Lead-acid then nickel-cadmium have been aviation standards when it came to battery technology. But that is changing. Modern aircraft are being equipped with lithium-ion technology, not only for instrument backup systems but also for main-ship battery applications.
While this may worry some pilots and aircraft operators, it shouldn’t be cause for concern. The lithium-ion technology used for aircraft today is far more stable than any of the technologies found in mobile devices or laptops. And it is getting better every day.
Here at NBAA 2015 True Blue Power, a division of Mid-Continent Instrument (Booth C9639), announced that its TB44 nanophosphate-cell lithium-ion main-ship battery received a Transport Canada Part 25 supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation on the Bombardier Dash 8 100/200/300. True Blue Power worked with engineering and development partner Avmax Group of Canada to develop the STC, and the two companies have filed for FAA Part 25 approval of the lithium-ion battery upgrade.
Avmax’s engineering division is a Transport Canada-authorized Design Approval Organization. Last year the company issued more Canadian Dash 8 STCs than all other Canadian Dash 8 STC holders combined. In the process of developing the STC for True Blue, Avmax found that when compared to nicad batteries typically used on the Dash 8 the TB44 reduces empty weight and increases usable load by 56 to 80 pounds, depending on the aircraft model. Maintenance intervals on the TB44 are every two years, and high temperature and cold weather tolerances of -40 degrees C to +70 degrees C (-40 degrees F to +158 degrees F) mean that maintenance costs per aircraft are reduced, as well. A Dash 8 operator switching from nicad to a TB44 battery could save as much as $25,000 per year per aircraft, according to Avmax’s data.
“Avmax is the largest private owner of Dash 8 aircraft in the world and it recognizes the significant value our certified lithium-ion batteries bring to this platform,” said Rick Slater, True Blue Power division manager. “Avmax’s engineering division provides a wealth of experience that will be extremely valuable for subsequent STC efforts on the long list of aircraft awaiting our lithium-ion batteries.”
What makes the True Blue lithium-ion batteries suitable for aircraft applications is the proprietary nanophosphate cells, which are chemically stable, unlike metal-oxide lithium-ion chemistries, and can provide thousands of cycles at 100 percent depth of discharge. The TB44 is rated at three times the energy per kilogram when compared to standard lead-acid or nicad batteries typically used on the Dash 8 and similar aircraft.