Mate.

That greeting that’s as Australian as Bradman himself.

A call than runs deep in Australia’s veins, from its unforgiving outback to its desolate bushes, from its provincial towns to its coastal cities.

A term so Aussie that if you wish to be one, you’ll need to answer questions about The Spirit of Mateship in Australia’s citizenship test!

Because a mate is someone so much more than just a friend. It’s someone who’s as grounded as the scorched red earth that marks the nation. A bond that signals a shared experience. A mutual regard for each other. And unconditional support in difficult times. Because the Aussies know that when you’re in uncharted outback terrain or in a hostile bush, you need your mate beside you.

A mate like the Airvan

In December 2009, we at Mahindra bought controlling stakes in Australian companies Aerostaff Australia and Gippsland Aeronautics, makers of the Airvan. Our outright purchase of their technical know-how and manufacturing capabilities - instead of technological partnerships — helped us cut our go-to-market time and save costs.

But more than the business, it gave us a deep understanding of the humble but fabled culture of mateship. And it’s something that resonated loud and clear with us.

Which is why the Airvan continues to be an aircraft that’s always there for you in the most difficult of terrain, the most tricky of times. Its DNA is rugged. Durable. Versatile. It’s something that takes off and lands on short strips. Or water. It’s something built to last, easy to maintain, and even easier to afford.

A mate you can count on

We’re most proud though of the fact that the Airvan tackles some of the world’s most taxing problems.

It rescues animals.

It puts out wildfires.

It helps grow crops.

It taxies people in and out of some of the world’s remotest places.

In Australia.

In Africa.

On 8th May 2010, the Airvan 8 created history. It took off from Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, and became the first Australian designed and manufactured aircraft to circumnavigate the globe. Pilots Ken Evers and Tim Pryse set-on this mission to raise $1 million for malaria awareness.

Today, there are over 200 Airvan 8s in service, certified in 38 countries. We’re close to launching the Airvan 10, a 10-seat turboprop utility airplane, and have shared our engineering expertise with India’s National Aerospace Laboratories to co-develop the C-NM5, a five-seat, low-wing aircraft.

Someone called us the SUV of the skies, and we couldn’t have said it better.

The Airvan 8 has been a tremendous success in our scenic operation, with its wide cabin, aisle for easy access to all seats, and large windows. The excellent payload, great economics, and flexibility in passenger loadings, have made it an immediate mainstay for our smaller groups and we very quickly replaced our existing smaller aircraft fleet with all new Airvans.- Richard Rayward, CEO Air Safaris, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Conquering the skies

Rise is a call to action.

To challenge the status quo. To constantly seek new and better solutions.
And to always work to make the world a better place.

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G'day from the skies,mate!