Italian plane producer Tecnam launched the P2012 STOL, a modified model of its P2012 Traveller piston twin with enhanced short-field efficiency. The plane targets passenger and cargo service “throughout essentially the most demanding business airports on the earth,” together with unimproved strips as brief as 1,000 ft, the corporate mentioned.
Tecnam is targeted on what it considers a uncared for section of the air transport market the place there’s room for development. Many short-haul operators serving small, distant airports use getting older fleets of plane that had been designed a long time in the past and not meet trendy clients’ expectations, the corporate mentioned.
The P2012 STOL could be arrange with seats for 9 passengers and two crew members. Its most takeoff weight is 8,113 kilos and it may be configured for passengers, cargo, or quite a lot of combos.
For many years, STOL plane markets have left operators with few choices for supporting and increasing their operations, the corporate mentioned. “Tecnam’s response to assembly the wants of those companies is a contemporary plane that addresses present wants with an revolutionary answer,” mentioned Giovanni Pascale Langer, Tecnam’s managing director.
The P2012 STOL’s rivals embrace well-established fashions just like the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, and de Havilland Twin Otter. Tecnam mentioned a cushty, well-equipped inside will set the P2012 STOL aside from different plane within the section. The airplane could have a window for every passenger, USB ports, air-con, particular person contemporary and sizzling air retailers, studying lights, seat pockets, and cup-holders.
“Tecnam took up the problem of offering a contemporary, secure, and environment friendly answer to probably the most demanding plane business missions: the STOL mission,” mentioned Francesco Sferra, P2012 gross sales and enterprise growth supervisor and experimental take a look at pilot at Tecnam. He additionally mentioned the brand new plane can outperform its older rivals whereas assembly in the present day’s extra stringent rules for business ops.
At its MTOW, the brand new plane’s floor run is 900 ft, whereas clearing a 50-foot impediment on takeoff requires 1,395 ft. At a most touchdown weight of 8,003 kilos, touchdown over the impediment takes 1,180 ft with a floor roll of 510 ft.
Tecnam mentioned the plane accomplished flight assessments earlier this 12 months and can start the validation course of subsequent 12 months.
