WEST STAR AVIATION INSTALLS FIRST API BLENDED WINGLETS ON FALCON 50EX
West Star Aviation has installed the first set of Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) blended winglets on a customer-owned Dassault Falcon 50EX. API received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the FAA on the winglets in September 2012, with EASA approval pending.
In addition to the Falcon 50EX, West Star Aviation’s East Alton (ALN) team has accomplished several winglets installations, including the installation of spiroid winglets on a Falcon 50 as a research project. West Star also completed the first Falcon 900EX installation, which was used as the FAA certification aircraft. Since the launch of the winglets by API, West Star has completed several Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000 series aircraft. West Star is authorized by API to install winglets on the Falcon 900B, 900C, 900DX, 900EX, 900EX EASy, Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 2000EX EASy and Falcon 50, 50EX.
The blended winglets reduce wingtip vortex, resulting in less drag, lower fuel burn and superior climb and cruise. Installation of the winglets can cut fuel consumption by up to 7% and allow you to fly up to 18 knots faster at the same rate of fuel burn.
“Our team has extensive knowledge and experience with these installations,” says Jim Swehla, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, West Star Aviation. “Aviation Partners, Inc. has a strong program for the Dassault Falcon fleet of aircraft and we are excited to be able to offer it to our customers.”
West Star Aviation is also trained and certified by Dassault Falcon on the service bulletin for the dry-bay wing tank modification (dry-bay mod). The dry-bay mod can be accomplished by West Star concurrently when the wing planks are removed for the API winglet installation. West Star has completed the dry-bay mod on several Falcon 50, Falcon 900 and Falcon 2000 series aircraft.
In addition to multiple Falcon installations at the ALN facility, West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT) has long been one of the leading installation centers in the industry of the API winglets on the Hawker 800 and 800XP series aircraft.
