9 P180 Avanti EVOs From Italian Government Firmed For Piaggio Earlier this year JF alerted you to the prospect that the Italian Government was looking to create a contract to purchase more P180 Avanti Pusher-prop aircraft to either replace or add to the fleet they have. It appears the contract has been firmed and the Italian Government will be taking five in a passenger transport configuration and four equipped for "radio-measures", Piaggio said. The nine aircraft are expected to be delivered over a four-year period.
The new aircraft deal is worth around 130 million Euros. However, there is also a deal for maintenance contracts for existing aircraft in the Govt fleet which Piaggio will handle and that is expected to have a contract worth 66 million Euros. Together with the new order, that deal is worth close to 200 million Euros which is part of a much larger 700 million Euro rescue package from Rome. For more information: Piaggio Aero Viale Generale Disegna, 1 17038 Villanova d’Albenga (Savona, Italy) www.piaggioaerospace.it ***