Maxcraft Avionics Ltd, one of the largest avionics facilities in Canada, has teamed up with Air Tindi to retrofit their DHC-7 fleet of aircraft with a Garmin Flightdeck suite consisting of:
- Dual Garmin G700TXi primary flight displays
- Dual GTN 750Xi GPS/Nav/Com/MFDs
- Dual GTX3000 ADS-B diversity transponders
- GTS8000 TCAS II correlated traffic
- GWX75 weather radar
- TAWS-A terrain awareness
- Dual GDC7400 air data computers
- Dual GRS7800 precision attitude heading reference systems
- Collins ALT-4000 radar altimeters
The Dash 7 first flew in 1975 with 113 aircraft built as a four-engine turboprop regional airliner with short take-off and landing (STOL) performance.
This program will greatly extend the operational life of Air Tindi’s DHC-7 fleet, with reduced maintenance costs, enhanced situational awareness and substantial weight savings.
Importantly, Maxcraft has listened to many Northern operators requiring a solution for dealing with limitations of magnetic compass referenced operations. Maxcraft liaised with Garmin to provide a “DG Free Mode” on the Garmin suite that allows operations North of 65 degrees latitude.
This feature was instrumental in Air Tindi’s decision to go with a Garmin Flightdeck and will be equally valuable to other operators requiring free-gyro mode operations. Maxcraft’s Design Approval Organization (DAO) is developing the integrated design package and the required STC approvals for this platform. Target for completion of the first aircraft including certification is Q4, 2024.
“The De Havilland DHC-7s are true workhorses; with this flightdeck modernization program, we are delivering system reliability and improved functionality to the pilots,” said Daryl MacIntosh, president of Maxcraft Avionics. “The additional connectivity to a multitude of avionics in the cockpit increases situational awareness and redundancy.”
According to Air Tindi, CEO, Chris Reynolds: “Maxcraft has been working with us for the last year to find the right solution for us. We anticipate significant benefits with this retrofit and are pleased to partner with Maxcraft on this initiative.”
This press release was prepared and distributed by Maxcraft Avionics.
