Italy's VulcanAir plans to double production of its P68 utility piston twins from one to two aircraft a month next year. The move comes less than two years after the Italian company acquired the former Partenavia aircraft line which includes the P68C and P68 Observer 2.
Annual production of the P68C corporate variant and P68 Observer 2 /law enforcement and surveillance model will be boosted by VulcanAir's planned entry into the fractional ownership market later this year with US operator Command Share. The Morris-town, New Jersey-based company has ordered two turbo-charged P68TCs and four P68Cs. The first aircraft will be handed over in December and the remaining four in 2001. Command Share managing director Andrea Angera says the P68C "will form the backbone" of its regional fractional ownership programme, concentrating initially on the Northeast USA, covering North Carolina to Cleveland, Ohio. Angera concedes: "In 2003, Command Share will be offered nationwide. We plan to have around 60 aircraft [including Commander 115s and Socata TBM 700s] in the fleet [15 aircraft in each of the four regions] with the P68 accounting for 75% of the total."
To support the Northeast-based fleet, Command Share has a joint venture agreement with C&W AeroServices of Caldwell, New Jersey to provide VulcanAir factory authorised service. VulcanAir predicts the fractional ownership commitment will represent around 30% of its annual P68 production.
Meanwhile, sales of the VulcanAir product line are increasing, with the P68 Observer 2 accounting for two thirds of its total production. VulcanAir is also in discussions with a launch customer for its turboprop-powered SF600A Canguro twin which it acquired from Finmeccanica in 1997.
Also under development are a single-engine, Walter-powered Canguro variant, dubbed the WF600W and a diesel-powered twin dubbed the VA 300. Both aircraft are set for certification by 2002, says VulcanAir. Company president Carlo de Feo says: "Our aim is to make our product line perfect." The Casoria, Naples-based manufacturer has designed a new interior for the P68C and P68 Observer 2, upgrading its avionics suite with Bendix King Silver Crown kit as standard.
As its fleet grows VulcanAir will establish a network of service centres to support the aircraft in the field. The entire product line is manufactured, completed and supported at VulcanAir's Casoria base. Licensing agreements established by Partenavia, notably with India's Taneja Aerospace and Aviation, are now defunct.
VulcanAir is planning to establish a final assembly facility in the USA which it says represents around 70% of its total sales. This will complement its Virginia-based sales and marketing office.
Source: Flight International
