Piper Aircraft has been granted FAA approval for its M600/SLS single-engine turbo-prop to operate from unsealed runways.
According to Piper, the approval is in response to customer demands from several global markets and applies also to Canada, the UK and Europe.
“The Piper M600/SLS is known for its performance, reliability and versatility over a wide array of general aviation missions,” said John Calcagno, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft.
“Now, with the addition of unpaved field capability, the M600’s versatility and asset value is taken to a whole new level.”
The kit includes a slightly redesigned nose fork and scissor link to handle unpaved field surface inconsistencies, the installation of a small nose gear wheel-well plate cut-out allowing the nose wheel to stow properly with the gear retracted, and a supplement for the pilot's operating handbook (POH).
All 2022 M600/SLS aircraft, starting with serial number 198, are factory provisioned to operate on unpaved runways.