Italian Air Force C-27Js Reach 1000 Flight Hours

Alenia Aeronautica, ROME: The Italian Air Force’s (AMI) fleet of C-27J Spartans has reached 1,000 flight hours. The first of four aircraft currently flown by the AMI entered service on January 11, 2007, with the second and third aircraft delivered in May and July of this year respectively. The fourth of twelve ordered was delivered last week, and the fifth will be ready for acceptance tests by the end of this month. The AMI will take delivery of all 12 C-27Js by mid-2008. The AMI C-27Js are operated by the 46th Air Wing Headquarters based in Pisa. 
 
Currently, the C-27J is in service with the Air Forces of Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The aircraft is also under production for the U.S. Army and Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. The C-27J fleet worldwide has reached 4600 flight hours and has operated with an excellent operational availability rate, which reached 100% last March for the AMI aircraft in service. 
 
The C-27J has flown in Iraq and Afghanistan in the most complex and challenging environments, including operations from unpaved runways with excellent results in terms of technical reliability and operational performances. 
With 110 aircraft ordered, The C-27J is today, the best-selling twin turboprop tactical airlift in its category. In addition, the C-27J has recently been selected by the Romanian Air Force for 7 aircraft, with a contract currently under negotiation. 
 
The C-27J – the only aircraft of its category specifically designed for tactical transport – is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that incorporates state-of-the-art avionics, propulsion and systems. The C-27J offers superior and cost-effective performances in any operational condition, extreme mission flexibility, and is uniquely interoperable and interchangeable with heavier military airlifters.  
 
Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica Company, is the largest Italian aeronautic player which operates world-wide in the commercial and military aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. Alenia Aeronautica also coordinates the activities of Alenia Aermacchi and Alenia Aeronavali – wholly owned companies – respectively active in the design and manufacturing of military trainer aircraft and in the overhaul, maintenance and modification of military and civil aircraft. With its joint venture ATR, Alenia Aeronautica is the world leader in the regional turboprop market. Over 2006 Alenia Aeronautica reported revenues of 1,908 million Euro, backlog for 7,538 million Euro and orders for 2,634. The total workforce is 12,135.