Nextant Aerospace appointed Japi Aeronaves as its first factory approved service center in South America. The São Paulo, Brazil-based company will provide maintenance for the U.S. company’s remanufactured Nextant 400XTi jet and its new G90XT twin turboprop.
Founded in 1998, Japi is a FAR 145-approved maintenance facility. The privately-owned company already provides support for Textron Aviation’s Beechjet 400A and Beechcraft King Air models, from which the remanufactured Nextant aircraft are derived.
Nextant recently completed the flight test program for the G90XT and expects to receive FAA type certification imminently. The aircraft features new General Electric H75-100 turboprop engines, which the company says deliver an 11 to 12 percent improvement in specific fuel consumption compared to the original King Air 90. Nextant global sales and marketing executive vice president Jay Heublein told AIN that, taking account of reduced maintenance requirements, the G90XT will deliver a 20 percent reduction in direct operating costs.
“We’ve addressed all the shortcomings in the King Air,” said Heublein, “Introducing features such as a single-lever power control, complete exceedence protection so that the pilot does not have to worry about torque controls, and an all-new cooling system with 300 percent increased air flow.”
The cockpit features Garmin’s G1000 avionics suite, which Nextant says makes the G90XT more suitable for single-pilot use. The aircraft, for which several Latin American customers already have placed deposits, also features digital pressurization.
Heublein said that the 400XTi jet, featuring Williams FJ44-3AP turbofans and a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated flight deck, also has strong potential in Latin America since it has sufficient range to access the southeastern U.S. Heublein also sees potential for special missions and emergency medical applications. Nextant recently certified a new optional auto-throttle for the aircraft, which has three quarters of buyers have ordered.
Nextant’s dealer for the Latin America is Florida-based GFM Aviation, run by industry veteran Manuel Fasco. The company is not exhibiting aircraft here at the LABACE show, but did recently complete an extensive Latin American sales tour with the 400XTi.
