First OEM To Receive Type Certification On New Airframe

Quest Aircraft announced this week its Kodiak turboprop has received Type Certification (TC) for modifications optimizing the utility aircraft for parachute jump operations. The standard airworthiness certificate is a first for an aircraft delivered new from the factory to the end user.

The Rhine Army Parachute Association (RAPA), the aircraft's owner, took delivery of the aircraft in late June and flew the Kodiak to their home base in Bad Lippspringe, Germany. RAPA is a service charity of the British Army and provides military training, sport training for both military personnel and civilians and parachuting/skydiving exercises and competitions.

The Kodiak officially entered service last week when it was utilized in a jump competition, marking the first time competitive jumps were made from a Kodiak.

"When RAPA approached us about the Kodiak we looked at various options for delivering an aircraft modified for jump operations," said Paul Schaller, Quest President and CEO. "Based on input from RAPA and other potential customers, as well as what we had learned about the airframe during the FAA certification process, we decided to develop and certify the jump package ourselves so we could deliver a certified Kodiak directly to the customer."

British Major Paul Moore, Commandant of the Joint Services Jump Center and assigned to RAPA, worked with Quest during the certification process and was the first to take the initial test jumps after certification. "Everything went very, very smoothly," said Moore. "We are exceedingly pleased with the equipment and modifications that Quest made to the Kodiak. The aircraft will serve our needs very well."

Moore said RAPA had looked at several different aircraft to replace its aging fleet and decided on the Kodiak because of its "high utility and versatility." Quest designed and installed a roll-down door which allows for easy egress and is also closable from the pilot's seat. Other installed equipment includes a wing-mounted camera, a 14-inch photographer step, wind deflector, jump lights, and internal and external grab rails that run the full length of the door.

Moore and his crew departed Sandpoint on June 30, and arrived in Bad Lippspringe on July 5. "The performance and endurance of the Kodiak was amazing," said Moore of the trip home. "We knew this was a great airplane, but the flight home was a true testament to the outstanding performance of the Kodiak."

The flight across the Atlantic was completed with the Kodiak's standard fuel capacity, without ferry tanks.

"Since we've rolled out the Kodiak to the commercial marketplace, we've had interest from a wide variety of market segments," added Quest's Schaller. "We've had inquiries from both the private and military sectors for parachute operations, so we are really pleased to now have a Kodiak in the field performing this mission. We anticipate more customers ordering this option."

The Kodiak received FAA Type Certification on May 30 2007, and began customer deliveries in December.

FMI: www.questaircraft.com