wilkerson.

The 5‐bladed natural composite propellers are “at the forefront of sophisticated propeller design that enhances the performance and safety of King Air aircraft,” including King Air 90, 200, and 300 series aircraft.

A smaller propeller diameter and shorter blade size reduces noise due to slower tip speeds and increases the margin of safety between the blade tip and the ground reducing prop damage. The additional surface area of a 5‐blade propeller along with the slower tip speeds help to maintain smooth airflow over the blades, resulting in greater thrust for takeoff and climb. These composite propellers are 16% lighter than aluminum systems, meaning a more useful load and lower engine stress and starting temperatures.

“I am very excited to have Commuter Air Technology joining the MT‐Propeller family,” says Finnoff Aviation Products President Chris Finnoff. “With this cutting‐edge technology, customers of CAT will experience improved take off and climb performance, significantly decreased noise levels and noticeably decreased vibration, lowering the need for long‐term maintenance – all impressive benefits for a pilot to enjoy flying and reduce fatigue.”

Installation of the MT Composite Propellers is as easy as bolting it on and using the existing propeller speed governor, officials explain. The ability to replace a prop blade on wing at any of the 60 worldwide service centers (33 in North America) is appreciated by customers operating in the field that need quick, yet safe installations.

Finnoff Aviation Products was founded for the development, certification, and sales of products designed to enhance the performance, safety, comfort, and ease of use of the Pilatus PC‐12. Given the success of the MT propeller on the PC‐12, Finnoff is now the Distributor for the MT‐Five‐Bladed propeller for the King Air Beech products. As a former Beechcraft Distributor, Finnoff’s knowledge base of the King Air product line fits well into the MT propeller mission.

Commuter Air Technology delivers certified aircraft and customized aircraft modifications for commercial and government applications around the globe. Modifications range from flight performance enhancements and high‐density passenger systems to cargo conversions and corporate reconfigurations. With nearly 30 years of experience, Commuter Air Technology offers a full line of technical support services, such as crew provision, training, program management, aircraft maintenance, engineering, as well as STC process management and Airworthiness certifications. Commuter Air Technology is an AGC Aerospace & Defense company.

AGC Aerospace & Defense, the unifying brand of private equity group Acorn Growth Companies, is a global supplier of technologies, systems, and services supporting commercial and military programs. Capabilities within the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio range from financing, engineering, and integration services to manufacturing, logistics, and aircraft modifications.