Story ID: 6102313alerts
First Ex-Avantair Avanti Regains Airworthiness Cert
By: James Wynbrandt
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Word Count: 180
The first of 56 Avanti P.180 turboprop twins from the former fleet of bankrupt Avantair has had its airworthiness certificate revalidated by the FAA, Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio told AIN yesterday at NBAA 2013. Avantair was grounded in June, and the airworthiness certificates for all of its aircraft were revoked by the FAA, due to lax maintenance. 
  
Under the process, developed with the FAA, a team from Piaggio Aero performs an inspection that requires about five days for each aircraft. First, a list of needed repairs is compiled and then Piaggio America coordinates the repairs through a Piaggio factory-authorized service center. Once completed, the FAA either inspects the aircraft or simply reissues the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate. 
  
The first Avanti to undergo the process and to be reissued its airworthiness certificate was S/N 1214, owned by a company in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The aircraft was flown on a ferry permit to Stevens Aviation in Greenville, N.C., where the necessary work was carried out. Piaggio maintenance personnel are now inspecting more former Avantair aircraft, Piaggio said.