Action Aviation: Nextant Aerospace 400XT Light Business Jet

Nextant 400XT

The Nextant 400XT is a remanufactured Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XT that features a new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 flight deck, new Williams FJ44-3AP engines and multiple aerodynamic enhancements. The resulting aircraft exhibits a range of 2005 nm (4 pax, NBAA IFR reserves) with a remarkable 32% reduction in operating costs.

Beechjet 400A/XP

The Beechjet 400A/XP is one of the most popular light jet aircraft due to its cabin size, speed and reliability. The aircraft is operated domestically and internationally in many missions. The drawback of the 400A/XP, and most of its competitive aircraft, is its range. The 400A/XP has a range of only 1,333 nm with 4 passengers and IFR reserves. This is largely due to the inefficiencies of the Pratt and Whitney JT15D-5 engine and certain aerodynamic inefficiencies within the aircraft nacelle design. The JT15D-5 engine was one of the earliest high bypass turbo fan engines and thus it is heavy, has high fuel consumption and is costly to maintain.

Additionally, the JT15D-5 engine overhaul cost has increased significantly; overhauls are now costing as much as $425,000. The engines are overhauled at 3600 hours and with the average aircraft operating 450 hours per year, the opportune time for the modification is around the 8 year mark.

Replacing the JT15D-5 engines with Williams FJ44-3AP’s and installing new aerodynamically improved engine nacelles increases the performance of the Beechjet 400A/XP substantially.

Combining this engine modification with an upgraded state of the art cockpit, will make the modified Beechjet 400A - Nextant 400XT- a true “category killer”. It outperforms all other light jets at its price point (Cessna CJ1, CJ2, Citation Ultra, Citation Bravo and the Hawker Beechcraft Premier) and has a lower operating cost compared to aircraft with less performance (Embraer Phenom, Grob SPn, Cessna CJ3, CJ4, Encore and Learjet 40XR).

Nextant 400XT - Beechjet 400A/XP Performance Comparison

The existing Electronic Flight Displays (EFIS), Fuel Quantity indicators and Engine indicators will be replaced with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21™ fully integrated LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) flat panel displays. Three or four large 8 x 10 LCD display panels will be utilised to display all required navigation and flight instrumentation as well as all Engine indicators and Fuel Quantity. The avionics upgrade component of Nextant's modernisation program will reduce the over-all weight of the aircraft by 75 lbs.

The baseline equipment included in each aircraft is:

• Two LCD Primary Flight Displays
  
• One LCD Multifunction Display
  
• Associated Control Panels and Switching Assemblies
  
• On Board Maintenance Diagnosis

The technology included in the Pro Line 21 system has dramatically increased the safety, reliability, functionality and capability of the cockpit systems while reducing flight crew workload. Available options include IFIS (Integrated Flight Information System) and XM Satellite NEXRAD Radar.

Optional equipment available includes:

• Second Multifunction Display (MFD)
  
• Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS)
  
• XM Broadcast Graphical Weather Universal Weather
  
• TCAS II
  
• AHRS-3000S
  
• GPS-4000S
  
• Doppler Turbulence Detection Weather Radar
  
• RTU-4200 Radio Tuning Unit
  
• DBU-5000 Database Loader
  
• CDU-6200 Control Display Unit

Engine Comparison