Why Pilots and Operators Trust Concorde Battery

In aviation, your battery isn’t just a power source—it’s the heartbeat of every start, the lifeline for your avionics, and the backup you pray you never need. Concorde Battery Corporation’s Sealed Lead Acid Batteries (SLAB) have earned a rock-solid reputation among pilots, owners, and mechanics for delivering unshakeable reliability.

The Tech That Powers Concorde Batteries

Concorde’s SLABs are valve-regulated, recombinant gas, absorbed electrolyte lead-acid batteries—fancy terms that boil down to one thing: they’re built for aviation’s toughest demands. Inside, lead plates are packed tight, sandwiched between absorbent glass mat (AGM) and Concorde’s exclusive PolyGuard® separators. The AGM soaks up the sulfuric acid electrolyte like a sponge, leaving no free liquid to slosh around. That means no spills, no corrosion eating at your airframe, and no topping off with water—ever. The PolyGuard® layer, a thin polyethylene shield unique to Concorde Battery Corporation, adds extra protection against shorts from vibration or hard landings, making these batteries a great choice for operators looking for a long-lasting battery.

Each cell is sealed with a pressure-relief valve set to crack open at about 1.5 psi above ambient, venting only if things get extreme—like a rare overcharge or high-altitude pressure shift—then snapping shut again. During manufacturing, the cells are soaked with electrolyte, the excess is drained, and the AGM holds 90-95% saturation. On discharge, lead dioxide (from the positive plate) and sponge lead (from the negative plate) are converted to lead sulfate freeing two electrons; on charge, lead sulfate on the positive plate is converted to lead dioxide (producing oxygen) and the lead sulfate on the negative plate is converted to sponge lead creating hydrogen. The oxygen zips through the void space in the AGM, from positive to negative plates, recombining with hydrogen to form water. No gas escapes, no water’s lost—pure maintenance-free magic. Compare that to NiCds or flooded batteries that vent gas and demand constant attention.

Finishing out the design are oversized inter-cell links and copper terminals (not lead) that cut resistance and corrosion, delivering every amp where it counts. It’s rugged, practical engineering that screams, “This thing’s built to fly.” Concorde’s obsession with quality—testing every unit, tailoring designs, backing it with support—means you’re not just buying a battery; you’re buying uptime.

Safety and Readiness You Can Bet On

Safety in aviation isn’t negotiable, and Concorde’s AGM tech delivers. Because the electrolyte’s locked in AGM, you can flip the battery upside down mid-flight and nothing leaks. That’s zero risk of acid chewing through your firewall or dripping onto avionics. During charging, oxygen and hydrogen recombine internally, producing less than 2% hydrogen gas even if you push it hard—well below the 4.1% flammability threshold. NiCds? They’re gas factories by comparison, needing vents and posing fire risks. Concorde’s SLABs also sidestep thermal runaway—a NiCd and Li-Ion nightmare where heat spirals out of control. With Concorde, the chemistry stays stable, period.

Charge retention is another ace up Concorde’s sleeve. These batteries self-discharge three times slower than flooded cells, so your plane can sit in the hangar for weeks and still crank like it flew yesterday. They ship fully charged and factory-tested for high-rate performance—no messing with activation or hoping a flooded battery’s not DOA. For pilots, that means instant readiness; for mechanics, it’s one less headache. And since they’re classified non-hazardous under DOT regs (49 CFR 173.159), shipping spares or carrying them aboard is a breeze—no hazmat paperwork required.

Cranking Power That Doesn’t Quit

Performance is where Concorde shines. Available in 12V and 24V configurations, they match everything from a Cessna 172 to a turbine beast like the Air Tractor 802. Take the RG-380E/44: a 24V, 42 Ah unit weighing 89 lbs, it pumps out 1350 amps IPP (current peak power measured at 0.3 seconds) at 23°C and still delivers 750 amps IPP at –30°C. That’s serious cranking muscle—enough to spin up a radial or turbine when frost coats the prop. Need more? Some models, like the RG-380E/44KSH, pack built-in heaters to keep the juice flowing in Arctic ops. Pilots in Canada’s far north rave about “remarkably quick cold starts” at –45°C, saving wear on starters and engines alike.

One might think that all that power comes at a cost of longevity. Not true with a Concorde Battery. A fleet of AS350 helicopters running RG-390Es averaged 30-36 months—over 2,000 cycles—at two starts a day. Air-tour outfits like Maverick Helicopters pull 3 years or 3,000 hours from dual RG-350s in Vegas heat (106°F summers, multiple daily cycles). That’s outpacing NiCds, which often fade from memory effect or cell imbalance. These aren’t sales pitches; they’re logbook realities.

Why Concorde Beats NiCds and Flooded Batteries Hands Down

NiCds are pricey upfront, require labor and time to overhaul, and demand deep cycling to avoid memory effect—hours of downtime operators dread. Concorde SLABs cost less to buy, need no parts swaps, and skip the cycling circus. No thermal runaway risk means no extra avionics to babysit them, and cold performance matches or beats NiCds without the fuss.

Flooded batteries ship dry, take hours to activate, and might reveal defects only when you’re ready to fly. Concorde’s AGM arrives charged and tested, ready to bolt in. Flooded cells need water checks and vent acid mist that corrodes your plane; Concorde batteries are sealed, spill-proof, and corrosion-free. Plus, tighter plate stacks mean more power per pound.

Product Support Exemplified

Concorde Battery Corporation doesn’t just build top-tier batteries, they back them with support that keeps the aviation community flying strong. A prime example is their long-running Inspection Authorization (IA) Renewal Series, a free training program that’s become a lifeline for mechanics, pilots, and operators. Hosted both virtually and in-person, these sessions deliver 8 hours of FAA-approved maintenance training, covering piston, turbine, and rotorcraft topics. The 2025 Virtual IA Renewal Series kicked off January 9-10, with flexible morning (8 AM – 12 PM EST) and evening (5 PM – 9 PM EST) sessions to suit global schedules, while the in-person South Carolina event on February 1 at Midlands Technical College in West Columbia offered hands-on learning with industry experts. Open to all—not just IA holders—these events pack in practical know-how, from battery airworthiness to engine maintenance, plus perks like catered lunches and door prizes. Since going virtual in 2021, Concorde has trained thousands worldwide, stepping up when in-person options dwindled, proving they’re not just a manufacturer but a partner in keeping aircraft airworthy.

Leading this charge is Chris Holder, Eastern US Sales Manager and founder of the South Carolina IA Seminar, now in its 23rd year. His dedication to continuing education in the aviation maintenance community earned him a well-deserved induction into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame on February 11, 2025. Holder’s brainchild has grown from a regional gathering into a cornerstone of Concorde’s support ethos, reviving shuttered seminars in Florida and Tennessee to ensure technicians stay certified and sharp. “Concorde stepped up big,” says Area Sales Manager Dave Schiavone of the virtual series’ impact, a sentiment Holder echoes through decades of commitment. From advising on BatteryMINDer use to troubleshooting in the field, Concorde’s team ensures every RG® battery delivers its full potential.

The Bottom Line

Concorde’s pedigree is ironclad. Built to AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards, they’re FAA PMA-approved and TSO-C173 certified for Cubs to Gulfstreams. The U.S. military has used them since 1979, with models meeting MIL-PRF-8565K specs for jets like the F-117A Nighthawk and F/A-18 Hornet. STCs and AMLs make swaps a snap, and their non-hazmat status simplifies logistics.

Aviation doesn’t forgive weak links, and your battery’s no place to skimp. Concorde’s RG® SLABs bring the goods: brutal cranking power, zero maintenance, and safety that’s battle tested. They start engines in blizzards, last years beyond the norm, and save you from NiCd headaches or flooded battery messes. From military hangars to backcountry strips, the verdict’s unanimous: Concorde keeps you flying. Next time you’re replacing your battery, ask yourself—why settle for less?