FAA Type Certificate for GippsAero's Turbocharged Airvan
The Aircraft division of Mahindra Aerospace Private Limited, today received the Type Certificate for the Airvan GA8 TC-320.
- (1888PressRelease) July 30, 2010 - Whittman Field, Oshkosh, WI USA: Australian aircraft manufacturer, GippsAero Pty Ltd, the Aircraft division of Mahindra Aerospace Private Limited, today received the Type Certificate for the Airvan GA8 TC-320, the turbocharged version of the versatile eight seat utility aircraft, from the FAA at a ceremony at EAA AirVenture 2010. The type was initially certificated by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority (CASA) in February 2009 and has now received certification from both the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
GippsAero reports that the Turbocharged Airvan has been selling well despite the global financial crisis, with 15 examples of the type now in service in a wide variety of roles. To further demonstrate the versatility and capability of the type, the turbocharged Airvan recently completed an Around the World Flight to celebrate the centenary years of powered flight in Australia and to raise funds for Malaria awareness.
The GA8 - TC 320 is powered by a 320 HP Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A Turbocharged Fuel Injected Engine turning a Hartzell 80 inch (2032 mm) diameter, three blade, constant speed propeller.
The GA8-TC 320 is powered by a turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A rated to 320 horsepower at 40 inches of manifold pressure at 2500 rpm from sea level to 5000 feet. Above 5000 feet, the TIO-540-AH1A is rated to maintain 300 horsepower at 38 inches of manifold pressure at 2500 rpm. The GA8-TC 320 features a Hartzell 80 inch (2032 mm) diameter, scimitar design three blade propeller. The turbocharged engine enhances the performance of the already extremely versatile Airvan with improved climbing and high altitude performance with a very low noise footprint.
The type is proving popular with existing Airvan fleet owners. The Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF International Asia-Pacific) has added three turbocharged Airvans to their 14 strong Airvan fleet for service in the rugged highlands of Papua New Guinea and two examples have been added to the Airvan Freighter fleet of Air Freight Solutions of Bathurst New South Wales. On the other side of the Australian continent, tourist operator Alligator Airways of Kununura, Western Australia, has replaced its entire Airvan fleet with five brand new copies of the turbocharged variant. Across the Tasman Sea, long-term Airvan operator Air Safaris, a tour operator based in New Zealand's majestic Southern Alps, has added a turbocharged Airvan to bring their Airvan fleet to four.
"Mahindra Aerospace is committed to consolidating and expanding GippsAero's business in Australia and overseas. The Airvan has already proved its airworthiness and is in great demand amongst international customers. Our future plans with GippsAero include producing two new aircrafts - a ten seater and an eighteen seater to cater to this growing market," said Mr. Arvind Mehra, Executive Director and CEO, Mahindra Aerospace Private Limited.
"We welcome Mahindra's commitment to GippsAero. We already produce aircrafts in the range of two to twenty seaters in over 30 countries across the globe and I am sure our association with Mahindra will take the company to even greater heights. We look forward to the beginning of a new chapter in our history," said Mr. George Morgan, Director, Gippsland Aeronautics.
"We are delighted to be a part of the Mahindra family and share in the company's vision of evolving into a global aerospace OEM. GippsAero's strong intellectual property and technological innovation combined with Mahindra's brand name and global reach will ensure that together we become a force to reckon with in the aviation sphere," said Mr. Terry Miles, CEO, Gippsland Aeronautics.
GippsAero delivered its first production GA8 Airvan in December 2000 and was awarded an FAA type certificate in 2003 followed by EASA certification in 2005. No less than 156 Airvans have been manufactured at the company's Latrobe Regional Airport base at Traralgon in the State of Victoria in South Eastern Australia. Close to one hundred Airvans have been exported, including sixteen for the USAF Auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol, for use in Homeland Security and search and rescue missions. Worldwide, the Airvan is operated for a diverse range of uses including humanitarian aid, passenger and freight hauling, sightseeing, surveillance and bush fire reconnaissance missions.
The Airvan features a large cabin, an impressive payload and very docile handling characteristics. The Airvan is certificated to FAR 23 at Amendment 55, which means that the Airvan incorporates safety features not seen in aircraft designed to earlier standards. Airvan operating costs are very low due to the use of simple, robust, systems with easy access, resulting in low maintenance requirements.
The new GA8-TC 320 is a significant addition to GippsAero product line. Not content to rest on their laurels GippsAero has further projects in the pipe line including a new 10 seat entry level turbo prop utility aircraft, the GA10, and plans to bring the GA18, a sixteen passenger twin turboprop engine based on the GAF N24A, to manufacture.
Mahindra Aerospace is a division of Mahindra Systech, part of the USD 7.1 billion Mahindra Group. Mahindra Systech is a strategic 'Design to Delivery' supplier of comprehensive component products and engineering services with the distinction of being the 5th largest forging company in the world.
Mahindra Aerospace is the aircraft and aero-structure manufacturing division of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. It is an AS9100 Rev.B certified design organization embodying decades of experience in global aerospace design and development programmes. The company combines this experience with its thorough knowledge of aerospace regulations and familiarity with operational environments to provide timely, accurate, cutting-edge technical products to customers. Mahindra Aerospace prides itself on offering a wide spectrum of services ranging from conceptual design through productionizing aerospace products, be they components, aero-structures or complete aircrafts.
Mahindra Gippsland Aeronautics (GA) was formed in 1984 by George Morgan and Peter Furlong and has designed various aircrafts suited to international standards. It was acquired by the Mahindra Group in 2009. GA is based in Latrobe valley, Australia. It has IP/type certificate approvals for four aircraft and has successfully produced in excess of 200 aircrafts, which fly in 34 countries around the world, including USA, Australia, EU etc. GA is a reputed aircraft producer and is the only one of its kind in the state of Victoria, Australia. Its aircraft design meets the latest international safety standards.
For further information please contact:
Mr. John Willis
Communications Officer
GippsAero Pty Ltd
PO Box 881
MORWELL VIC 3840
Ph + 61 3 5172 1200
DD + 61 3 5172 1229
Fx + 61 3 5172 1201
E: jwillis ( @ ) gippsaero dot com dot au
www.gippsaero.com
###
space
space
Satisfied Users & 
Approved Press Releases
Print
Email
Report Spam