Airvan 10 T-prop Single Gets Aussie CASA, U.S. FAA Nods

The GippsAero Airvan 10 turboprop single has received type certification from both the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and U.S. FAA, parent company Mahindra Aerospace announced yesterday. The 10-seat, Rolls-Royce M250-powered airplane is a stretched version of GippsAero’s Airvan 8 piston single.

“We feel proud in achieving this milestone of dual certification for our Airvan 10,” said Mahindra Aerospace executive director and CEO Arvind Mehra. “This not only allows us to expand our existing markets, but also provides a much needed boost to regional low-cost connectivity to those areas in the world where avgas is a constraint.”

Specifically, the company said it plans to focus sales efforts for the Airvan 10 in “large markets for regional connectivity, such as India and Africa.” Deliveries are set to start early next year, according to GippsAero CEO Keith Douglas.

Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Australian general aviation aircraft maker GippsAero in 2010. The unpressurized Airvan 10 will compete with the Cessna Caravan and Quest Kodiak in the utility turboprop market.