Polish Type Wins FAA Certification

Skytruck Corporation says its PZL M28 Skytruck has received full FAA Type Certification. "This is an extremely exciting time for us and for everyone involved in the certification process," said Skytruck President Lance Maclean. "The certification of the M28 Skytruck has been a multi-national bilateral effort between PZL, a major Polish aircraft manufacturer, and several American and Canadian aerospace companies. Our goal has been to provide a versatile STOL (short take off and landing), utility aircraft that will cost-effectively meet the needs of western operators."

Maclean added that the M28 Skytruck fleet already exceeds 50 aircraft worldwide with the majority of those aircraft already in use in Venezuela, Columbia and Panama. "Now that we have FAA Certification, the door is open to sell the Skytruck in the United States, Canada, Central and the Caribbean," he continued. "With a GTOW (gross take off weight) of over 16,000 pounds and a cruise speed of over 200 knots, this capable aircraft is ideally suited for operators that need heavy loads moved in and out of short runways."

"With its rugged construction, 'bullet-proof' Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turboprop engines, ability to haul 5,300 pounds of cargo or 19-passengers, the Skytruck is ideally suited as a direct replacement for the venerable, but aging DeHavilland Twin Otter," Maclean explained. "Plus, it has the added safety feature of a second engine." [Editor's Note: Like the Twin Otter, which is a multi-engine airframe.}

The aircraft would be flown over from the PZL Mielec factory in Poland to Florida. Once there, they will be completed to the individual customer's specifications with interiors, paint and advanced avionics, featuring the state-of-the-art Chelton EFIS system.

"The Skytruck may be a hard-working platform, but that doesn't mean its interior, avionics and paint should be anything less than that of a multi-million dollar corporate jet," he explained. "Yet, it's still a money-earning aircraft that will give operators of all sizes a modern, reliable, fuel-efficient way to fulfill a variety of roles ­ from delivering cargo into the bush, to providing short-haul personnel shuttle services, to corporate use."

With the potential to deliver upwards of 250 Skytrucks into the American markets, Maclean said the company has already begun to expand their dealer and service center network in the continental US, Canada, and Alaska.

"With our dealer network already in place in Latin America, we will begin appointing new dealers domestically in May," Maclean added. "Once Skytruck production is up to speed, we could certainly see three or four deliveries each month and we know key to that success is having a solid support infrastructure in place. Currently, we have only four unsold 2004 delivery slots available and have already taken orders for next year's model." Current standard equipped price for 2004 model Skytrucks is under $3.5 million dollars.

FMI: www.skytruck.us