A Tecnam P2012 Traveller demonstration aircraft is due to arrive in Australia mid year, according to an announcement made late last week.
The P2012 is an 11-seat high-wing twin that was designed to replace legacy twin-engined piston aircraft operated in charter and regional airline roles.
Tecnam also announced that start-up company Hallmarc Aviation had been appointed as the sales agent for the P2012 on the eastern seaboard..
"Hallmarc Aviation will be the exclusive Australian sales agents for the Tecnam P2012 Traveller and SMP model aircraft in the Eastern territory," Tecnam said.
"The P2012 is the first clean sheet design aircraft in its class in decades and it will prove to be an excellent upgrade for commercial operators, charter, medevac and special mission customers across the country.
"With a P2012 demonstrator arriving mid-year 2022 Hallmarc will be announcing a national tour shortly culminating in a Tecnam display at the Avalon International Airshow in March 2023."
Hallmarc is headed by Michael Loccisano, principal of current Tecnam distributor Air Italia.
"We are most impressed with the deep market knowledge, well established industry contacts, and professionalism of the Hallmarc Aviation team headed by Mr. Michael Loccisano," said Tecnam Chief Sales Office Walter Da Costa.
"We are delighted that Hallmarc has purchased a P2012 demonstrator, and we confident that our P2012 will meet operators needs in Australia.”
Loccisano said interest from Australian operators in the new twin was encouraging.
“We are seeing big demand for the P2012 from existing charter operators wanting to replace an ever-aging fleet of legacy twins, as well as survey, photography and LiDar companies looking for a new, efficient, and economical special mission platform,” he said.
The P2012 is a fixed-gear twin powered by two 375-hp turbo-charged Lycoming engines turning four-blade propellers. It has a useful load of 1414 kg, maximum cruise of 194 KTAS and a range of 950 nm.