Mahindra Aerospace is aiming to submit certification documents for its new Airvan 10 to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority in the third quarter of this year.
The Airvan 10 is a stretched, 10-seat version of the Latrobe Valley, Victoria-based manufacturer’s eight-seat Airvan 8 utility aircraft. The manufacturer, owned by India’s Mahindra Group, has been working on the Airvan 10 programme since 2011, with first flight in May 2012. US Federal Aviation Administration certification is expected to follow two months after initial Australian certification, says the manufacturer. Mahindra says it is starting to take deposits from its dealers for the Airvan 10.
The Airvan 10 was due to make an appearance at the Avalon show, where the manufacturer also had an Airvan 8 on display.
Meanwhile, Mahindra recently secured a five-aircraft order for the Airvan 8 from its authorised dealer in China, Shaanxi Jinggong General Aviation Company, following Chinese certification last December. Deliveries are scheduled over the next 12 months.
The manufacturer says it has also partnered with Airglas for the development of skis and a larger nose fork for the Airvan 8 in order to expand the utility of the aircraft across Alaska, Canada and other countries with remote airstrips in cold climates. Completion of the ski programme is scheduled for the second quarter, while the nose fork already has supplemental type certification approval and is available through Airglas, says the manufacturer
Source: FlightGlobal.com
