Moorabbin, Melbourne-based flight school Avia Aviation is to become Australia's first Tecnam-equipped flight school.

With a fleet of new Tecnam aircraft for training, including the IFR certified, Rotax-powered P2006T twin and an 11 seat, IFR certified P2012 Traveller, also for charter, Avia will offer the most comprehensive and perhaps 'greenest' training fleet in the country.

The fleet will also include the two seat P92 Echo MKII; IFR certified, two seat P-Mentor; and the IFR certified, diesel engine, Jet A1-powered, four seat P2010 TDI.

CEO Charles Gunter says: “During a visit to the Tecnam factory in Capua this year I was most impressed with the passion, commitment to innovation and sheer production capacity of the company. I like the fact that the order to delivery time is in months not years, with strong local parts support.

The P2006T MkII is a twin engine, four seat aircraft with fully retractable landing gear. Its simplicity, great performance, efficiency and ergonomics are what make this aircraft ideal for multi-engine training as well as cross-country flying. It offers a modern Garmin avionics suite, integrating all primary flight, navigation, communication and terrain data on two high-definition LCDs. The aircraft is also equipped with an S-Tec 55x high-performance, two-axis autopilot with advanced features.

The two Rotax 912S3 engines offer remarkable fuel saving and can be operated on Avgas and Mogas 95 octane fuel, leading to huge cost reductions. It can compete even with a single engine aircraft on consumption, allowing, with just one platform, different ratings as multi engine piston (MEP), variable pitch propeller, EFIS and retractable landing gear.

It is ideal for flight training as it has proved to be very relaxing to fly, the controls are light to operate and, even with one inoperative engine, the pressure needed to cope with the asymmetric thrust is very low.

“Operating a Tecnam single and twin engine fleet can save up to 10 tons of CO2 for every graduated commercial pilot, something that is increasingly important to our students,” adds Gunter.

Tecnam global sales and marketing director Walter De Costa says: “Worldwide, more and more flight schools are turning to Tecnam due to our wide range of aircraft; industry leading innovation; green credentials; high levels of in-country support and short order-to-delivery times. Tecnam now has a very large number of aircraft in operation in Australia and New Zealand, a figure which is growing fast. Avia has made a wise decision to join the Tecnam family, and we will no doubt see it flourish with this offering.”

The aircraft were supplied by Hallmarc Aviation, Tecnam agent for the Australian states of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory.

CEO Michael Loccisano says: “We have had a long association with Charles and his highly capable team. We are delighted that a leading flight school as prestigious and astute as Avia has chosen a Tecnam fleet. We expect to see other flight schools in Australia embrace Tecnam as a truly viable and green fleet replacement option.”