The approval clears the way for Epic to begin deliveries in the region, including those for a 34 aircraft order from Brazil-based charter and fractional operator Avantto. Epic announced that it had entered into a long-term partnership with Avantto, reportedly “one of the largest operators in the private aviation market in Latin America,” in August.

Deliveries are expected to take place over five years with the first two E1000 GX aircraft scheduled to arrive by the end of December. The aircraft will be joining the Avantto fleet as part of the company’s fractional program.

“Over the last four months, Epic Aircraft has worked closely with the Brazilian regulators to achieve ANAC certification of the E1000 GX,” said Epic Aircraft CEO Doug King. “This is a huge accomplishment in such a short time. We want to thank the FAA and ANAC for all their hard work. We are excited to launch our sales in Brazil and join Avantto in providing top-notch aviation solutions to the Latin American market.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic Aircraft E1000 GX

The E1000 GX earned type certificate approval from the FAA in July 2021. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A engine, the model boasts a top cruise speed of 333 knots, 1,560 nm range, and full-fuel payload of 1,100 pounds. It comes equipped with a Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite, Garmin GFC 700 automated flight control system, and a five-blade composite propeller from Hartzell.

Epic reported last week that the GX had received its flight into known icing (FIKI) certification from the FAA. According to the company, the FIKI modifications will be standard starting with the first aircraft delivered in 2024. Retrofit options will also be available for previously delivered certified aircraft, including the E1000 model.

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Avantto said it plans to establish new operations in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Bahai, and Goiás, and chose the E1000 GX because of its ability to reach remote destinations and operate from short runways which, the company said, are “a reality at most regional airports in Brazil.”

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic E1000

“We have great confidence in the partnership with Epic Aircraft and the success of the
E1000 GX. We have placed an order for 34 planes for the fractional program to be delivered over a span of five years. The first two will be delivered in 2023,” said Rogério Andrade, CEO of Avantto.

Andrade said the aircraft will be used to improve its sharing program’s services in areas where the demand for aviation services is strong but access to commercial flights is limited.

“We are excited to launch our sales in Brazil through this long-term partnership with Avantto, a leader in the country’s aviation sector. This agreement signifies our mutual commitment to providing top-notch aviation solutions to the Latin American market,” said Doug King, CEO of Epic Aircraft.

• READ MORE: Epic E1000 Gains Type Inspection Authorization

Andrade noted that Avantto’s operational experience and strategy of offering high-performance products helped make the partnership with Epic an especially good fit. “For over a decade, we have innovated processes, which is why Epic Aircraft attracted us so much due to its technology, operational costs, and performance,” he said. 

Epic designed the E1000 GX to set new standards for single engine turboprops in terms of aerodynamics and performance. The six-place aircraft has a 1200-horsepower engine and a maximum cruise speed of 333 ktas.

WATCH: We Fly: Watch Our Report on the Epic E1000 GX

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In the We Fly report, editor-in-chief Julie Boatman flies this advanced, 1,200 hp cruiser around the Pacific Northwest on an extended demo mission and then shepherds the cross-country machine down to the Florida Keys to do what it does best—travel in style—and capture great photos for the print edition’s Issue 933, December 2022/January 2023.

• READ MORE: An Epic Build

We take the fast turboprop through a standard flight, plus the high work—slow flight, stalls, and maneuvering—before making approaches back into Bend.

• READ MORE: We Fly: Epic Aircraft E1000 GX

• See all Epic E1000 GX For Sale at aircraftforsale.com

The post We Fly: Watch Our Report on the Epic Aircraft E1000 GX appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The selections within the pool for buyers offer well-targeted capability and niche design—and the segment continues to attract new entrants from the original equipment manufacturers specializing in these mounts. Daher has led the way in 2022, with the introduction of two new models to its portfolio, the autoland-capable TBM 960 (successor to the 940) and the Kodiak 900, a serious reimagining of the backcountry hauler into a much faster baby. The 900 provides a different flavor of competition for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX—though the classic from Textron Aviation still comes in lower on price point, and you can’t put a 900 on floats—yet. Stay tuned.

Updates from Epic on the E1000 GX preserve speed while upgrading the useful load: You can pack in five adults, a show’s worth of bags, and full fuel—and stay under the maximum takeoff weight of 8,000 pounds. The Pilatus PC-12 NGX is sold out well into 2024, proving the endurance of that model’s attraction—and the M600/SLS Halo (also with autoland) and the M500 from Piper offer an easy step up from high-performance piston singles and twins.

On the multiengine side, Textron Aviation added the Cessna SkyCourier officially to its lineup in 2022, redefining the top end of its twin-turboprop product line. Deliveries to launch customer FedEx started earlier this year in the freighter version, while a passenger model seats up to 19 people. 

Turboprop sales suffered a bit from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, falling from 525 deliveries in 2019 to 443 in 2020, with a rebound to 527 in 2021. The year thus far portends a return to rosy skies for the segment: Through June 2022, GA turboprop manufacturers reported 247 shipments with projections for an even stronger second half of the year. That runs counter to many years, when fourth quarter sales soften. However, lease rates on aircraft also tend to become more favorable at year end, and may combine in 2022 with a bump in sales closings in December when the U.S. faces a potential loss of recent tax advantages on aircraft purchases—as long as rising interest rates don’t spoil the party.

According to Lou Seno, chairman emeritus of Jet Support Services, a provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for aircraft engines and airframes, this could have a real effect on the last quarter. “In 2023, we go back to the regular depreciation schedule,” says Seno, as the bonus depreciation schedules implemented for aircraft placed in service after September 27, 2017, and before January 1, 2023, are no longer available—unless there is an extension granted to the IRS code.

For those owner-pilots and businesses looking to add a capable turboprop like a Beechcraft King Air 360 as a capital investment this year, the timing may be just right—if they have an order in or can negotiate a place in line. Most manufacturers are taking positions well into next year—or the year after.

Single-Engine Turboprop

Multiengine Turboprop

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Epic Aircraft and ATP have partnered to utilize ATP’s Flightdocs and Aviation Hub services for documentation and tracking across Epic’s E1000 GX fleet. ATP is a provider of aviation software and information services based in San Francisco, California, while Epic—out of Bend, Oregon—certified the E1000 turboprop in November 2019, securing Flying’s 2020 Innovation Award. Epic plans to use ATP’s Flightdocs product for maintenance tracking and electronic logbooks for all of its fleet. The company will also use the Aviation Hub for the distribution of technical publications, such as maintenance manuals, wiring diagrams, and illustrated parts catalogs.

“The E1000 GX is an aircraft where performance, function, and form are the cornerstone of our pilot-driven design process. ATP embodies this same commitment with their suite of aviation solutions,” said Epic Aircraft’s CEO, Doug King in a press release. “Our commitment to our operators includes ensuring that we have partnerships in place that enhance the customer experience and ensure maximum operational efficiencies, reliability, and value.” The company is finishing up the 8th customer airplane by the end of 2020.

“We’re very excited to partner with the team at Epic Aircraft,” said ATP’s chief strategy officer, Greg Heine. “Our product suite delivers a unique set of capabilities to aircraft owners, operators, and OEMs. We’re giving real-time, paperless access to the data and publications they need every day, right from their phone or iPad.”

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