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Press Announcements


May 11, 2015

Avmax Group of Companies partners with True Blue Power to certify lithium-ion main ship battery for Dash-8 aircraft

CALGARY, AB. — Avmax Group of Companies (Avmax) is pleased to announce its partnership with True Blue Power, a division of Mid-Continent Instrument Co. Inc., to pursue a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 25 Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of the True Blue Power TB44 (46 amp-hour) Advanced Lithium-ion Battery on Bombardier Dash 8-100, -200, and -300 aircraft.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Avmax again. Securing an STC for the TB44 on Dash-8 aircraft is another important achievement. This sophisticated main ship battery offers significant weight savings when compared to older, lead-acid and nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries,” explained Rick Slater, True Blue Power Division Manager. “It requires less maintenance and delivers cooler engine starts, faster recharge rates, and better cold weather performance to Dash-8 operators.”

Avmax’s Engineering Division is a Transport Canada authorized Design Approval Organization (TCCA DAO 12-C-01), who has been working with aviation authorities around the world for more than 20 years. Last year they issued more TCCA Dash-8 STCs than all other Canadian Dash-8 STC holders combined. Avmax holds hundreds of STCs ranging from off-the-shelf avionics units to interior modification. Even though Avmax STCs are on a wide range of aircraft, it’s no surprise—with Avmax being the largest private owner of Dash-8 aircraft—that the Avmax Engineering Division is very skilled and proficient at creating STCs for Dash-8 aircraft.

True Blue Power specializes in the custom design and manufacturing of next-generation power solutions for the global aviation industry. It is the first company in the world to achieve FAA TSO and EASA ETSO certifications for three sophisticated lithium-ion battery products: the TB17 (17 amp-hour) and TB44 Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries, and the TS835 Lithium-ion Emergency Power Supply.

The TB44 Advanced Lithium-ion Battery utilizes a proprietary Nanophosphate® Lithium-ion cell chemistry that offers superior energy density, delivering 3 times the energy per kilogram when compared to lead acid or NiCad alternatives. True Blue Power products are engineered to provide an overall lower cost of ownership, with 50 – 90 percent less scheduled maintenance cost. This is the result of increased durability, 2-year maintenance intervals, efficient engine starts, and gaining 2 – 3 times longer useful battery life.

The TB44 Advanced Lithium-ion Battery will be on display at the Avmax booth #428 throughout the Regional Airline Association (RAA) Convention, May 11–14 at the Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

For more information about Avmax, contact Dail Croome, Director of Sales & Marketing at 403-669-4000 or visit avmaxgroup.com. For more information about Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries or the True Blue Power product line, contact Rick Slater, True Blue Power Division Manager, at 316-630-0101 or visit truebluepowerusa.com.