Blackhawk Group rewrites overhaul playbook

We've all heard overhaul horror stories or lived through one. The quoted price is never the actual price, because it all depends on what they find once they take the engine core apart. Backordered parts and supply chain bottlenecks can stretch AOG from weeks to months.

For commercial operators, months of grounded capacity means lost revenue. For private owners, an essential tool sits useless.

To eliminate all that frustration and uncertainty, The Blackhawk Group now offers ready-to-install, fixed-cost PT6A engines exclusively overhauled through Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) network and available for installation at Blackhawk’s global network of Performance Centers.

“Blackhawk has set itself apart in the industry by replacing timed out engines with new, more powerful engines that increase performance. We now offer solutions for operators that want to retain their same engine type but cannot afford the uncertainty and downtime associated with overhauling an engine today,” said Dale Morrow, Vice President of Blackhawk’s Engine Exchange.

The new Blackhawk Engine Exchange program eliminates the frustration, the delays, the cost overruns with a one-time engine install with no rental engines, no multiple swaps and no waiting on parts.

Instead, owner/operators can have a DOF-overhauled PT6A engine installed in as little as two or three days.

No custom modification STC is required, because operators are installing the same engine type as their airframe was originally certified to fly, and Blackhawk offers ready-to-ship, pre-overhauled PT6A engines in stock right now. 

Trading in an old engine core earns financial credit toward the newly overhauled unit. Blackhawk is also actively buying good-condition PT6A cores off the market to keep their exchange pipeline full.

Blackhawk Engine Exchange effectively rounds out a full suite of engine maintenance paths for turboprop owners. Depending on your mission profile, fleet requirements, and budget, you are no longer locked into a single, rigid overhaul track:

The Engine+ Upgrade: Step up to factory-new, higher horsepower engines to maximize cruise speeds, payload, and resale value.

The Engine Exchange: Maintain your existing engine type and airframe configuration while swapping out your timed-out core for a pre-overhauled unit in 72 hours or less.

Overhaul Management: For operators who want or need to retain their original engine serial numbers, Blackhawk’s technical team provides end-to-end overhaul guidance and shop oversight to keep turnaround times as lean as possible.

“Now we can provide an engine upgrade, a ready-to-install overhauled engine, or support you with overhaul management and guidance. Whatever you choose to do with your aircraft, Blackhawk’s engine programs and experts can support you,” said Morrow.

The Blackhawk Group was established in 2022 by bringing together established industry brands including Blackhawk, AVEX, and Finnoff and has quickly become the leader in light turbine aircraft services. The group delivers unrivaled expertise in engine, avionics, and aircraft upgrades, including aircraft maintenance and brokerage solutions. Its mission prioritizes innovation, exceptional customer experiences, and strategic data-driven services, all so light-turbine owner/operators can Outfly the Ordinary.

For more information on the PT6A Engine Exchange program, call 1-833-680-1938 or visit blackhawk.aero.