Now You Can Burn Jet-A In Your 182... Legally

SMA Chairman and CEO Luc Pelon announced Monday at Oshkosh that they now own a supplemental type certificate (STC) to install their SR305-230 compression ignition engine in Cessna's venerable C-182. The FAA awarded the STC on July 21 2006, just in time for AirVenture.

"We did not use European approval to justify this installation; we earned this STC directly from the US FAA," said Pelon, "This STC was a long time coming, too long, but we've done it." Mr. Pelon recognized many of the individuals from SMA, SMA's parent organization SAFRAN Group, the FAA and others that were instrumental in reaching this milestone, remarking, "We do not stand alone."

SAFRAN Group includes such big names as Snecma, Sagem Avionics and Turbomeca Helicopter, and is partnered with GE on the production of the CFM 56 series engines.

SMA asserts the SR305-230 engine is safer, easier to use and more economical than the Continental 0-470 engine it replaces in the C-182. "Pilots that fly this aircraft spend a lot of time looking for the missing cockpit controls," according to Thierry Mantel, SMA's Production Manager, "they can't believe all you have to do is push up the throttle and go - no worry about mixture, prop control or time limits on maximum power."

The C-182 installation includes a ground use only prop control to facilitate a pre-takeoff operational check; the prop RPM is limited to 2200 for all flight operations. Fuel flows are billed as 12 GPH at 230 hp (100% power) and 7.9 GPH at 150 hp (65% power).

The STC adds 40 lbs to the weight of the aircraft. The SR305-230 is 60 lbs heavier than the 0-470, but you'll get back 20 lbs by using either a Hartzell or M-T composite propeller - the only kind approved for use with this engine.

Tim McDonald, a potential SMA customer attending the press conference told ANN he was very impressed with the claims of ease of use, durability and economy. "This engine is the wave of the future, especially with all the questions surrounding the future availability of avgas."

Tule River Aero-Industries (TRA), one of the five major maintenance facilities partnered with SMA in the US completed the installation of the SR305-230 engine in the C-182 used to complete testing required by the FAA in seeking the STC. "We have six confirmed and 15 informal orders," according to TRA Salesman Sheridan Rambo.

SMA is currently working STC's for Maule and Piper aircraft. With all the inter-company networking apparent in SMA's STC success, we wondered if SMA intended to partner with any other companies in the future.

"We need to be Americanized," said Pelon, "and we would like to offer a range of products. Both Deltahawk and Superior/Thielert are recognized names in America, and they both produce lower horsepower engines. We will definitely seek all opportunities that help us reach our goals."

Hmmmmmmm... Watch this space!

FMI: www.smaengines.com