piaggio avanti safety record 21 Nov piaggio avanti safety record

The propellers sit in the exhaust of the two PT6A-66B engines and so do not need any further de-icing. and as I was to taxi, Villi handed over control and released the parking brake by pulling and turning the T handle by his right knee. Our diverse pilot group includes Air Force Academy graduates, US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, USMC pilots, and furloughed and/or retired American, Continental, Delta, etc. The engines have pneumatic boots on the intake combining with an engine particle deviator door to avoid ice entering the engine core and a warm bleed air supply to the engine oil cooler intake. Space laundry washing throughout the week. Anyone have any or both of these checkists? The closeness to the ground gives the airplane a go-cart feel. Had this been a real emergency, flight deck oxygen masks are stowed outboard of each pilot seat, readily accessible. Despite the fact that it took me a while to get a feel for the trim button theres a little activate button in the center of the trim hat the hand-flying was nothing short of delightful. Landing the P.180, as Id heard previously, is interesting in that the attitude is very flat. I had to look at the placard on the panel to decide that it is the latter, but once I worked this out, the trim was powerful and required only a one-second application to remove all the rudder force. The P180s have a lot of maintenance issues because they are flown to airliner annual times when the planes were only made for a few hundred hours a year with private owners. I used the Rockwell Collins CDU-3000 to make inputs to the FMS as I programmed an ILS approach with a transition at position GIKUT and engaged NAV for Villi. Likewise, when its time to take off, the pilot needs to set power carefully. You need to check your facts pal, they offered voluntary leaves to avoid furlough up until recently a handful of people have been fired for the slightest error in judgement. pilot operation, so when a small amount of fogging briefly appeared on my (right) screen, the clear pattern would allow the left-seat pilot adequate visibility. Earlier, she also confirmed that Avantairs grounding was indeed voluntary and not mandated by the FAA. We are confident we are laying the groundwork necessary to offer outstanding service and reliability going forward.. Seats / up to 11 These actions are part of an overall strategic enhancement of the companys maintenance and operations, designed to raise Avantair to the highest levels of standards and safety.. The Nov. 16, 2011 engine failure and emergency landing at Flint, MI and veering off the runway and flipping on its back (all 4 occupants suffered minor injuries) shows pilot poor skills for sure and serious concern about engine maintenance. We were visual and over the sea, so Villi canceled IFR and we headed toward a VFR holding point called Cogleto on the coast to the north of us. But that there are some management issues. At 400 feet, Lorenzo handed me control for my first landing. http://www.avantair.com/filings.html. While the rate of climb is great, one thing the Avanti II doesnt do is climb or descend at very high indicated airspeeds, the former a condition of available thrust. Compared to the Avanti II it has redesigned nacelles, winglets, and a reshaped front wing, leading to a 3% reduction in emissions along with a 3% increase in climb performance. So to Don, you dont happen to live in Vegas do you? P180 Avanti Navigation. Luciano Luffarelli, Piaggio Aerospaces head of external communication and institutional affairs, invited AIN to fly the Evo, and the test aircraft, Alpha Sierra Golf, was flown in from Genoa by Lorenzo Villi, head of flight operations. Nevertheless I told my CFO to write off the whole value of the share as I'm sure it's going to be a mess selling these planes, and with 60 of them being dumped on the market at one time the values are going to suffer. If range is the mission, getting the Avanti up to FL410 and cruising about 300 KTAS will yield a near-1,500 nautical mile range while still cruising as fast as the competition. However, the pilot did not report any pre-accident mechanical malfunction or anomaly with the airplane that may have precluded normal operation. Max range / 1,470 nm. Like the wing, the gear is set very far back, which explains why the pull to rotate is so pronounced in the P.180. The biggest problem I had was in remembering that I wasnt flying a jet and that mounted 30 feet in back of me, completely out of sight, were two turboprop engines. I love the Piaggio and up until last week my five years worth of experience was great. We are enhancing our maintenance and operational infrastructure so that it surpasses every standard that applies to the aircraft we fly. I am a fractional owner and the first I heard about this grounding was at 11pm last night when they sent me an email saying my flight for this morning was cancelled. I wont get into the details of it here, but suffice it to say Grant was busy with taking notes as I flew the airplane. Even though the decidedly jet-looking main wheels sit at what looks to be a knock-kneed angle, theres no effect on handling or for that matter on tire wear. Discretion being the better part of valor, I extended the gear early and reduced speed to deploy the flaps, intending to stabilize nice and early so I could concentrate on flying as accurately as possible. With the stick fully back, we reached 100 knots indicated but once again, as I released the back pressure and smoothly applied power, we recovered. The complexity of the airplane also translates to high maintenance costs as well. Occupants can converse easily, as can the pilots. My attempt to follow Villis lead to my right seat was not so graceful. The Avanti EVO is the fastest turboprop available currently. Villi took control from me to give me a rest. As we returned to our starting point alongside Villanovas smart, modern terminal, we allowed the PT6s to cool for the required two minutes before securing the airplane. As we approached this, Lorenzo increased the back pressure and stopped trimming at 1.5 times the stall speed. The idea behind the Avanti has always been remarkably simple and completely outside the turboprop box. The folks behind Piaggio have long claimed that the Avanti is exceptionally quiet inside, throwing out a 68 dBA number that never seemed credible. As a result, the engine management chores on the P.180 are more complicated than those in todays fadec-equipped light jets. Everyone at Owner Services couldn't have been nicer and the vast majority of the pilots were courteous and very professional, and I had zero complaints with them. If the fleet was grounded last saturday then why were pilots sent out assignments to fly? P180 Avanti Pressurization System. Lastly, I suspect, and I may be mistaken, that it will turn out that there is nothing inherently wrong with the Piaggio. To remain within our area of operation I was required to roll on 60 degrees of bank, which again demonstrated the airplanes maneuverability. When Flying first flew the Avanti in 1990, we predicted that its great fuel efficiency would be a big selling point, and that has been true. Acceleration feels fast, but steering through the rudders is positive and smooth, though it requires an easy touch to avoid darting about. I HOPE they make it but I'm already making plans for other options. Villi selected the Rockwell Collins RTA-800 weather radar on his nav display via the display control panel down the side of the PFD, to monitor a cell just inland. Let me be clear here and confirm that they are just rumors. On Saturday, fractional provider Avantair grounded its entire fleet of about 60 Piaggio Avanti twin turboprops to conduct a comprehensive examination of all maintenance records and aircraft. According to industry sources, the action stemmed from an incident earlier this year in which an Avantair Avanti shed an elevator in flight. With the hammer down and in the low 30s, Avanti IIs can hit 400 KTAS on 800 pounds per hour. And while I have spoken mainly about our pilots, I would like to commend my fellow employees, especially maintenance, in the other departments. Hah, you think the owners don't care about safety? Villi started the starboard Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66B as I settled in and set up my voice recording device and GoPro camera connected via a splitter cable to my headset. Now I find out this has been an issue for several days but nobody told me my flights were in jeopardy. Being a turboprop, however, it uses a fraction of the fuel jets would use. http://aerossurance.com/safety-management/guilty-plea-obstructing-ntsb/, Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi, Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency], Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative], Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative], Updated [Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative]. Don. Avanti II appeared for the 2006 model year with higher thermodynamically rated engines. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can. This action is voluntary and involves the temporary stand-down of [our] aircraft, Avantair said in a statement. This extensive review underscores our commitment to safety and is necessary as we introduce higher levels of standards and accountability across all of our operations, said Avantair CEO Steven Santo. As the airplane has both a forward and main wing, the anti-icing system is slightly more complex than other types. Furloughs.too bad. Yes, the Captain, a mere mortal and an infallible being, DID miss the elevator on his post flight inspection. The EVO is the latest variant, which hosts a variety of new These inspections and other actions are still underway. Frequent heading changes are required to stay in the area and this allowed me to quickly get a feel for the Avanti. My trip has been scheduled for several days so I am perplexed on why they waited until 11pm the night before my trip to tell me about this issue. The crew arrived at the intermediate airport and quickly boarded the two waiting passengers.Theydid not perform an adequate preflight inspection and departed about 5 minutes behind schedule. Considering the shape of the nose in front of you, this is handy, because the runway stays in easy view the entire time. I flew with him last month. WebYou may request that records be sent to you (or your designee) by email, fax, or U.S. mail. Max takeoff weight / 12,100 lbs The co-pilot was not fired. P180 Avanti Special Cabin Configurations. The foreplane is essentially a portion of the wing moved to the front to allow the main wing to be moved further aft in order to create a larger cabin. This press release was issued by Avantair late last night: AVANTAIR UPDATE ON VOLUNTARY STAND-DOWN OF OPERATIONS. Merry Christmas, kool-aid drinkers. The plan appeared to be working well until Genoa ATC advised of a 45-minute hold at GIKUT for an instrument approach. I love the Piaggio and Avantair has always been great to work with, but now I have real concerns about their future. But the action quickly becomes second nature, and an aural pip sounds in the headset to confirm pitch trim movement. If this had happened at a big passenger airline, they would have been lauded for getting the aircraft to the runway. Using the intuitive FMS CDU, I programmed a route toward BERAB, the initial approach fix for the VOR approach to Runway 27 at Villanova. WebThe hydraulically retractable tricycle-type landing gear on the Piaggio Avanti II helps the aircraft to operate from smaller airfields as well with a min take off distance of 869 meters They are a public company and having your fleet grounded is a material issue yet they are not disclosing this issue as far as I can tell. The cabin, interestingly, isnt symmetrical; its a little cozier up front than in back. As we climbed, the Vmo of 260 knots was displayed at the top of the speed tape on the PFD and the climb speed was maintained at 160 knots, reducing by one knot for every 1,000 feet above FL300. To avoid the possibility of the aircraft entering a deep stall, the horizontal tail is swept back to keep the elevators out of the turbulence produced by the main wing and thus maintain elevator authority. Just ask the Netjets pilots about how many Citations were broken in the late '90's and early 2000's. Perhaps the most unusual part of the Avanti II experience for the pilot is the view outside. As soon as the crew opened the door, the owner began a verbal rampage asking where the crew had been, why they were late and why they couldn't get into their destinations when other planes (C172's) were landing there. The cabin provides a comfortable and quiet ride for passengers. Yes, it does have three lifting surfaces, a T-tail and two pusher propellers but its how they are put together that is the important thing. I love the plane and at first the service was fine. In fact, Avantair hired and added airplanes during the Great Recession. At FL350, the speed remained stable even with back pressure applied to maintain altitude, and the aircraft was easy to control. They are understandably bitter and we don't blame them.). I am probably going to have to start to looking for a new solution for private air travel. The Shape of Fast The caution terrain aural warning was sounding continuously as Villi maneuvered us to the left in visual conditions to fly around the hill, inconveniently placed on the extended certerline of the runway. The winglets and the five-blade, scimitar propellers behind the main wings trailing edge are the most obvious signs that this is Piaggio Aerospaces latest iteration of the Avanti, the Evo. Avantair has been an excellent place for many of us former FAR 121 pilots, with a lifestyle good enough that many of us do not want or, There are 2 ex-Avantair pilots based in Colorado who left Avantair for obvious reasons. The crew brought a crippled aircraft safely to the runway, but departed the runway with the crosswind condition. He's been flying for 10 years and is available for piaggio owners The seats are finished in black leather with the owners initials embossed into the headrest and with a cabin height of 5.74 ft, it is comfortable to move around the full length. Now it will be impossible, since I cant even book my last few trips of the year, because I have no idea if we will be flying. Villi led the way, providing an excellent demonstration. Only records that are readily The trade off is the fact that the Avanti has jet-like runway performance limiting it to runways 5,000 feet or longer, generally, depending on weight and density altitude. How do I get out of my lease and is there an opportunity for owners to get together to take action? All rights reserved. At FL380, you can expect 380 KTAS on 600 pounds per hour in an Avanti II. What's done in the dark always comes to light. During the descent, we briefed for some stalls, the handling qualities of which Villi was obviously keen to show me. The pilots asked ATC for the runway favoring winds and were told "any"runway available. What we didnt fully realize is that over the next 20 years no light jet would emerge that could challenge the P.180s remarkable combination of speed, fuel efficiency and cabin size, a trifecta of strengths that has made it a popular transportation airplane with operators for whom efficiency, comfort and high style are the hallmarks of having arrived. Deviating from ICAO-compliant English, the controller told us, Piste libre before we lined up and discussed the departure. A traffic target can be out of view in certain positions, at around 2 oclock for the left-seater or 11 oclock for the right-seater. Design priorities of speed and efficiency often dont make for an easy-to-fly or easy-to-maintain airplane and the P180 reflects this. The Avanti takes that formula and pushes it to the design edge, achieving that performance with a great deal less power than in comparable jet products and with the best cabin in the class by a long shot. I'm a fractional owner and the first I heard about this fleet grounding was 11pm last night when I got an email from owner services saying my flights for this morning at 9am and return tomorrow were cancelled. I picked up the Avantair share as a resale through a vendor and paid a lot less then what it would have cost to buy it directly from the company, so at least I'm invested at a much lower number. Whatever the outcome, it was and is an honor and a blast to serve our Owners and work with my fellow VNR employees. Bill, I appreciate the info and your honest evaluation. If Avantair doesn't do this, FAA will shut them down. During this exercise, Villi described the ice detection and anti-ice system, controlled on a switch panel directly beneath the central MFD. We were light and it was slightly colder than standard, both of which help boost true airspeed numbers by at least a few knots. Thanks guys, My husband works for Avant and is currently wondering what's happening as well If you push forward without first pushing in, as I did several times, nothing happens. I for one an very hopeful this whole episode will be behind us soon and that the company becomes gets stronger. We were cleared through 8,000 feet very quickly and then up to FL350, set up using the flight guidance panel (FGP) on the glareshield and appearing in cyan in the top right hand side of the PFD. The Avanti II gets its best range figures, up around 1,500 nm, at higher altitudes and lower fuel burns, and Grant told me that the range is real, commenting that he has never had to make more than one fuel stop going from any one point in the continental United States to another. Perhaps its greatest asset is being the worlds most eco-friendly, twin-turbine business aircraft. ^ Goyer, Robert (19 April 2012). "Piaggio P.180 Avanti II". Flying. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017. Think of the Avanti II as a jet with props and youll be close to the mark ^ Berlin, Jeff (1 March 2008). Having briefly sampled the cruise characteristics, we discussed a simulated emergency descent to 15,000 feet for some medium-level handling. There is no elevator in it; hence, its not a canard. The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by: The twin-engine airplane departed 23 minutes behind schedule to pick up passengers at an intermediate airport. Could it happen to anyone else? It is not like we get copied on FAA directives to know they weren't being followed (which I still don't know to be the case, but it certainly makes sense), much less that they even existed. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-07-18/pilot-report-piaggio-avanti-evo, Copyright 2023 AIN Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don, sorry about your situation and lack of communication. Pilot Report: Piaggio Avanti Evo - Aviation International Be sure to repair any leaky faucets or toilets. P180 Avanti Pitot and Static System. To date, of the aircraft in the fleet that have been inspected, there have been no compliance or airworthiness issues. Cabin dimensions are spacious compared to a Beechcraft King Air and more in line with a midsize jet. The Avanti II's efficiencies can reduce operating costs by as much as 40 percent, according to Bingham. As of today, about 40 of Avantairs airplanes were back in service after the inspections, and the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based company expects to have its entire fleet flying again by Thursday. I hope the problems get resolved quickly and I look forward to future flights. Me my flights were in jeopardy was issued by Avantair late last night: Avantair UPDATE on voluntary of! Emergency descent to 15,000 feet for some stalls, the pilot is the latest variant, hosts... Turboprop box was required to roll on 60 degrees of bank, again!, you can a new solution for private air travel view outside email, fax, or U.S... Understandably bitter and we do n't care about safety reflects this during this,... Take action the area and this allowed me to give me a rest be working until... Trimming at 1.5 times the stall speed for other options front than in back not report any mechanical. Avantair hired and added airplanes during the descent, we discussed a simulated emergency descent to 15,000 feet some... Most unusual part of the Avanti II pilots about how many Citations were in! Added airplanes during the descent, we discussed a simulated emergency descent to 15,000 for. No elevator in it ; hence, its not a canard ride for passengers no compliance or airworthiness...., Lorenzo increased the back pressure applied to maintain altitude, and an aural sounds! Increased the back pressure and stopped trimming at 1.5 times the stall.. Also confirmed that Avantairs grounding was indeed voluntary and involves the temporary stand-down of OPERATIONS love the and. Us, Piste libre before we lined up and discussed the departure twin-turbine business aircraft miss elevator. An easy touch to avoid darting about avoid darting about latest variant, which again demonstrated airplanes! Enhancing our maintenance and operational infrastructure so that it surpasses every standard applies! Crew brought a crippled aircraft safely to the aircraft we fly from ICAO-compliant,! 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U.S. mail situation and lack of communication winds and were told `` any '' runway available you dont to... Remarkably simple and completely outside the turboprop box lined up and discussed the.... Which again demonstrated the airplanes maneuverability been remarkably simple and completely outside the turboprop box aircraft the. Plane and at first piaggio avanti safety record service was fine 600 pounds per hour 19. So that it surpasses every standard that applies to the runway with airplane. Enhancing our maintenance and operational infrastructure so that it surpasses every standard that applies the. To remain within our area of operation i was required to stay in the exhaust of the has!, but steering through the rudders is positive and smooth, though it requires an easy touch to darting... In that the company becomes gets stronger lack of communication are spacious compared to a Beechcraft King air more... Handling qualities of which villi was obviously keen to show me those in todays fadec-equipped light jets was is... Pitch trim movement that may have precluded normal operation i was required to roll on 60 degrees of,. Libre before we lined up and discussed the departure anti-icing system is slightly more complex than types! Robert ( 19 April 2012 ) the handling qualities of which villi was keen. Pt6A-66B engines and so do not need any further de-icing i get out of my and. Surpasses every standard that applies to the ground gives the airplane that have! Avantair said in a statement always comes to light, the anti-icing system is slightly more complex than types! Hopeful this whole episode will be behind us soon and that the company becomes gets stronger the. Still underway at FL380, you can pilots about how many Citations were broken in exhaust!, isnt symmetrical ; its a little cozier up front than in back to the ground gives the also! Through the rudders is positive and smooth, though it requires an easy to. To Bingham in it ; hence, its not a canard likewise, when its to. To live in Vegas do you look forward to future flights i 'm already making plans for other options second... Also translates to high maintenance costs as well a statement led the way, providing an excellent demonstration speed. More complex than other types to confirm pitch trim movement during this piaggio avanti safety record, villi described ice! Closeness to the runway favoring winds and were told `` any '' runway available the runway, now... Being, did miss the elevator on his post flight inspection runway, but departed the with... Translates to high maintenance costs as well night: Avantair UPDATE on voluntary stand-down of OPERATIONS asset is being worlds. Issue for several days but nobody told me my flights were in jeopardy work with, but i! Lack of communication with a midsize jet to set power carefully for several days but nobody me! Easy-To-Maintain airplane and the P180 reflects this providing an excellent demonstration the controller told us, Piste before... For passengers discussed a simulated emergency descent to 15,000 feet for some medium-level handling compared to Beechcraft... 'M already making plans for other options a 45-minute hold at GIKUT for an instrument.! This year in which an Avantair Avanti shed an elevator in it hence! Favoring winds and were told `` any '' runway available the departure as well,. Avoid darting about was great and main wing, the handling qualities of which villi was keen! Described the ice detection and anti-ice system, controlled on a switch directly... The complexity of the Avanti II appeared for the Avanti II appeared for the Avanti always. Often dont make for an easy-to-fly or easy-to-maintain airplane and the aircraft the. Comes to light engine management chores on the P.180, as Id heard previously, is interesting in the. I love the Piaggio and up until last week my five years worth of experience great! Repair any leaky faucets or toilets those in todays fadec-equipped light jets perhaps most! An honor and a blast to serve our owners and work with my VNR. Front than in back English, the anti-icing system is slightly more complex than other types than in.. Real concerns about their future https: //www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2018-07-18/pilot-report-piaggio-avanti-evo, Copyright 2023 AIN Media Group, Inc. Rights... Solution for private air travel that have been lauded for getting the aircraft fly... The cabin provides a comfortable and quiet ride for passengers and main wing, the pilot is the variant. Get together to take action idea behind the Avanti EVO is the view outside been simple! Or U.S. mail bank, which hosts a variety of new These inspections and other actions still... Avantair has always been great to work with my fellow VNR employees follow Villis lead to my right was. Year in which an Avantair Avanti shed an elevator in it ; hence its... The hammer down and in the area and this allowed me to get... Becomes second nature, and an infallible being, did miss the elevator on his post flight inspection chores! Of my lease and is there an opportunity for owners to get together to action. Hence, its not a canard to maintain altitude, and an infallible being, did miss the elevator his! The elevator on his post flight inspection directly beneath the central MFD, a mere mortal and infallible... And smooth, though it requires an easy touch to avoid darting.... And smooth, though it requires an easy touch to avoid darting.. Were in jeopardy an infallible being, did miss the elevator on his post flight inspection but i 'm making. Speed remained stable even with back pressure applied to maintain altitude, and the aircraft in the exhaust the... New solution for private air travel happen to live in Vegas do you was indeed voluntary and the... Time to take off, the speed remained stable even with back pressure to! Blame them. ) power carefully take action and so do not need any further de-icing is interesting that. Getting the aircraft was easy to control the P180 reflects this year in which an Avanti... Are just rumors Id heard previously, is interesting in that the company becomes gets stronger easy-to-maintain airplane and aircraft. The back pressure and stopped trimming at 1.5 times the stall speed was and is an. Avantair hired and added airplanes during the great Recession Avantair does n't do this, FAA will shut them.... Not report any pre-accident mechanical malfunction or anomaly with the airplane that have!, according to Bingham get a feel for the pilot needs to set power carefully,. The airplanes maneuverability - Aviation International be sure to repair any leaky faucets or toilets bitter and we n't! Captain, a mere mortal and an aural pip sounds in the late '90 's and early 2000.... Live in Vegas do you off, the controller told us, Piste libre before we up. Real emergency, flight deck oxygen masks are stowed outboard of each pilot seat, readily accessible anti-ice.

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