Smyrna Air Center Named GE Designated Walter M601E Engine Installer

GE Aviation has named the Power 90 as a GE Preferred Engine Conversion for the King Air 90 aircraft. Additionally, Smyrna Air Center has been named a GE Designated Engine Installer for the Walter M601E engine on King Air 90 aircraft. Smyrna Air Center of Smyrna, Tennessee, holds the rights to the Power 90 conversion Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).

Power 90 is an FAA-approved STC conversion for King Air 90, A90, B90 and C90 aircraft in which the original engines are replaced with the more powerful 751 shaft-horsepower (shp) Walter M601E-11A engines. The E-11A engine delivers faster rates of climb, higher flight levels, faster cruise speed than current engines and lower acquisition and maintenance costs compared with competing conversions. To date, more than a dozen King Airs have been converted to M601E-11A engine power.
 
"Smyrna Air Center has proven to be a strong advocate for the Walter M601E engine with its Power 90 conversion on King Air 90 aircraft," said Brad Mottier, GE Aviation vice president and general manager of Business and General Aviation. "We are proud to recognize them with these designations and look forward to continuing to grow our relationship."

"We are excited about our affiliation with GE Aviation," said Erick Larson, chief operating officer of Smyrna Air Center. "Working with GE Aviation is an opportunity to showcase our Power 90 King Air conversion.  We believe King Air 90 owners and operators are hungry for an engine option like the Walter M601. Our relationship with GE Aviation lends credibility to the project and gives us much greater exposure for our Power 90 conversions."

Based at the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport (MQY) near Nashville, Smyrna Air Center is a one-stop aviation support FBO with a factory authorized maintenance and avionics center specializing in corporate and general aviation. Smyrna Air Center, an Avfuel provider, offers 54 T-hangars in addition to a large 38,000-square-foot common hangar that is both heated and air-conditioned. The FBO facility has conference rooms, wireless Internet, pilot lounges, 2,500 square feet of office space and a Part 145 Repair Station.

 Last summer, GE acquired certain assets of Walter Engines a.s., an aircraft engine design and manufacturing company with a distinguished history in aviation. Since that time, the new business, GE Aviation Czech s.r.o., completed its move to a new 135,000-square-foot facility in Prague. The new facility includes a new surface-treatment plant that was awarded certification by the Czech Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program in June. The site also boasts new engine test cells, which were completed earlier this month. The GE Aviation Czech facility employs about 400 employees.

The former Walter Engines produced more than 37,000 engines, and its Walter M601 turboprop engine family has attained 17 million flight-hours on 30 applications since its introduction in 1975.

FMI: www.ge.com/aviation, www.smyrnaaircenter.com