After more than 6 years in the making, Valdor Aircraft announced that Transport Canada has authorized the work required to modify the most versatile bush plane ever built in the world of aeronautics. This project is part of a sustainability initiative designed to extend the Beaver's lifespan by several decades. The Supplemental Type Certificate recently granted by Transport Canada allows for the replacement of the Beaver's original piston engines with high-performance turboprop engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, along with the installation of BX wings, built entirely at the Val-d'Or plant. The ambitious retrofit program meets Transport Canada' latest requirements, and to achieve this, many of the Beaver's original systems and features have been modified and upgraded.
Gaétan Gilbert, president and senior director, Valdor Aircraft, commented: "The Beaver was originally built in the late '40s, and maintaining radial engines that are nearing end-of-life has become increasingly more difficult. We worked with Pratt & Whitney Canada to retrofit the Beaver with a PT6A-34 to increase its reliability, durability and performance.We've been committed to this project since the very beginning, and believe that it's one of the biggest aeronautical development projects for a small to medium- sized company in Canada.
I would like to thank Transport Canada for seeing this project as an opportunity to breathe new life into the legendary Beaver, and for recognizing the quality of the work accomplished by the team at Valdor Aircraft. Thank you to our investors and partners for their support, and thank you to our employees for their determination and professionalism, which made this great project possible. This is a tribute to our team and a great achievement for Valdor Aircraft."
Anthony Rossi, vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada, said: "We're proud to be working with Valdor Aircraft on this important project, because together we're giving new life to a legacy aircraft. This year, Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6 engine celebrates its 60th anniversary, and marks 500 million flight hours. Our know-how and, most of all, our determination to create a sustainable environment in which existing technologies are revisited, are helping to showcase not only our products, but also local companies."
Beaver owners and operators have been waiting for the approval of the STC, and Valdor Aircraft’ team of experts is now ready to begin modifying the aircraft. The project is helping to diversify the Abitibi-Temiscamingue economy, all while creating new jobs in an exciting field.
Images credit: Jean-Philippe Richard
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