True Blue Power has announced that Finnoff Aviation Products has selected the company's TB44 (46 amp-hour) main ship battery for a lithium-ion battery STC kit, available on Pilatus PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 single-battery aircraft. An amendment to include dual-battery aircraft is currently in progress.

“We are especially impressed with the significant weight savings of 32 pounds over the lead acid battery, as well as the high and low temperature advantages, without having to remove the battery in cold-soak conditions,” says Pat Finnoff, VP of marketing for Finnoff Aviation Products. “This especially speaks to the PC-12, which is so suitable for these adverse weather situations.”

True Blue Power's TSO-certified TB44 lithium-ion aircraft battery utilises sophisticated NanoPhosphate lithium-ion chemistry available to deliver power, safety, life, weight savings and energy. In addition to superior performance, the engine start battery offers PC-12 owners a long list of operational benefits, including: faster, cooler engine starts; longer life for power plant components; reduced risk of ‘hot start’; lower interstage turbine temperature; rapid recharge of 15 minutes for complete recharge when the battery is fully discharged on a typical aircraft; eight-year (average) useful battery life; two-year maintenance intervals; reduced replacement intervals; increased aircraft appreciation value; good high temperature and cold weather performance; and improved dispatch reliability:

“The TB44 is a significant performance upgrade for PC-12 operators currently utilising heavier, more maintenance-intensive batteries on these aircraft,” explains Erik Ritzman, director of True Blue Power. “The TB44 aircraft battery is reliable, safe, low-maintenance and ideal for operation in even the most challenging environments.”