Case Study: Alaska Seaplanes achieves significant performance gains and cost savings with Honeywell TPE331 engine conversions

Airlines Pile on the Power to Beat the Challenges of their Harsh Environment

Alaska Seaplanes, together with partner Wings Airways of Juneau, Alaska, needed more power, STOL capability and lower operating costs to reliably serve passengers, freight and tours across Southeast Alaska’s harsh conditions. To meet those requirements they turned to Honeywell for engine upgrades, selecting Honeywell TPE331-12JR and TPE331-10R turboprop conversions to replace underpowered and less efficient legacy engines.

Honeywell’s TPE331 conversions, installed by Honeywell partner Texas Turbine Conversions, boosted performance and reduced costs: take-off distance improved roughly 20–26% and climb rate increased about 19%, cruise speed rose modestly, and time between overhauls extended from 1,000 to 7,000 hours—cutting average overhaul costs by about 58% and raising operational efficiency by 30–40%. The Honeywell upgrades also reduced fuel and oil use, lowered noise, required fewer pilots to maintain service levels, and allowed the carriers to sustain business with significantly lower operating expense.

Alaska Seaplanes

Mike Stedman

Co-owner