Making its EBACE debut is the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, a utility twin aimed at the short-haul and special-mission markets. The aircraft is a larger and higher-performing follow-on to the P2006. Development began in 2012, hence its designation, and it first flew in 2016. The type is now in production at Tecnam’s Capua factory near Naples, Italy.

Tecnam (Static AD_19) has gained a healthy order book for the P2012, led by a series of orders from commuter airline Cape Air in the U.S., which is targeting a fleet of 120 aircraft. The factory is producing P2012s at the rate of two per month but intends to increase to three to keep pace with demand. Cape Air has received 30 from the 50-plus aircraft built to date, with others delivered in Europe. One was handed over to a Swiss customer last week, outfitted for special missions.

Early next year Tecnam is taking the P2012 to the Avalon show in Australia, where the company foresees a healthy market. Tecnam has an Australian subsidiary, as well as one in the U.S., and a large global distributor network.

The P2012 is designed as a low-cost utility aircraft that can seat 11 in an airliner-style configuration. Combi freighter and special-mission variants are also offered. As it is aimed at the short-haul (30 to 90 minutes) duration market where cruising speed is a minor issue, the P2012 has a fixed landing gear to ease maintenance and proven Lycoming TEO-540C1A engines each rated at 375 hp. The aircraft can operate from grass fields and has a takeoff run of just 500 meters.