Piaggio Aero Industries (Hall 3, D1) has delivered the first UK-registered P180 Avanti twin-pusher turboprop to Coventry-based charter company Euroskylink, which has operated a leased Avanti under Italian charter company FoxAir's air operator's certificate.
Piaggio chief executive Jose Di Mas‚ says of the pioneer delivery: "Piaggio is naturally pleased to have obtained UK certification for the Avanti as the British market is very important to the company."
The aircraft, sold through Piaggio's UK agent Sloane Aviation, will be operated in both executive and air ambulance roles.
Ambulance
As an air ambulance, the Avanti offers easy accessibility for patient loading, with a large cabin area offering an unobstructed working environment for medical staff to gain full 'head to toe' access for up to two patients on the Lifeport stretcher systems, says the manufacturer.
Recently the company announced London City operational approval for the Avanti and a record order of 29 aircraft to US fractional operators Avantair of Fairfield, New Jersey.
The Euroskylink Avanti is the 78th aircraft to be delivered by Piaggio, with 38 operating in Europe and 40 in the Americas.
Piaggio has also just completed the sale of four P180s to Winair, its exclusive sales representative for Germany and central Europe, based in Zweibrucken.
The four aircraft will be delivered in 2005 and 2006.
HUGH MCATEAR
Source: Flight Daily News
