In a joint collaboration between Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) and Boeing, the new Split Scimitar Winglets were recently certified for the 737-800/ BBJ2 by Aviation Partners Boeing. The 737-700/BBJ and 737-900/BBJ3 models are expected to be certified by the end of the year.
The US. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also recently granted Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for the Split Scimitar Winglet retrofit on BBJ, BBJ2 and BBJ3 aircraft. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval is expected sometime in the near future.
The advantage of the new design is that it will provide drag reduction, and the range will increase 2.5-3.0% over the current Blended Winglet configuration. This will mean an additional 200nm / 370km or more for operators of long range aircraft. In comparison, the upgrade will give a BBJ with seven aux tanks the range of an eight aux tank airplane.
The retrofit to the existing BBJ Blended Winglet will consist of adding a new Scimitar-tipped large Ventral Strake, beef up of internal winglet structure, and replacement of the aluminum winglet tip caps with new aerodynamically shaped “Scimitar” tip caps. The new design does not increase the existing wing span.