Gippsland Aeronautics today announced that it has received notification of Type acceptance for the GA 8 Airvan aircraft from the Civil Aviation Department of India.

Gippsland Aeronautics applied to Indian DGCA in December last year for Airvan Type acceptance. In early February, as a participant of the Victorian Government Aero India Trade Mission to Bangalore, Gippsland Aeronautics flew a GA8 Airvan demonstrator aircraft to attend the Aero India 2007 air show and explore the potential of the market sector.

The Chairman for Gippsland Aeronautics, Mr Gary Wight said today “We had researched the market over an eighteen month period and felt that the opportunities for sales of our aircraft on the Indian sub continent are substantial, especially taking into account the rapid economic growth in India, the deregulation and active encouragement of general aviation.”

At the recent Australian International Airshow Gippsland Aeronautics, announced the signing of an MOU with the Mahindra Plexion of India, as an initial step that will see Mahindra Plexion representing the company’s aircraft for distribution, sales and marketing and product support within India.

Mr Wight said “We look forward to working with Mahindra Plexion to expand general aviation within India and feel we have made the right choice for a long-term partnership.”

The GA8 Airvan is an all-metal, high wing, 8 seat utility aircraft that was conceived as a replacement for the worlds aging fleet of light utility aircraft. The GA8 Airvan is exceptionally suited to tourist, freight, air taxi, medivac, homeland security/border patrol and skydiving operations because of its payload and genuine eight adult seat capacity.

Gippsland is in the final stages of negotiation for an order with an Indian company.

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority first certified the Airvan in 2000 with the US FAA and Transport Canada following in 2003 and the European EASA certification being achieved in 2005. To date 109 Airvans have been delivered to customers in 21 different countries from Africa to Alaska.

Mahindra Plexion represents Gippsland Aeronautics in India. Mahindra will be conducting flight demonstrations in the company demonstrator aircraft which is based at Bangalore Airport and will also provide product support services.

Mahindra can be contacted at by phone on + Fax: on + or by Email at

For further details please contact:

Marguerite Morgan

Global Sales Manager

Gippsland Aeronautics Pty Ltd

Phone +61 3 5172 1200

Fax +61 3 5172 1201

E-mail - sales@gippsaero.com

Website - www.gippsaero.com