STC for Turbo Beaver Retrofit Program Gives New Life to the Legendary Aircraft

Valdor Aircraft, a Canadian company based in Val-d’Or, Quebec, has obtained a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from Transport Canada to convert the legendary deHavilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver from radial piston engines to Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engines. The conversion also includes the installation of BX wings, which are manufactured at Valdor Aircraft’s facility in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

The retrofit program is part of Valdor Aircraft’s sustainability initiative to extend the Beaver’s service life by several decades. The Beaver is widely regarded as the “most versatile bush plane ever built in the world of aeronautics”, and has been used for various missions such as cargo transport, firefighting, tourism, and humanitarian aid.

“The Beaver was originally built in the late 1940s, and maintaining radial engines that are nearing end-of-life has become increasingly more difficult,” said Gaétan Gilbert, president and senior director of Valdor Aircraft. “We worked with Pratt & Whitney Canada to retrofit the Beaver with a PT6A-34 to increase its reliability, durability, and performance.”

The conversion program meets Transport Canada’s latest requirements, and involves modifying and upgrading many of the Beaver’s original systems and features, such as the electrical system, the fuel system, the propeller, the landing gear, and the cockpit.

“Collaboration is key when propelling an industry and joining forces with Valdor Aircraft continues the legacy of the BX Turbo Beaver, upgraded with the PT6A-34 engine,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada. “We are bringing new life to the aircraft and creating value for operators for many years to come.”

The PT6 engine is one of the most popular and reliable turboprop engines in the world, with over 500 million hours of flight time in its 60 years of service. The PT6 engine powers more than 155 different aviation applications, and offers significant advantages over the original engine, such as higher power, lower weight, better fuel efficiency, and lower maintenance costs.

Valdor Aircraft has received many inquiries from Beaver owners who are interested in the conversion program, and is now ready to begin modifying aircraft at its facility. The company expects to complete 10 to 12 conversions per year, and plans to expand its market to other countries in the future.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, AvionnerieValdor.com, PrattWhitney.com.