The Tecnam P2012 Traveller is an eleven-seat utility aircraft designed and manufactured by the Italian company Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam, based in Capua, Italy, near Naples. In 2009, Cape Air, a Massachusetts-based commuter airline operating in the Caribbean and New England, was looking for a successor for its fleet of 83 Cessna 402s. After being rebuffed by aircraft manufacturers Cessna and Piper, Cape Air approached Italian manufacturer Tecnam, specialised in trainers and private aircraft but interested in a commercial aircraft. The P2012 is Tecnam's most complex and important programme, "the first time we've developed an aircraft from the operator's point of view". In April 2011, the P2012 project was publicly unveiled at AERO Friedrichshafen by Tecnam and Cape Air. Funding came from private sources and the Italian government. It is Tecnam's first commercial aircraft and after its introduction as a commuter airliner, it could be used for VIP, cargo, parachuting and medevac. The company can produce up to 40 aircraft per year. Tecnam forecasts a demand for 11,500 short-haul commuter aircraft between 2018 and 2028. The Traveller is a twin piston-engined aircraft, powered by a pair of Lycoming TEO540C1As, each capable of providing up to 375hp (280kW), which give the type a maximum cruise speed of 190kn (351km/h). The design complies with FAR Part 23 and EASA CS-23 regulations. Its range of 950nmi (1,750km) and its large passenger door make it suitable for commuter, air taxi, medevac, troop transport and air cargo roles. The P2012 aims to replace the Cessna 402 and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, to compete with modern single-engine aircraft like the Quest Kodiak and could complement the larger DHC-6 Twin Otter. Cape Air required single-pilot operations, a modern cockpit, an unpressurised cabin and a metal airframe. The high wing enhances visibility during landing, the fixed landing gear is suitable for rough landing strips. For more information on development and design and operational history, cick here. Variants P2012 Standard civilian version. P2012 SMP Special Mission Platform variant. P-Volt Proposed electric-powered passenger derivative of P2012, developed by Tecnam with Rolls-Royce plc and Norwegian regional carrier Widerøe to enter service in 2026.
