Italian general aviation manufacturer Oma Sud has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its twin-engine piston-powered SkyCar pusher.

The company applied for a type certificate in 2004 and first demonstrated a mock-up of the Textron Lycoming IO-360-C1E6-powered aircraft at the Paris Air Show in 2005. First flight took place in December 2007, at which time Oma Sud expected to receive its certification later in 2008.

OMA SUD SkyCar web
 ©Oma Sud

Flightglobal previously reported that one of Oma Sud’s initial launch customers for the high-wing, twin-tail, retractable-gear aircraft will be a Miami-based aviation charter company, which will deploy the aircraft for operations between Miami and the Caribbean.

Though Oma Sud is marketing the twin as “designed for instrument flight rules”, the EASA specifications sheet issued today limits the aircraft to day and night visual flight rules operations.

The unpressurized twin can fly at a maximum structural cruising speed of 152kt (281 km/h), 8kt slower than advertised, and can reach a maximum altitude of 5,486m (18,000ft). The aircraft is not approved for flight into known icing conditions.

As advertised, the maximum takeoff weight as approved by EASA is 1,995 kg (4,398 lb).

Source: FlightGlobal.com