Upgrade to 6800kgs
The big cost penalty comes for those who have to carry out the full requirements of BT139-140, including the MLG and brakes. Sometime during the early part of 2007 or maybe late 2006, the newer MLG required as part of the BT was included in production. Early ships don't have it, hence the high figures being bandied about.
If your ship has the MLG and brakes already on, then there's only the tyres, a bell-crank in the TR control run and some adjustments to the TR control rigging required to complete the upgrade at a probable cost of something like US$25,000.
As Geoffers already pointed out, the new CG envelope published in Rev 11 in conjunction with Supp 50 for ops up to 6800kgs, affords an advantage even at 6400kgs. We carry something close to 80kgs of junk in the boot (portable tow-bar, extra dinghy, etc.etc.) but if it's all placed on or beside the front row of seats in the cabin, even with only one crew, on a long ferry or crew-only positioning flight, we can now carry 1600kgs of gas at 6400kgs. This could allow 3.5hrs with a 30min VFR reserve - though why I'd want to stay up there that long is another matter entirely!!!!
Last edited by heliski22; 30th January 2009 at 09:29.