Innovative Block Rental Program

By Bruce Brandon

Tecnam, an Italian company that has been building airplanes since 1948 and has delivered over 3,600 aircraft worldwide is still innovating.  It has a series of aircraft that go from light LSA to twin engine aircraft.

Phil Solomon, CEO Tecnam North America briefed the press on Tecnam development of the P2012 a new twin engine aircraft, one that Cape Air is looking at to replace its Cessna 402s (Cape Air has the largest C-402 fleet in the world).  The P2012 will have eleven seats and use a Lycoming TEO-540-A1A.  The first flight is scheduled for its first flight in 2015 with certification expected in 2016.

Tecnam also rents its LSA primary trainer.  One version of the P92 rents for $110/hr. wet and the twin engine P2006T for $215/hr. wet.  This cost compares very favorably with training in classic aircraft.

A novelty on the training front, Tecnam has come up with a creative block hour rental program.

For those who want to build time in a hurry, Tecnam has a block hour program.  One can rent 100 hours of P92 time for $69/hr. dry.  This program allows the renter to take the airplane for 6 weeks to fly the 100 hours. If one wants to purchase 300 hours of block time, the hourly rate goes down to $59/hr. dry.  With 300 hours block rental, the renter gets to take the airplane for 18 weeks.  The insurance requirements are that the student have a $20,000 aircraft rental policy or pay an additional $3 to have all the deductible waived.

These prices are for state of the art airplanes.  When figuring in the cost of fuel at 4-5 gallons/hr. this is a very attractive program to build flying time.

(Image provided by Tecnam)

FMI: http://tecnam.net/