The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has issued Ikhana Aircraft Services (IKHANA) with Supplement Type Certificate (STC) Number SA02627LA for the modification of DHC-6 series Twin Otter aircraft with wing payload hard point structural provisions. The hard point provisions add structure on each wing with the capability to captive-carry external stores or payloads for purposes that include scientific/atmospheric research, search and rescue, geophysical surveys, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), or other special missions applications.
“The STC approved design allows for multiple payload weight and configuration options to provide operators mission flexibility,” said John A. Zublin, president and CEO of IKHANA. The STC incorporates added structure at two locations per wing and is suited for payloads of up to five hundred 500 lbs (226.8 Kg) mass per wing or 250 lbs (113.4 Kg) per location. Situated at wing station 229 and 266, the hard points can be adapted to a NATO standard store, munitions adapter units, or special purpose mounts.