Case Study: SkyDance SkyDiving achieves four loads per hour to 13,500 feet with Honeywell TPE331 engine

Californias SkyDance SkyDiving Finds The Ideal Jump Airplane

SkyDance SkyDiving, based in Davis, California, operates one of Northern California’s largest commercial skydiving centers and needed an aircraft that could climb quickly to altitude while carrying larger loads of jumpers. To meet this need they engaged Texas Turbines to perform a Supervan 900 conversion installing a Honeywell TPE331-12JR turboprop, choosing Honeywell for the extra power, efficiency and reliability the operation required.

Honeywell’s TPE331-12JR installation delivered tangible commercial improvements: SkyDance now averages four ascents per flight hour to 13,500 ft with 18–20 jumpers, saves an estimated three to six gallons of fuel per flight hour, operates with lower noise and longer time between overhauls (TBO), and benefits from significantly reduced overhaul and operational costs. The Honeywell-powered conversion also improved takeoff and climb performance and faster turnarounds, producing measurable safety, capacity and cost advantages for SkyDance SkyDiving.

SkyDance SkyDiving

Ray Ferrell

President and Managing Director