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.

FMI: www.ikhanagroup.com