Apex Academy Takes Ownership of Special Mission Aircraft

Apex Flight Academy received its first Tecnam P2012 SMP aircraft at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan on November 16, 2021, following a long 6,600 nm journey from its factory in Capua, Italy. Bouncing through Russia, Siberia, and South Korea, braving temps as low as -24? C, the aircraft brings additional multi-mission capabilities to the company. Apex plans for a broad service portfolio for the aircraft, including passenger transport, air ambulance missions, sightseeing tours, parachute jumping, aerial photography, and flight training.

Apex is the "only professional flight training organization in Taiwan ', according to its press, and selected the P2012 Sentinel SMP after its release last year. The aircraft is the improved, utilitarian, secret squirrel variant of the standard Traveller aircraft, boasting an improved set of Lycoming TEO-540-C1A engines, utility openings on the fuselage, an interior configurable for cargo or passenger carriage, and a flight deck designed for single-pilot operation. The variant was announced in September of 2020 as a modern, cutting-edge aircraft that could compete with older, out-of-production twins and turboprop aircraft for lower-speed, economical, loiter-intensive missions. The Sentinel boasts higher payloads, additional observer stations, FIKI equipment, and L3Harris WESCAM optical/infrared sensor integration, offering an option for those agencies demanding twin-engine safety margins with piston aircraft economy. 

Apex plans to add the second SMP aircraft in 2022, with an option to add 6 more should they see fit to exercise. The aircraft was selected for its wide mission envelope, and in a slight departure from some of the usual "special mission" expectations, selected it for primarily its utility in passenger transit, with the benefits of additional utility missions being secondary. Apex said the Sentinel experience would "exceed passenger's expectation, such as air-conditioning, in-seat power, widest leg-room in its class and underseat storage space." Apex Chairman Wilson Kao has stated the aircraft will see immediate service in sightseeing tours and aerial photography alongside training service, and the company is in talks to open the first aerial tours in Taiwan to show off the Eastern coasts. 

The chairman seemed to appreciate the Italian, stylish build of the P2012, saying “We are very delighted to have this wonderful Italian aircraft in Taiwan. It offers the full versatility we need to operate different missions and expand our business plan, and offering best-in-class service to our customers."

FMI: www.tecnam.com