ARINC Direct will offer two additional cost-effective RVSM upgrade packages for some of North America's most popular business jets. These include the Cessna 650 series-among the most widely used midsize corporate aircraft in North America-and the Lear Jet 35 series.

In cooperation with its partners AeroMech and Shadin Company, Inc., ARINC expects to have Supplemental Type Certificates for the Cessna and Lear airframes in the first quarter of 2004. Pricing will be announced at that time.

A similar ARINC Direct offering for the Cessna Citation 500 series was announced earlier this year. Priced in the low $70,000s, the "one-stop" package includes airframe modifications at ARINC's Colorado Springs facility. The avionics suite and supplemental type certificates (STCs) for this work are also available to qualified modification shops.

Approximately 6,000 North American business jets will need modification and certification to operate in the RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) airspace scheduled to go into effect on January 20, 2005 following recent FAA decisions.

"With the addition of support for the Cessna 650 and Lear Jet 35 series, ARINC Direct can now satisfy the RVSM modification needs of fully one-third of the North American business jet market-over 2,000 aircraft," stated David Poltorak, ARINC's Vice President of Business Aviation Services. "Ours is the most cost-effective RVSM solution these operators can find anywhere. In addition, we continue to support all aircraft types with RVSM height monitoring flights and the preparation of RVSM Approval Packages."

 
ARINC and AeroMech each have more than five years' involvement in RVSM compliance in Europe, North America, and other regions. ARINC recently announced an RVSM flight testing and modification program for operators in the Caribbean and South America, in cooperation with IATA, the International Air Transport Association.

RVSM airspace-already a reality in Europe-reduces operating cost and eases traffic congestion by opening up additional air routes between 29,000 and 41,000 feet, where business jets fly most efficiently. Most North American business aircraft-and virtually all built before 1997-will require RVSM modifications and RVSM height monitoring flights to become compliant for RVSM airspace.

The ARINC Direct RVSM service package includes Shadin avionics and modification labor, STCs, an RVSM height monitoring flight, and preparation of the operator's required FAA Approval Request Package.

FMI: www.arinc.com