Regional Air Express Cooperates with MT-Propeller

Metroliner soon with new five-blade Propeller

(April 29, 2008) -- Regional Air Express, based at the Airport Munster-Osnabruck cooperates with the company MT-Propeller, domiciled in Straubingen. The company, specialised in innovative technologies regarding the construction of propellers, has developed a new five blade prop for the Honeywell TPE Turboprop, formerly known as Garett.

In order to certify this new Propeller for the aircraft type Swearingen Metroliner, tests are still to begin in 2008. Regional Air Express will provide an aircraft of this type for the tests and the certification programme. After granted admission, Regional Air Express, as the first airline worldwide, will outfit all four of their Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner with the new five-blade prop.

At the time, about 350 Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner are operated worldwide by passenger- and freight airlines. Many of them have already indicated their interest in a conversion.

The new five-blade propeller is made out of light composite material, not out of aluminium. The hereby achieved reduction of mass leads to an increase in performance while relieving the engine accessories. From a passengers point of view the main advantage is the reduction of the cabin noise by 50 %. This effect can only be reached because of the additional fifth propeller blade resulting into a reduction of the propellers diameter, which consequently then has a greater distance to the cabin.

In addition the new propellers require less maintenance. Due to the fact that they are made out of composite material, corrosion does not play a role anymore. Furthermore, the lifetime, compared to an aluminium propeller, is unlimited.

Regional Air Express therefore leads the way and will then have the most silent 19 seater available on the market.

Source : Regional Air Express

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