Tamarack Aerospace is looking to expand the application of a new active winglet system as it waits for the US Federal Aviation Administration to validate a European airworthiness certificate.
The Sandpoint, Idaho-based modification specialist already has received supplemental type certificates from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to install the fuel-saving winglet on the Cessna Citation Jet, CJ1+ and M2, says Brian Cox, chief operating officer of Tamarack.
FAA validation of the EASA certificate is expected in October at the earliest, he adds. Meanwhile, one aircraft completed installation in Europe in June and is now in operation.
Since receiving EASA approval last Janjuary, Tamarack has entered discussions with other business jet manufacturers about completing winglet modification as a retrofit and forward fit option, he says. Interest has ranged up to large business jet manufacturers and makers of commercial airliners, he adds. The Citation XLS and Embraer Phenom series jets are both targets, Cox says.
Tamarack’s winglet is installed with a load alleviation system — an aileron-like moving surface on the outboard section of the wing. A winglet increases the efficiency of the outboard wing section for generating lift. In extreme manoeuvres, the winglet generates too much lift, so the load alleviation system activates to reduce the force on the outboard wing section.
Tamarack advertises the winglet design improves fuel efficiency of a CitationJet by more than 20% for some models.
