Tecnam has announced that the Caribbean-based VIP airline, St Barth Executive, has commenced operations with two P2012 STOLs.
The airline’s debut took place on 1 August, with a flight from Guadeloupe (SBH/TFFR) to St Barth (SBH/TFFJ), operated by AIR INTER ISLES (St Barth Executive brand). The flight lasts 50 minutes, and they are scheduled at three per day in the off-season and up to six per day during the high season.
While previously only accessible by boat, this new route provides daily connections between islands for commuters and tourist passengers. According to St Barth Executive, the West Indies landscape required an aircraft with certain specifications, and the P2012 STOL is the ideal fit.
“We carried out dozens of hours of training and pilot releases, which allowed us to test the performance and operation of the STOL, which met the specifications perfectly,” said Vincent Beauvarlet, Président of St Barth Executive. “The P2012 lands and takes off perfectly in St Barth and offers us an attractive payload. Finally, we have an air vector that allows us to connect our islands with controlled operating costs.”
Boasting a 425-metre take-off distance, a 360-metre landing distance, and a certified 10-degree (17.5%) steep approach, the aircraft can manage the 646-metre Saint-Barthélemy runway, coupled with the unique approach gradient due to the proximity of a hill upon approach. The turbocharged, twin-engine, high-wing, fixed-wing aircraft seats nine passengers and two crew.
Giovanni Pascale Langer, Tecnam Managing Director, said, “We are delighted that St Barth Executive has chosen the P2012 STOL. […] We are proud that an Italian, European aircraft allows greater mobility and transport in the Caribbean islands.”
A third aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September 2024.
Photo: St Barth Executive
