Piaggio Aero Industries has sold a P180 Avanti pusher turboprop to government-funded Polish air rescue service Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (LPR). The deal is Piaggio's first government sale outside Italy and its first within Eastern Europe for more than a decade. The P180 will join LPR's 14 Mil Mi-2 and Mi-2Plus helicopters and three PZL M20 Mewa fixed-wing types across its 14 bases.
The sale also strengthens Piaggio's position within the air ambulance market where the Genoa, Italy-based manufacturer is keen to expand. UK operator Euroskylink has placed orders and options for five Avantis that will be used for air ambulance and charter operations. The first aircraft will be delivered next month to the Coventry-based company in quick-change configuration. Piaggio is aiming for European Joint Aviation Authorities certification of the P180 by year-end.
Source: Flight International
