Poland-based flight training academy Bartolini Air has taken delivery of a P2006T, the 400th of this model from Tecnam. It has also taken delivery of SN/200; handover of the keys took place during the Pilot Expo in Berlin, Germany.

Managing director Bartlomiej Walas says: "I still remember the first time I saw a picture of the P2006T on the cover of an aviation magazine. It was just a drawing with a short description inside. I said to myself, this is exactly what we need to take Bartolini Air's training offering into the 21st century. And that is what we are doing. Today, if you are a passenger of Ryanair or another major European airline, it's quite likely that your pilot made his or her first multi-engine IFR flight in a shiny Tecnam P2006T at Bartolini Air. This new addition to the fleet is another milestone, which will help accommodate growing demand for our training."

Since acquiring its first P2006T in 2010, Bartolini Air now operates a training fleet of 15 aircraft, in large part made of Tecnam aircraft: eight P2008JCs, two P-Mentors, four P2006Ts and one P2010. Five more Tecnams will join the fleet in early 2024, bringing the number to 23, including a CAP 10C NG dedicated to advanced UPRT and aerobatics and three Citation Jets operated by a subsidiary AOC holder.

Bartolini Air provides over 12,000 flight training hours per year, qualifying over 200 students who are today pilots for many of the world's major airlines. Since 2010, more than 2000 students from around the world have been trained on the P2006T.

Designed in 2006, the Tecnam P2006T twin enables multi-engine piston training to be provided at a cost that is unrivalled by older twin engine aircraft.

With 400 P2006Ts now in service worldwide, it consistently comes out on top in the most rigorous of competitor fly-off evaluations. Tecnam has also partnered with a number of air forces and other niche operators who are now flying special versions of the twin, such as the P2006T SMP version for aerial operations.

Tecnam CSO Walter Da Costa says: "Key to the success of the P2006T Twin has been our commitment to offer our customers unbeatable value, coupled with low operating and ownership costs, innovative design and Italian styling.

"The Rotax engines, in particular, allow the Tecnam P2006T to be an environmental leader as well. With remarkable fuel savings and significantly lower noise emissions, it has redefined both the flight training and ownership experience in a single step."