AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 60

Massachusetts-based regional carrier that
serves Cape Cod and other Northeast destinations
(as well as Florida and the islands
in the Bahamas and Caribbean), ordered
Travellers to augment its fleet of Cessna
402s. Today, Cape Air operates 27 P2012s,
three more will arrive by the end of 2021,
and there are options for 75 more.
I caught up with the P2012 at the
National Business Aviation Association's
convention in Las Vegas in October 2021.
It was fitted out in its nine-seat airliner
configuration, and Tecnam Sales and
Development Manager/Experimental
Test Pilot Francesco Sferra gave me the
rundown. The electronic engine control
system (EECS) is the big news. It's an
electronic, microprocessor-controlled
system that continuously monitors and
adjusts ignition timing, fuel injection
timing, and fuel mixture based on the
current operating conditions. This eliminates
the need for magnetos and manual
adjustment of the fuel-air mixture, and
electronic controls enable single-lever
engine controls in the cockpit.
Meanwhile, dual-channel power
boxes and engine control units manage
power distribution. During engine start,
battery power turns the engines and powers
the spark plugs and ignition coils,
and runs them until reaching 1,000 rpm.
Above 1,000 rpm, a dedicated permanent
magnet alternator takes over to power the
electronic engine control unit, the ignition
system, and engine sensors. What do
the sensors measure? A lot: throttle position,
crankshaft speed, camshaft speed,
oil temperature and pressure, manifold
induction air temperature, fuel pump
pressure, fuel temperature, cylinder head
temperature, exhaust gas temperature,
turbine inlet temperature, and compressor
inlet pressure. Plus a lot more. There's
even a knock sensor to detect detonation
in each cylinder.
All this technology means less pilot
workload. There's no mixture control, no
magneto switches, an automatically set
optimal mixture and ignition timing for
any power setting or altitude, and automatic
oversight of all engine parameters.
To start an engine, flip the battery and ignition
toggle switches on, then push a start
button. The EECS has figured out the ideal
fuel-air mixture, so the engine fires up in
a matter of two to three seconds. And yes,
that includes hot starts.
After the convention, the P2012
went on tour to introduce the airplane
to a wider American market, and four
were aboard: David Copeland, Tecnam's
U.S. sales director; Sferra; AOPA Senior
Photographer Chris Rose; yours truly;
and a lot of baggage. First stop: Camarillo,
California, for photos, then on to Long
Beach, California. Our takeoff weight
was 7,600 pounds, of which 1,000 pounds
(about 150 gallons) was in fuel, and 500
pounds in bags. Not a problem, though.
Maximum takeoff weight is 8,113 pounds.
Like I said, the P2012 is a heavy hauler.
Part of the pre-takeoff checklist
includes a check of the EECS. It's a matter
of pressing and momentarily holding
two buttons on the PFT (preflight test)
subpanel. This begins an automated runup
that not only checks the EECS but also the
output from all those sensors mentioned
above. It also does a mixture leaning check
that determines the setting for best power
on takeoff. If a minor issue is detected, the
TLO (temporary limited operations) lights
come on; it's safe to fly, but a maintenance
check is required in the next 20 hours. The
primary (PRI) and secondary (SEC) NTO
(no takeoff) lights mean just that.
For takeoff the drill is to set takeoff
flaps, stand on the brakes, go to maximum
power, then accelerate to a VR
of 75
KIAS. After liftoff, retract flaps and pitch
to the VYSE
of 92 KIAS, then to the 120
KIAS cruise climb. Based on the runway
lights zipping by, I'd say we broke ground
in about 1,500 feet, and climbed away from
Las Vegas' Henderson Executive Airport at
60
AOPA PILOT / February 2022

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 97
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 103
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2022 - Cover4
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