Nakanihon Air, a Japanese aviation company, has taken delivery of the country’s first Piaggio Aerospace P.180 aircraft. The turboprop plane, with serial number 3018, was ferried from Piaggio Aerospace’s headquarters in Genoa, Italy, to Nagoya Komaki, Japan, with multiple stops along the way. The aircraft will be reregistered as JA124N and joins Nakanihon Air’s fleet of seven fixed-wing aircraft, which includes a Pilatus PC-24, Citation Vs, Beech King Air B200s, and Cessna C208s, as well as 57 helicopters.
The delivery marks a significant milestone for Piaggio Aerospace, as the P.180 has received type certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). This certification allows the aircraft to operate in Japan, and Nakanihon Air is the first customer in the country to take delivery of the plane. The P.180 is a versatile aircraft that can be used for a variety of purposes, including charter flights, cargo transport, and aerial photography.
Nakanihon Air, which is controlled by private railroad operator Meitetsu, provides a range of aviation services, including pilot training, sightseeing flights, and aircraft maintenance. The company’s fleet of aircraft is used for a variety of purposes, including charter flights, cargo transport, and aerial photography.
The delivery of the P.180 to Nakanihon Air is also a significant achievement for Piaggio Aerospace, which has recently been acquired by Turkish aerospace and defense group Baykar. The manufacturer plans to increase production of the P.180 to 25-30 aircraft per year, and has already sold two aircraft in Türkiye. According to Piaggio Aerospace’s chief executive, Giovanni Tomassini, the P.180 has entered two new markets in the past three months, Japan and Türkiye, and the company is looking to expand its presence in these markets. Overall, the delivery of the P.180 to Nakanihon Air marks an important milestone for both the company and the manufacturer, and is expected to support the growth of Nakanihon Air’s aviation services in Japan.