GippsAero wins widespread approval from African charter operators

The most recent was a brand new aircraft to Maun, Botswana-based Safari Air - the company's third.

 Maun has become the Airvan capital of the world with 18 now operating into the nearby Okavango Delta wilderness area. Operators say that passengers like the aircraft's eight-place seating, large windows and centre aisle. The large freight door has also earned approval from cargo operators: the only method of supplying game lodges in the region is by air or water. Piston-engined aircraft are still proving highly cost-effective despite fears of Avgas shortages, which have yet to materialise.

PICTURED: A Safari Air GippsAero GA8 Airvan over the Okavango Wilderness region in Botswana: one of three now operated by the company.

Whilst the GA8 has won widespread acceptance as a revenue generator amongst commercial operators in Africa, the manufacturer would like to see more examples sold to conservationists, business users and as a private aircraft. In 2012, GippsAero released details of their interior option packages, which includes leather seats and thick carpeting amongst improvements intended to attract more interest from this market sector.

GippsAero is continuing to develop its turbine-powered 10-seat GA10, which first flew in 2012. Deliveries may begin in early 2014.

Pictured: Safari Air's Chief of Operations, Fred Young, accepts his company's new Airvan keys from Southern African GippsAero distributor CEO: Patrick Hanly.