Cape Air has taken delivery of the first two of 100 Tecnam P2012 Travellers, completing a year-long effort to replace its aging fleet of Cessna 402s. The delivery comes on the heels of EASA certification and with FAA certification expected shortly.
During the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) conference in April, Walter DaCosta, Tecnam US global sales & marketing director and Shannon Yeager, US sales director, briefed RACCA members on the new-generation commuter aircraft that has both combi and cargo configurations baked into its design.
Cape Air, which was instrumental in the creation of the P2012, expects 20 aircraft as part of the first order tranche. A ferry flight from Capua, Italy to the Cape Air base in Hyannis, Mass may be performed by Tecnam COO, third generation of Pascale family Giovanni Pascale as pilot in command.
Powered by two 375 HP turbo-charged Lycoming engines, the Tecnam P2012 Traveller features a modern design and state-of-the-art equipment. The aircraft’s simple and easily accessed airframe and systems, fixed landing gear, robust interiors and easy-to-replace parts, result in high efficiency and low maintenance costs.
The P2012 is the first to be certificated under the FAR Part 23/EASA CS23 standards and is indicative of the activity now occupying the small cargo airliner space. And like the Cessnas it will replace, the P2012 can also be flown with either one or two pilots.
Tecnam is producing both full cargo and combi versions for maximum operational flexibility. Operationally, the P2012 delivers a reduced take-off run, 194-knot max cruise speed at 10,000 feet and a range of more than 950 nm.
