Archives: Market Intelligences

Skyborne Becomes First U.S. Customer of Piper’s New Seminole DX

USA – Piper Aircraft has received its first domestic order for the newly introduced diesel-powered Seminole DX from global flight training group Skyborne Airline Academy, marking a notable step in the transition toward more sustainable and performance-oriented flight training in the U.S. market.

  • Skyborne Airline Academy has placed an order for five (5) Seminole DX aircraft, the first U.S. customer to do so.

  • The Seminole DX, launched in July 2025, features DeltaHawk’s DHK4A180 heavy-fuel engine and offers:

    • 35% reduction in fuel burn

    • 32% increase in single-engine climb rate

    • 70% higher single-engine absolute ceiling

  • Skyborne will integrate the Seminole DX at its U.S. base in Vero Beach, Florida.

  • The acquisition follows Skyborne’s previous fleet expansion, having ordered over 30 Piper Pilot 100i aircraft since joining the Piper Flight School Alliance in 2023.

Statements

  • “Skyborne’s adoption of the Seminole DX reflects their forward-thinking approach and dedication to excellence in flight training. We are proud to partner with an organization that shares our vision for innovation and more sustainable future in aviation.” – Ron Gunnarson, VP of Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, and Quality at Piper Aircraft.

  • “The quality of our training is a reflection of the facilities, people and aircraft fleet that make Skyborne. As we continue to grow in the US, these aircraft will play a critical role in ensuring we consistently meet the expected high standards of flight training by our students. Our partnership with a trusted and reliable aircraft manufacturer ensures our students feel confident and safe during flight.” – Lee Woodward, CEO, Skyborne Airline Academy.

Source: Piper Aircraft

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AeroGuard Flight Training Center Adds Diamond Aircraft, Scales Fleet Beyond 120 Planes with Plans for Additional Deliveries

Arizona, USA –headquartered global flight training group AeroGuard Flight Training Center, which operates a number of flight training bases, is excited to announce that it now surpasses 120 aircraft in its fleet, with further acquisition plans already underway to further expand the fleet to 130 before the end of 2025. This strategic growth comes as the school prepares to launch training for the United States Air Force, further establishing AeroGuard as a leader in ab initio flight training for both commercial and military aviation.

AeroGuard is adding six Diamond DA42 multi engine aircraft to its fleet in the coming weeks ahead of the launch of a new training program for the United States Air Force. Air Force student pilots will train in single-engine Piper Archers and transition to the DA42 aircraft during their multi engine phase of training.

The fleet growth continues with AeroGuard’s plans to add 5 additional Piper Archers at the end of this month, a continuation of the school’s 90 aircraft order from Piper Aircraft. Altogether, the school’s aircraft acquisition plans will bring the fleet to 130 planes before the end of 2025.

These aircraft will strengthen AeroGuard’s existing programs and support this new program with the Air Force. AeroGuard’s purpose-built program for the Air Force will be tailored to align with their standards and designed to start the officers’ future military pilot career with flight training in a safe, efficient, and professional environment.

AeroGuard continues to drive growth with the start of this new program, not only growing its fleet, but also expanding its footprint at the school’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona at the Deer Valley Airport. With these additional aircraft, the school is also adding more simulators to provide further learning resources and support student body growth.

As it aims to reach 130 aircraft and beyond, AeroGuard is further establishing itself as a leader in career-focused, professional flight training and supporting future domestic and international commercial airline pilots as well as future professional military pilots.

About AeroGuard Flight Training Center
AeroGuard Flight Training Center is a global leader in ab initio flight training with three U.S. campuses that offer accelerated commercial pilot training programs to candidates from all over the world. With a commitment to safety and student success, AeroGuard’s high-quality and career-focused curriculum has established airline-ready cadets for over 25 years with more than one million flight hours of training experience and graduating over 8,000 cadets.

Source: AeroGuard Flight Training Center

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US Online Flight Training Platform Skyfarer Academy Empowers Students With New Guide to Select Ideal Flight Instructor

USA – Skyfarer Academy, an aviation training platform, has released a new guide titled “How to Choose the Right Flight Instructor for Your Pilot Training”, aimed at helping student pilots make more informed decisions during the instructor‑selection process.

Read the full guide here.

This follows last month, in September, Skyfarer Academy had released its Pilot Flight Training Report 2025, a nationwide survey of 215 respondents.

“A nationwide survey conducted in 2025 gathered insights from 215 respondents, revealing systemic inefficiencies, inconsistent instruction, financial hurdles, and a widespread lack of guidance at the start of the flight training journey,” shared Skyfarer Academy.

See the full report here.

In August Skyfarer Academy had completed the acquisition of Instructair, combining two complementary digital platforms to create a unified online and in-person aviation training marketplace for pilots and instructors across the United States.

  • Skyfarer Academy launched in October 2024 as an online aviation training platform providing live flight and ground instruction to aspiring and experienced pilots.

  • Instructair built a network platform that helped pilots find available instruction and reconnect with inactive instructors.

  • As part of the merger, Instructair’s website and app will be discontinued, with user accounts, instructor profiles, and listings migrating to the Skyfarer Academy platform.

  • Sensitive data such as financial information, government IDs, and airmen certificates will not transfer.

  • The combined platform offers:

    • Access to flight instructors for both online and in-person training.

    • Tools to discover, book, and manage training sessions.

    • Expanded resources for pilots working on initial certification, additional ratings, or proficiency checks.

Source: Skyfarer Academy

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USA’s Regulator FAA Grants Self-Examining Authority to Minnesota’s AV8 Flight School

Minnesota, USA — AV8 Flight School has announced that it has received FAA Part 141 self-examining authority for its Commercial Single-Engine and Multi-Engine courses, granting approval to conduct in-house checkrides for students. The authorization streamlines the certification process, offering significant time and cost savings for aspiring commercial pilots while maintaining FAA-approved training quality.

  • Students can now take their checkrides with AV8’s Chief or Assistant Chief Instructor, eliminating delays associated with scheduling external Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs).
  • The FAA’s approval highlights AV8 Flight School’s proven record of training quality, compliance, and instructor performance under Part 141 regulations.

In 2024 AV8 Flight School was honored with the pretigious Operator of the Year award by the FLying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission, while in 2023 the flight training organisation conducted more than 8,400 flight hours.

Source: AV8 Flight School

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