Nextant Aerospace, a global leader in aircraft and component remanufacturing and builders of the 400XTi, G90XT, and 604XT, has successfully completed the test flight with a US Navy C-26D in Italy. This follows the successful certification flight completed earlier for the USAF T-1A AMP program.
In early April 2019, a United States Navy C-26D transport aircraft initiated the flight from Naples, Italy, to test a newly installed precision navigation upgrade that Nextant engineered to integrate with the aircraft’s Collins Aerospace Pro Line 21TM system. “This second, successful military test flight illustrates how Nextant is emerging as a premier government contractor for efficient and cost-effective modernization upgrades,” said Mark O’Donnell, Nextant Aerospace executive vice president. “Having successfully collaborated with Collins Aerospace on several major flight deck projects, Nextant is pleased to add this upgrade to the list of successful collaborations,” commented O’Donnell.
Based at US Naval Support Activities (NSA) Naples, the USN C-26D aircraft provides mission support and distinguished visitor airlift for the US Navy 6th Fleet and NATO. To improve the aircraft’s effectiveness, the Nextant upgrade features Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) to enable the aircraft to land with reduced minimums in poor weather.
Nextant modified Collins Aerospace Pro Line 21 Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to meet the requirements and needs of the military program. “Collins Aerospace chose us based on our ability to work quickly and efficiently with the FAA on military commercial derivative aircraft STC projects as well as our expertise on the Pro Line 21 STC,” noted Colonel Robert Leonard (retired USAF), Nextant Aerospace Director of Government Business.