The GA8 has been designed for use in remote areas and from austere air strips, performing tasks such as passenger services, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and search and rescue operations.

Since its introduction, improved models featuring more powerful engines have been introduced; an enlarged turboprop-powered derivative, designated as the Gippsland GA10, has also been developed.

In November 2020, the Indian conglomerate Mahindra, which had purchased the company, announced that production would cease at that time, citing the financial effects of the global economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[1] In November 2023 GippsAero's cofounder, George Morgan, re-purchased the company and announced his intentions to resume production of the Airvan 8.

[3] The GA8 has been used in various roles, including passenger services, freight, sightseeing, parachuting, observation, and search and rescue operations.

In February 2009, Gippsland Aeronautics announced that the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority had issued an amendment to the GA8 type certificate to cover the turbocharged variant.

[7] In 2011, the company announced that it was preparing to put the float-equipped model of the GA8 into production in partnership with American aviation float manufacturer Wipaire.

[citation needed] In September 2012, the company announced that Soloy Aviation Solutions had been appointed as a GA8 component distributor for the US market.

[10] In January 2013, a second US company, Summit Aviation, became an authorised dealer of the GA8 in the US market; Sumit reportedly planned to focus on government and surveillance aircraft sales.

At the event, a company spokesperson announced that plans were underway to establish a new assembly line to produce the aircraft in North America.

[3][4] It has an aisle between the seats unlike other bush planes, cabin ventilation is evenly distributed, and upholstery is modular for rapid replacement.

[18] Operators include the following: On 14 July 2019, a GA8 Airvan of Skydive Umeå crashed on the island of Storsandskär, Sweden, killing its nine occupants.

[23][24] The grounding order was issued on 20 July and was due to run until 3 August, but was lifted early as CASA found there is no evidence for an unsafe condition, and the EASA said the wrecked aircraft had been exposed to aerodynamic loads beyond certification.