Tecnam has opened the order book for its P2012 short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft. Introducing the piston twin at NBAA-BACE 2022, the Italian manufacturer said the new version of its Traveller aircraft will give access to some of the world’s most demanding airports and can carry nine passengers or just over 2,800 pounds of cargo.
At its maximum takeoff weight of 8,113 pounds, the P2012 STOL will need a takeoff run of only 902 feet, rising to 1,410 feet if a 50-foot obstacle needs to be cleared. Its maximum-weight landing distance is 1,181 feet or just 509 feet without the need to allow for an obstacle. It is powered by a pair of Continental GTSIO-520-S engines.
According to Tecnam, the P2012 STOL will offer significantly higher levels of comfort and a better-equipped cabin than existing STOL aircraft, such as the Britten-Norman Islanders. Compared with the UK-built aircraft, it offers a cabin that is 34 percent wider, with a 24 percent increase in seat pitch, and with almost twice the luggage weight allowance and three times the available volume.
With single seats installed on each side of an aisle, all passengers have a window, as well as a USB charger, reading lights, air conditioning outlets, cupholders, and under-seat baggage storage space. The cabin can be reconfigured for a variety of utility and special-mission applications.
The manufacturer said that, unlike existing legacy aircraft, the new high-wing model meets all the latest EASA CS-23 and FAA Part 23 amendments covering STOL operations. It expects to complete type certification in 2023.
The P2012 STOL will be approved for single-pilot IFR operations. The flight deck features Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics suite and GFC-700 autopilot. Other features designed to reduce flight crew workload include Garmin’s GWX weather radar, as well as the Stormscope, Flight Stream, and synthetic vision systems.
The list price for the model is $2.75 million. First deliveries are due to be made in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the next available production slots, following the first deliveries to an undisclosed launch customer, are in the second quarter of 2024.
Cruising at up to 19,500 feet, the P2012 STOL offers a range of 905 nm or 540 nm with a pilot and nine passengers on board with a cruise speed of 185 knots. According to Tecnam, operating costs will be around $358 per flight hour.