The US Federal Aviation Administration has certified the Cessna TTx for flight into known icing conditions (FIKI).
Once known as a Corvalis, the TTx is a high-performance composite single targetting the upper end of the private market.
The FIKI system on the TTx can provide up to 2.5 hours of protection from most ice attaching to the airframe.
“The Cessna TTx program has been incredibly successful and certification for the FIKI system is the next important step in the maturing of the aircraft,” said Brian Steele, Cessna TTx business leader.
“A TTx equipped with FIKI offers great value for customers, allowing their business and recreational plans to stay on schedule, even in some adverse weather conditions. The TTx is already the world’s fastest commercially produced and certified fixed-gear single-engine aircraft, and we are confident the FIKI option will ensure the TTx appeals to an even wider customer base.”
The FIKI system uses glycol-based TKS fluid, which is pumped through micro-drilled holes in the titanium leading edges of the aircraft’s wings. The propeller and windshield are also protected with TKS fluid.
According to Cessna, the loss of performance due to the system is minimal.