Training provider ChelAvia has become the first the company in Russia to secure approval to operate the Tecnam P2006T for commercially.
Capua, Italy-based Tecnam is hoping the endorsement will help to drive up sales of its only in-production piston twin and convince existing owners and operators of the high-wing type to consider other uses or revenue streams for their aircraft.
This approval, Tecnam says “supports our goal of promoting the four-seat P2006T for air taxi and charter operations, having firmly established the light twin as the multiengine choice of aero-clubs, flying schools, syndicates and private aircraft owners around the world”.
Some P2006 customers in Malta and Indonesia have already secured an aircraft operator’s certificate to fly their aircraft commercially, while other owners of the type in Poland, the Czech Republic and South America are looking to follow suit, Tecnam adds.
The P2006T entered service in 2010 and the majority of the 160 aircraft in service today are used for private flying and training.
Moscow-headquartered ChelAvia – already one of Tecnam’s largest customers with nearly 90 of the the airframer’s single and twin-engined types in service – plans to use some of its dozen P2006s for passenger and freight transportation.
The Rotax 912S3-powered P2006 has a range of 1,150km (710nm), a cruise speed of 135kt (250km/h) and a maximum take-off weight of 1,180kg (2,600lb).
The 29-year-old company is one of the biggest GA aircraft builders with over 20 models in its line-up. The range spans the two-seat P92 light sport aircraft/ultra-light family to the 11-seat twin-engined P2012 Traveller under development. Over 4,000 Tecnam types are in service worldwide.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Bartolini Air has become the first training school to operate the P2010 for commercial pilot training. “The introduction of the P2010 is a significant addition to our all-Tecnam training fleet that already includes five P2002JFs and two P2006T twins,” says Bartłomiej Walas, managing director of the Łódź-based company.
Source: Flight International
