Story ID: 
JetTech panel mods update early Citations
By: Harry Weisberger
Caption: JetTech, a Colorado specialist in designing and obtaining STCs for RVSM and panel modernization, is at Booth No.
Word Count: 434
JetTech, a Colorado specialist in designing and obtaining STCs for RVSM and panel modernization, is at Booth No. 4960 to publicize its glass-cockpit STC for pre-serial number 275 Cessna Citation 500s as well as RVSM retrofit certifications for the Piper Cheyenne 400LS and Cheyenne IIIA.Based at Rocky Mountain Executive Airport (BJC), the former Jeffco Airport in Broomfield, JetTech has created a panel upgrade for first-generation Citations, which it calls Glass Cockpit in a Box. The hardware is based upon replacement of the Bendix “bull’s-eye” attitude director indicator and horizontal situation indicator with form, fit and function interchangeable four-inch Sandel LED- illuminated electronic flight instruments–the SA4550 EADI and SN4500 EHSI.
The complete kit also includes a pre-cut instrument panel and interface wiring harness. JetTech is offering the STC’d package as a full shipment, which can include the optional Sandel SG102 solid-state directional gyro, or as discrete system components. The SG102 also has pitch and roll outputs but is not certified for attitude guidance.“Many Citation owners have asked for an affordable solution to upgrade their instrument panels with today’s glass-cockpit technology,” said Rob Irwin, JetTech founder and manager. “With kits starting at $20,950, our Glass Cockpit in a Box is not only affordable but will also help extend the useful life and increase the intrinsic value of these proven airframes.”The STC kits are designed to interface with the original Citation 500’s Bendix FGS 70 autopilot.JetTech bills itself as the first company to provide RVSM solutions for early Citation 500 aircraft and the only STC holder for all Piper Cheyenne 400LS and IIIA turboprops equipped with any OEM autopilot. JetTech’s group STC for Cheyennes is being amended to include the Cheyenne IIIA equipped with the King KFC-300 autopilot.Test flights were completed last month on a Cheyenne IIIA with a Chelton synthetic-vision EFIS and dual Thommen AD-32 digital altimeters replacing existing baro static indicators. The installation and flight testing were completed at Cheyenne Air Service, Washington, Pa.Complete JetTech Cheyenne IIIA RVSM installation prices start at $79,900. RVSM kits for the Cheyenne 400LS with the King KFC-400 autopilot sell for $159,000 installed, and include a new Thommen AC-32 air data computer, dual AD-32 altimeters, pitot-static plumbing and wiring harness.Group approval for the JetTech RVSM STCs eliminates the need for flight testing on each individual aircraft certification. For Cheyenne 400LSs with the Collins APS-65 autopilot, the installation includes two new Honeywell AM-250 digital altimeters, an air data interface unit, plumbing and harness, all for $139,000 installed.Visitors to the JetTech booth may register to win a custom-cut aluminum instrument panel–a $1,200 value.