The first Tecnam 2002JF training aircraft in Australia will be operational next month when flying training company Basair Australia, based in Bankstown airport, Sydney, takes delivery of the first of six aircraft on order.
Basair, which operates a 25-strong fleet of Cessna 152s, 172s, 177s and 182s, Socata TB10 Tobagos, and Piper PA30 Twin Comanches and Cherokees, selected the 2002JF as a replacement for its ageing Cessna 152s, says Darrin Ward, managing director. "We looked at a wide range of aircraft. We wanted a conventional aircraft with conventional flying characteristics," he says. Although the company looked at new composite aircraft, Ward says it wanted all-metal. He cites two reasons: temperatures in Sydney can reach 45°C (113°F), yet the effects of operating composite aircraft in high temperatures are unknown; and Basair feels there is not sufficient local engineering support for composite aircraft.
Basair will use the aircraft as ab initio and cross-country trainers, installing Garmin GNS250 GPS units for the latter.
Source: Flight International
