XL Aero Introduces Innovative Fuel Nozzle Test Stand to Engine MRO Market

XL Aerospace (www.xlaero.ca), a provider of innovative aviation engineering, repair and manufacturing solutions to the general-aviation and helicopter operations and maintenance, repair and overhaul sectors, announces it has developed and made available to the aviation market a new portable fuel nozzle test stand (FNTS).

"XL Aero’s new-to-market fuel nozzle test stand (current configuration supports a range of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C/T and PW206 and PW207 engine models) introduces several valuable features to engine maintenance, repair and overhaul operations that desire faster, easier-to-operate and more accurate fuel nozzle testing to offer their customers," says Tim Blaskovich, president and DAR for XL Aero.

Blaskovich explains that XL Aero’s fuel nozzle test stand offers a true turnkey solution, including a portable test stand, test fixtures, and training to facilitate regulatory approval. XL Aero also offers training, technical support, spare parts support and a full calibration and maintenance program.

The test stand is designed to be moved on its integral wheels and, unlike many conventional systems, only requires standard electrical and shop air connections for operation, with no requirement for water for system cooling. Other key features include in-situ mass flow calibration; built-in specific gravity test function; quick disconnect fixtures for quick interchange of fuel nozzles (requires no tools); and incorporation of a digital protractor, providing superior accuracy as relates to spray and skew angles. The XL Aero FNTS is sold as a ready-to-operate system, based on a “one-stop-shop” approach.

Another important feature of the XL Aero fuel nozzle test stand is its modular design, making it possible to re-configure the design to support a wide variety of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) engine fuel nozzles. And in keeping with the aviation industry’s commitment to developing environmentally friendly technologies that reduce carbon impact, XL Aero’s FNTS is currently developing a test process that utilizes environmentally friendly test fluids that can significantly reduce ventilation requirements associated with similar equipment.

Blaskovich describes the experience of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul customer that served as XL Aero’s launch customer. The company’s representative reported that set up and operation of the fuel nozzle test stand was very user-friendly and that in using FNTS for its fuel nozzle repair and testing, the company increased productivity and throughput to the point whereby it was able to recover the total FNTS purchase-cost in less than one year of shop deployment.

XL Aero is a Transport Canada-approved CAR 561 organization for the manufacture and certification of aeronautical products. It offers engineering and aircraft certification services, component repairs (various Sikorsky, Bell, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Honeywell items), tooling and testing equipment, and a variety of innovative and flexible solutions to enhance operational capabilities, including its comprehensive CT7/T700 engine support program which offers customers maintenance-cost reductions up to 30% less than industry standards.

For more information, visit www.xlaero.ca.