CAV Aerospace, Inc. will begin retrofits of Cessna 208B Caravans in early April. New production Caravans began receiving TKS upgrades in 2008, when Cessna made the switch from pneumatic boots to CAV Aerospace’s TKS system. The retrofits in Salina, Kansas, will bring the existing fleet up to current ice protection standards.
“Caravan operators need safety and dispatch reliability. TKS provides both,” explains CAV Aerospace President Kevin Hawley. “The TKS system on the Cessna Caravan has set a new, much higher standard for ice protection. It’s easy for an already burdened flight crew to use and is the only ice protection system that provides runback ice protection aft of the leading edges.”
The runback protection he referred to is the product of the TKS system’s unique design, he said. The TKS system provides ice protection by pumping a freezing point depressant fluid from thousands of laser-drilled holes in titanium panels on the leading edges of the aircraft’s wings, struts, horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizer. The fluid then streams along both the bottom and top of the airframe until it is carried off the trail edge.
The TKS system for the Cessna 208B holds 20.8 gallons of fluid which provide a maximum endurance of 3 hours 25 minutes. The system has three modes of operation: Normal, High and Maximum, as well as a separate on-demand pump dedicated to clearing the windshield. A backup mode provides an added layer of protection.
Operators of Caravans other than the 208B model are not without their own TKS option. “If it’s a Cessna Caravan, there’s a very good probability that we can provide a TKS system for it,” Hawley said. “CAV Aerospace has delivered TKS systems for over 6,000 aircraft, from single engine pistons, like the Cirrus SR22, to business jets and even UAV flying in military environments.”
For more information: 888-865-5511 or WeepingWings.com
Nice to hear that TKS installations have been started on caravans. Its a great advantage.