We recently took a look around Piper’s new M600 and talked to Jacqueline Carlon, Director of Marketing & Communications, about this “game-changing” aircraft.

Piper aircraft are well known in Europe for training and owner pilot operations – but now, the latest model in the company’s family could be taking on a new role.

The M600 flagship single-engined turboprop made its debut at EBACE recently and was presented at the show with its long-awaited European certification.

At the time that European rules on single-engine turboprops have changed to allow commercial operations in instrument meteorological conditions and at night, the way is open for the new model in air taxi operations or in corporate flight departments for short operations.

The six-seater (pilot + five passengers) is a development of Piper’s M500 entry-level turboprop, featuring a redesigned wing, a Garmin G3000 flightdeck, digital fuel-management technology and a restyled interior.

It has a range of 1,480nm (2,740km) and a cruise speed of 270kt and has a list price of $3 million.

Piper president and chief executive Simon Caldecott called EASA approval “a key milestone”for the M600.

“The aircraft has garnered substantial interest due to the its range, payload and safety features and outstanding operating economics. With the recent approval of SE-IMC, the aircraft is ideally positioned to take advantage of this expanded opportunity.”

By Simon Caldecott , Piper president and chief executive

The M600 entered service in June 2016 following a 15-month certification campaign, and more than 30 aircraft have been delivered to date.