Company Produces 100th Re-Life Wing Box
The FAA has granted an STC to Ikhana Aircraft Services (Ikhana)
for their RWMI DHC-6 Re-Life Fuselage program. The DHC process
re-manufactures the DHC-6 fuselage, extending it with an
additional 66,000 hours/132,000 cycles of fatigue life. It is
applicable to DHC-6-100/-200/-300 Series Twin Otter airplanes.
“We are providing an essentially new aircraft with a full
useful life,” states Mr. John Zublin, President/CEO of
Ikhana. “The RWMI DHC-6 Re-Life Fuselage STC is the
culmination of several years of development and further adds to our
Twin Otter product line. This is not a standard aircraft
refurbishment but an option for re-creating value by
re-manufacturing a previously timed-out asset.”
The original -100, -200, and -300 Series Twin Otters, produced
from 1965 to 1988, have a fuselage fatigue life limit of 66,000
hours/132,000 cycles. The initial airplane used for the STC
program, a DHC-6-300, was modified at Ikhana’s Murrieta,
California facility. The RWMI DHC-6 Re-Life Fuselage STC
complements Ikhana’s RWMI DHC-6 Re-Life Wing Box STC, which
has been a commercial product since STC award in 1996.
On that note, the company said Monday it has started production
of the hundredth RWMI DHC-6 Re-Life Wing Box Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) modification since the STC was awarded in 1996.
“Our DHC-6 Twin Otter Re-Life Wing Box Program gives
operators the most cost effective means for preserving the
aircraft’s full useful life,” states Mr. John Zublin,
President/CEO of Ikhana. “Reaching the milestone of our one
hundredth wing set validates our Re-Life concept and we are glad to
play our part in the DHC-6’s legacy as a remarkable
airplane.”
The company says the Re-Life Wing Box STC complements
Ikhana’s DHC-6 Re-Life Fuselage STC project and fits well
with other customizations offered such as enhanced air
conditioning, glass cockpit avionics, executive interiors, camera
hatches and maritime patrol systems.
Aircraft which have been through the Re-Life process will be
further customized for a variety of operations including executive
interiors, airliners, and special missions platforms. Options such
as increased gross weight capability, enhanced air conditioning,
glass cockpit avionics, VIP amenities, cargo handling, camera
hatches and maritime patrol systems are available. Ikhana is
currently accepting production deposits for modification slots.