British European Aviation (BEA), the Piper dealer for the UK, Channel Islands and Ireland, has taken delivery of the UK's first Piper M600. The M600 will be operated by BEA as a demonstrator for prospective buyers and also within its fleet of single and twin engine rotary and fixed wing aircraft. The BEA group currently holds a rotary operator certificate under Heli Air.

The BEA team recently flew the M600 to Jersey on a test flight. Sales and marketing director Brian Kane describes the experience: "Departing from Wycombe at 1100 local time, the take-off profile was stunning, acceleration along the runway brilliant and rate of climb perfect. With a little delay from a strong headwind, the M600 reached its destination in just under an hour." 

There was a full complement of six on board, comprising four in the rear and two pilots up front. "Once the M600 was through the clouds it was bright sunshine and very smooth flying all the way," continues Kane. "The ground speed was around 225 kts with an indicated air speed of approximately 270 kts and a 45 kts headwind. It was like being in a warm, air conditioned, pressurised small airliner.

“After spending a couple of hours on Jersey the flight back to Wycombe Air Park took around 40 minutes, assisted this time by a tailwind. Both flights were amazingly comfortable, as if we were in a limousine at 20,000 ft." 

BEA is based at Wycombe Air Park, which is operated by BEA group company Booker Aviation, and where Kane says there is ample parking and no queues. Clients will be able to use the company's facilities at Wycombe, including a new FBO, then step out the door to board the M600. "If four people needed to be in Amsterdam for a meeting and chose to fly out at 0800, a returning scheduled flight might depart at 1800," explains Kane, "but if the passengers had the flexibility that our chartered M600 can provide, they could extend their meetings and return as late as they wish. The air park can be kept open 24/7 to suit client requirements."

Following commercial SET operations approval by EASA in March 2017, BEA sees great promise in the M600 and plans to build a small fleet of Pipers. "The cost to the end-user of flying in a SET compared with a small jet is probably between 40 to 50 per cent lower," says Kane. "The average business aviation trip is with two or three passengers on board, and we can accommodate up to four or even five if one pilot is among the party." 

The M600 asking price starts from US$3 million which, Kane believes, is less expensive than its immediate rivals. "The running costs of an M600 are again very reasonable hence expenditure throughout the year can be greatly reduced. BEA believes that the financial implications of this are enormous and in the future, single engine turbines could overtake the entry level charter jet flight market.

“We are excited about what the M600 delivers, but the M500 SET isn’t far behind, costing around a million dollars less than the M600. This second excellent short run machine also provides the comfort of a luxury limousine for an astonishingly low purchase price and operating costs," concludes Kane.