Press Release

Issued by Tecnam - Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam SpA.

April 7, 2015

Tecnam revealed today the first of a wide range of Tecnam aircraft models offering the most cost effective and efficient flying platforms for surveillance, observation, aerial mapping or special mission tasks with the roll-out of the Tecnam P2006T SMP (Special Missions Platform) aircraft. 

Tecnam have set up a new and dedicated 'Special Mission' department at its Capua, Italy facility, to direct the design, development and production of SMP aircraft and related features.

Depending on the customer's mission requirement, Tecnam aircraft including the ULM/LSA P92 Eaglet, the EASA CS-VLA certified P92JS as well as P2006T Twin are all available to be equipped with specific sensors, radar and cameras or simply provisions to install equipment directly at customer's country/facility.

Many pre-orders are already in place for SMP equipped models, customers are placing great value that as both designers and manufacturers of the aircraft, Tecnam is the able to able to not only offer a “vertical integration” solution amongst the many different technological systems currently available, but is able to guarantee the whole system with respect to the aircraft, payload, appropriate fitting of the equipment, certification and validation. 

The basic SMP configuration has been developed to be the best platform to work for third parties sensor integration, giving STC capable companies the possibility to work exclusively only on sensors integration, on place airframes where modifications have already taken place e.g. different holes/apertures are available for all the above mentioned aircraft as well as mission powering system plugs (28V 40Amp capable).

Unbeatable value, low ownership, operating/maintenance costs (less than 0.3hr/flight hour) coupled with innovative design and combined with the Rotax '912S' engine ensures the Tecnam P2006T SMP affords high mission reliability and dispatch as well as lower noise emissions.

With a high payload capacity the Tecnam P2006T SMP may be equipped with a wide range of payload & sensors. This is primarily due to the flexibility of its metallic construction and fully EASA/FAA validated models, which allows modification(s) on the standard P2006T airframe.

Built to operate in challenging environments and semi-prepared strips, the Tecnam P2006T SMP benefits from extremely low take-off and landing runs (235 and 190mt respectively): the high wing keep the engines completely cleared from dust and any foreign object that could damage the propellers and the engine through the air intakes.

A spacious interior allows the installation of a comfortable working station and multiple screen desk: two separate doors, one for the pilot(s), the other one for the rear seat passengers or operator. The Tecnam P2006T SMP's high wing ensures access to the cabin is straightforward and unlike other aircraft, avoids having to jump onto the wings.

The P2006T SMP's high wing and retractable landing gear allows for a 'no view obstruction' for external cameras and operator FoV (Field of View). This potentially may make the difference between mission success and failure especially when auto-tracking a moving object from high altitude is performed.

The keywords of Tecnam P2006T SMP program is "vertical package". Having a vertical package means that the final customer will have a single contact for the whole system: aircraft, payload and everything related with it. Vertical package means also the confidence that every single item integrated in the airframe is made with the full knowledge of platform and, finally, vertical package means the continuous possibility to upgrade the system as technologies evolve.

For many missions and applications, such as search and rescue, reconnaissance, immigration surveillance/border patrol, drug trafficking and law enforcement missions, the Tecnam P2006T SMP is fully able to replace, support or drastically reduce the use of far more expensive/much complicated assets such as the deployment of CS/FAR 25 airplanes, helicopters and coast guard boats. 

The Tecnam Special Missions engineering team is also available to support third parties STC processes as well as help in further design and integration.

Tecnam sees it as a key responsibility to give end users the confidence and reassurance of total through life support at all times.