Textron Aviation has announced FAA STC approval for a new Beechcraft King Air ground cooling aftermarket upgrade for King Air 200 and 300 series turboprops. With the King Air ground cooling system installed, customers can provide flood cooling into the cabin before departure, enhancing passenger and crew comfort.

Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron, through a global network of service and part centres, mobile service units and 24/7 1CALL AOG support.

“We continue to push the boundaries of customer service options for aircraft owners,” says Brian Rohloff, senior VP of customer support at Textron. “The addition of the ground cooling system for our Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft demonstrates our commitment to maximising passenger comfort. Aircraft cabins often become heat soaked while waiting on the ground or in the hangar prior to departure, and we are proud to offer a solution to this by enabling operators to easily cool their aircraft without anyone needing to be on board.”

The ground cooling system enables King Air operators to cool the cabin before crew and passengers board, by plugging in a GPU, eliminating the need to power air conditioning systems via the aircraft's engine.

The ground cooling system, available exclusively for installation at Textron Aviation service centres, is now available for all King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft.