Piper Aircraft Inc has received Flight into Known Icing (FIKI) certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the new M700 Fury single-engine turboprop aircraft.
The FIKI system, which is standard on the M700, is an electromechanical expulsion deicing system located on the tail of the aircraft as well as on the leading edge of the wing.
Piper said that international certifications for the M700 and FIKI are progressing as planned and on track for deliveries to those regions to begin in the third quarter of 2024.
The M700 received FAA type certification in late February 2024. Standard on the aircraft is the HALO Safety System, which features Garmin Emergency Autoland. The system includes digital technology intended to safely land the aircraft at the nearest suitable airport in the event that the pilot is incapacitated. In addition, the M700’s G3000 avionics suite includes Autothrottle, Emergency Descent Mode, Electronic Stability Protection (ESP), SurfaceWatch, SafeTaxi, and Garmin PlaneSync.
The six-seat M700 is powered by a 700-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 engine. The aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of 557 km/h (301 knots), a maximum range of 3,430 kilometers (1,852 nautical miles), and a standard useful load of 1,052 kilograms (2,320 pounds).
The M700 is replacing the M600/SLS in the Piper product line, joining the M500 entry-level turboprop. The M700 is positioned in a market niche above the M500 but below larger, higher-priced turboprop singles such as the Daher TBM series, the Pilatus PC-12, and the Beechcraft Denali.
The M700 provides a solution for customers that want to move up in class but feel that an immediate jump to a larger, more expensive turboprop may be a step too far. It has a strong appeal for individual owner/pilots, but its performance characteristics also give it the potential to generate significant sales from such customers as corporate flight departments and charter outfits.
Raymond Jaworowski currently co-authors three of Forecast International's best-selling products: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, and Rotorcraft Forecast. As a contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book, he has authored Aircraft Outlooks, and provided input for the publication's Aircraft Specifications tables. Raymond has represented Forecast International at numerous conferences and trade shows, often as a featured speaker. He is a member of the American Helicopter Society.
