True Blue power gains EASA STC for lithium emergency power supply

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded True Blue Power the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the TS835 Series Lithium Emergency Power Supply (EPS) for Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 models. The TS835 Series Emergency Power Supply is the first lithium ion phosphate battery to gain STC approval by EASA for Beechcraft King Air 200/300 aircraft. The ETSO C179a-certified battery provides 24.5 VDC power for critical and standby equipment and maintains full capacity by recharging during normal flight operations. The battery’s sophisticated lithium ion  phosphate technology offers considerable advantages over lead-acid chemistry, including a 63 percent weight savings, which contributes to payload efficiency. The improved life expectancy easily outlasts the legacy lead-acid battery’s three-to-four year replacement schedule. 

True Blue Power, a division of Mid- Continent Instrument Co., Inc., teamed up with GAMA Engineering Ltd. And Adams Aviation Supply in the United Kingdom to secure the STC. GAMA Engineering performed the installation certification and Adams Aviation Supply has been named the  European distributor of the TS835 Series to King Air operators and service centers in that region.

“The STC will greatly benefit the King Air operators in Europe. It offers an easy-to-install, lower-cost-of-ownership option for their standby battery requirements,” explains Tom Genovese, director of sales for True Blue Power.

“We worked closely with GAMA Engineering and Adams Aviation Supply to develop a certification that would benefit a large number of operators and determined the King Air 200/300 was the best platform for this project.” The TS835-1 is a direct replacement for the Beechcraft King Air 200/300’s original J.E.T. PS-835 lead-acid battery. The TS835-1 utilizes the same mounting rack, connector, wire harness and flight deck OFF/ARM/TEST switch. In most cases, the installation simply requires removing the original battery and inserting the TS835 into the existing 1/4 ATR mounting rack.