Piper received type validation late last week for the M600 from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Mexico (DGAC). This marks the first approval of the new turboprop single in Central and South America, and paves the way for deliveries of the airplane in Mexico. The OEM obtained U.S. FAA approval in June.

“M600 validation in Mexico is exciting news," said Piper president and CEO Simon Caldecott. “The M600 is ideally suited to the Central American region with its expanded range, payload and speed. [It] is ideally suited to multiple mission profiles in the region."

The $2.853 million M600 is a more powerful and updated version of the M500 with a new wing and Garmin G3000 touchscreen-controlled avionics. According to Piper, the M600 has a top speed of 274 ktas, 1,484 nm range and full-fuel payload of 645 pounds/293 kg.