Mahindra’s Airvan gets Australian certification

Mahindra’s Airvan gets Australian certification :

Mahindra Aerospace’s said its 10-seater turboprop plane Airvan 10 has received certification from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The company, part of diversified Mahindra group, also said the certification would help expand its existing markets.

“The Airvan 10, has been awarded its FAR 23 type certificate from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which was followed by the US Type Certificate being issued by the Federal Aviation Administration,” the company said in a release.

FAR 23 type certification is for small aircraft.

This Australian facility, located near Melbourne, now hosts the aircraft business interests of Mahindra Aerospace and currently produces the Airvan 8, one of the most capable, rugged and versatile aircraft in its class. Certified in 38 countries, more than 200 Airvan 8s are in service in Australia, Africa, North America, Europe and many demanding geographies worldwide. The Air van 8 will soon be joined by a 10-seat turboprop derivative, the Air van 10.

Mahindra Aerospace Chairman S P Shukla said the certification under stringent safety standards aligns with the group’s focus on introducing world class products in fast changing general aviation world which would be dominated significantly by turboprops in this class of aircraft.

“It enhances our global reach further with specific focus on large markets for regional connectivity such as India, USA and Africa,” he noted.

The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by early 2018.

In 2008, Mahindra group acquired Australia’s GippsAero — which makes the Airvan family of aircraft.

GippsAero CEO Keith Douglas said there has been a significant demand for such aircraft in expanding general aviation turboprop market.

The Rolls-Royce M250-powered Airvan 10 follows Airvan 8 plane.

In 2009 Mahindra Aerospace also heeded an imperative to increase India’s footprint in the global aerospace supply chain. Upon acquiring an existing Australian aerospace manufacturing firm – Aerostaff Australia – in 2010, Mahindra Aerospace began developing a new, 25,000 sq. m. facility to produce airframe parts and assemblies in India. This facility, located on a National Highway near Bengaluru, enjoys excellent air and sea connectivity and is certified to stringent global aerospace industry requirements. The facility was inaugurated in October 2013 and is now delivering aerospace sheet metal parts and assemblies for global aircraft programmes.

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