Additional Certifications Are On The Way, Engine Management System By Rockwell Collins

By Anthony Liberatore

Officials from Rotax announced Tuesday at AirVenture that the new Rotax 912 iS Fuel Injected engine received ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) certification on July 16th. The ASTM Standard F2339-06 is the benchmark for design and manufacture for light sport aircraft.

Christian Mundigler, Manager of Rotax Aircraft Engines, said that with the same TBO as the current 912's the Si variant will enter the marketplace with a 2000 hr TBO. Some of the design features Mundigler noted were it is a 100 hp engine that weighs 140.2 pounds, and is has the ability to burn Mogas, Avgas, and E10. The iS also has a 20 percent improvement in fuel economy over the carburetor equipped 912's. This fuel economy increase can translate into much lower operating cost for an FBO in a training environment, up to $4,000 per 100 hrs flown. Other design improvements included  a redesigned oil pump, to a 6 chamber design.

But the major change is the iS being equipped with a  Digital Engine Control Unit (ECU) developed by Rockwell Collins. The redundancy of the Rockwell system integrating with this engine includes, dual fuel injectors per cylinder, dual ignition coils, as well as dual generators. To discuss their relationship with Bombardier BRP, Mundigler introduced Ben Russ from Rockwell Collins, who spoke of Rockwell's current aerospace markets and elaborated on the 912 iS's ECU.

To facilitate the integration of the 912 iS to airframes, Rotax can equip the 912 IS with their Power-Pac, which consist of a standardized exhaust system and a  tubular mounting suspension frame on the rear of the engine to simply motor mount design and attachments points to the existing airframe. The 912 iS is also compliant with current European noise reduction requirements.

Rotax is expecting the full production Type Certificate for the 912 iS in August, with FAR 33 Certification expected to come shortly thereafter.

(Pictured L-R Christian Mundigler, Ben Russ)

FMI: www.rotax.com