Aircraft float specialist Wipaire has received Technical Standard Order C27A approval from the FAA for its Wipline C13000S composite floats. The TSO award is the first stage of approval, validating the design and production data. The new floats will undergo fit and finish refinements and will be flight-tested as the program homes in on a supplemental type certificate for fitment to the DHC-6 Twin Otter.
“We are thrilled to achieve this milestone,” said president and CEO Chuck Wiplinger. “We did not just develop a float; we also gained significant composite expertise that will support the next generation of our products.”
The South Saint Paul, Minnesota-based company has developed the floats with aerospace-grade carbon fiber, achieving considerable savings in weight. They use the same strut attachments as the existing all-metal Wipline 13000 floats.