Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Aircraft Manufacturer delivers first Aircraft to Flying Club

The first Elixir has reached its new base: the Aeroclub des Pertuis in La Rochelle. Arthur Léopold-Léger, CEO of Elixir Aircraft, congratulates all his teams on this success. All manufacturers are aware of the difficulty of industrialising a new EASA-certified aircraft: Elixir Aircraft is the first French company to have met this challenge in decades.

Delivery of the first Elixir to the Aéroclub des Pertuis, in La Rochelle

The Aéroclub des Pertuis is renewing part of its fleet by welcoming the first 4th generation aircraft, the Elixir. The aircraft, designed and produced in La Rochelle by the Elixir Aircraft company, perfectly meets the expectations of aeroclubs, offering:

  • fuel efficiency with an average consumption of 12.5L/h and 70% less CO2 emissions than the average,
  • safety, thanks to a “spin resistant” behaviour and unique equipment such as the airframe parachute or the anti-explosion tank
  • versatility, with an aircraft capable of carrying out all missions, from initial training to the most complex navigation.
An order book still full

After a year on the market, the order book continues to fill up with around thirty Elixir ordered to date, whether for individuals, flying clubs or training schools.

About Elixir Aircraft

Elixir Aircraft, a company based in La Rochelle with 54 employees, was created in 2015 to meet the challenges of French light aviation. The objective of the French SME: to produce safer, more economical and more versatile aircraft. Complexity is currently the reason why these aircraft suffer from failures (technical or human) and are expensive to operate (consumption and maintenance). Elixir Aircraft employs a technology derived from competition sailing, the Carbon Oneshot, to simplify the structures. More simplicity means fewer failures, therefore more safety, but also less maintenance, and less cost (estimates of 40€/hour of fuel and maintenance). In 2022, Elixir Aircraft will open a new production site in order to internalise the entire production of carbon parts.

Elixir Aircraft in figures

  • 57 employees, including 25 new hires since October 2020 (projection of +20 in the first quarter of 2022)
  • 1 year firm order book
  • 108 devices pre-ordered, i.e. 3 years of production pre-reserved

Source: Elixir Aircraft Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Elixir Aircraft.

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United Aviate Academy orders 25 new Cirrus Aircraft TRAC SR20 with an option of 50 more

Cirrus Aircraft announced that United Aviate Academy (UAA) has purchased a fleet of twenty-five TRAC SR20 aircraft for its program. These advanced, high-performance airplanes will be used for initial pilot training at the only ab-initio flight academy operated by a major U.S.-based airline. United Aviate Academy has the option and purchase rights to fifty more TRAC SR20 aircraft as the Aviate Academy expands. The agreement between Cirrus Aircraft and UAA is a testament to the shared pursuit to provide airline training opportunities in response to the global pilot shortage.

“United is thrilled to have chosen the Cirrus TRAC SR20 as the single-engine training aircraft for our United Aviate Academy. It reflects our commitment to preparing our future Captains using cutting-edge technology and safety systems,” said Curtis Brunjes, United’s Managing Director for Aviate and Pilot Strategy. “Cirrus Aircraft has been an innovative force in general aviation and we are proud to partner as we lead our industry developing the next generation of pilots.”

United Aviate Academy’s (Westwind School of Aeronautics Phoenix, LLC) year-long training program at Phoenix Goodyear Airport sets up students for a career that reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. The Academy is part of United’s industry-leading pilot career development program, which offers aspiring and established pilots the most direct path to a United flight deck. Within the next decade, United aims to hire more than 10,000 pilots and introduce aviation to about 5,000 new pilots through the Academy.

Designed to be the ultimate training platform, the technologically-advanced TRAC Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the SR20 aircraft’s stable flight characteristics. The integrated Garmin® Perspective+ flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems – all features found on today’s advanced airliners.

“The TRAC SR20 is the preferred aircraft for ab-initio airline pilot training, with its advanced flight management system and hazard avoidance features, the aircraft offers a training platform with capabilities that prepare students for the transport category jets that United Aviate students will fly during their airline careers,” said David Moser, Vice President of Fleet and Special Mission Sales for Cirrus Aircraft.

The interior was designed to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons. The TRAC Series includes the TRAC20, TRAC22, and TRAC22T.

Additionally, the TRAC Series features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach™, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world.

Cirrus Aircraft is also developing a digital fleet management solution leveraging the onboard Cirrus IQ™ system to provide UAA with deeper insight into their flight data for safety and operational efficiency.

About Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet, as well as the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined performance, comfort and safety in aviation with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 13 million hours and 220 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company now has seven locations in Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

For more information, kindly contact Cirrus Aircraft.

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US Flight School takes delivery of first of anticipated 50 Piper training aircraft

Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight training academy based at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, is pleased to announce it has taken possession of the first of 10 Piper aircraft slated for delivery in 2022. The acquisition is part of the five-year fleet modernization component of the company’s long-term strategic plan, which includes the purchase of an additional 40 Piper aircraft over the next five years. This effort comes as the company ramps up efforts to train more pilots in response to the global pilot shortage while simultaneously becoming the dominant player in the U.S. domestic flight training market. The announcement was made by Paragon Flight President and owner, Christopher Schoensee.

“It’s exciting to see our growth plans further unfold with the addition of this beautiful Piper aircraft – which we are confident is the training aircraft of the next generation,” Schoensee said. “It follows our groundbreaking in January for an expanded 9,000 square foot learning center on Page Field and brings us one aircraft closer to our goal of tripling our current fleet with the additional purchase of up to 50 Piper aircraft by the end of 2027. Our partnership with Piper, beginning with this first aircraft purchase, represents a milestone in the history of Paragon Flight.”

The new training platform is the Piper P100i, a modernized version of Piper’s time-tested Archer training aircraft, a staple of the industry for more than 30 years. Paragon Flight Chief Flight Instructor Jeff Wolf and Paragon Flight Administrative Director Sarah Schoensee took delivery of the aircraft from Vero Beach, Florida-based Piper on January 31. John Calcagno, Piper Aircraft President & CEO, said it was a momentous occasion for both organizations.

“Piper Aircraft is proud to work with Paragon Flight as they expand their pilot training program,” Calcagno said. “The addition of the Pilot 100i to the Paragon training curriculum will help enable them to provide a cost-effective training solution while working to cultivate a well-trained pilot pipeline for the airline industry.”

A national thought leader in private aviation, Paragon Flight was founded in 2006 and offers commercial, military and recreational pilot training using both aircraft and advanced simulator technology in one of the industry’s leading learning environments. The company is active in the aviation industry, and Christopher Schoensee is a member of the board of directors of the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA).  Paragon Flight has been the recipient of numerous industry awards and most recently received recognition from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)’s Flight Training Experience Awards as a Distinguished Flight School, a title given to the highest rated flight schools from the 2021-22 Flight Training Experience Survey. A total of 749 flight schools and 1,740 flight instructors were evaluated in the 2021 survey, and Paragon Flight landed in the top five percent of flight schools.

Committed to growing in Florida, Paragon Flight Training was inducted into the 2021 class of GrowFL 50 Companies to Watch.  Honorees in this prestigious group are second-stage growth companies that have between six and 150 employees, $750,000–$100 million in revenue in 2020, and demonstrate a strong commitment to grow beyond the second-stage.

 

About Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single and twin-engine aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin Autoland. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600SLS, M500, and M350 – offers businesses and individual’s exceptional performance, outstanding value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class Seneca V, Archer LX and Archer DLX balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in a piston-powered aircraft. The Trainer Class Pilot 100i, Archer TX, Archer DX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

 

About Paragon Flight Training

Paragon Flight is an award-winning flight academy headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. With FAA and SEVIS accreditations, a fleet of 20 aircraft, and advanced simulator technology onsite, the company trains commercial, professional, and recreational pilots as well as offering military pilot training for domestic and foreign governments. The company is in the process of a 28,000-combined-square-foot expansion slated for completion in June 2022.

For more information, kindly contact Paragon Flight Training.

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Epic Flight Academy receives new Cessna Skyhawk 172S

Following its recent announcement of partnering with United Airlines as part of the Aviate Pilot Training Program Florida based Epic Flight Academy continues to expand its training infrastructure including additional brand new Cessna 172 Aircraft. The aircraft fleet expansion continues Epic’s expansion in the last few years including the introduction of the first Frasca Full Motion C172 Simulator in the world and starting its Aircraft Maintenance Technician School.

For more information, kindly contact Epic Flight Academy.

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Electric Aircraft Manufacturer announces new Investor

Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO Yasunori Tsujita; hereinafter “FGL”) has undertaken a third-party allocation of new shares in Bye Aerospace Inc. (Colorado, USA; CEO George E. Bye), a developer of small electric aircraft; and has entered into a capital alliance to support its business.

Amid global demand for measures to combat climate change, the aviation industry is also making efforts to achieve decarbonization, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) adopting a target of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and through other developments like electric aircraft, hydrogen powered aircraft and the spread of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are also accelerating.

Bye Aerospace is working to develop and manufacture small electric aircraft, the “eFlyer” series, that can achieve zero emissions, training for new pilots and inter-regional air passenger and cargo transport at significantly lower costs. The global electrification of small aircraft, of which there are approximately 130,000 one-engine piston aircraft in operation in the U.S. alone (as of the end of 2019), is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by the equivalent of 135 million tons per year (based on Bye Aerospace’s estimations); (equal to about 10% of Japan’s CO2 emissions in fiscal 2019).

Fuyo Lease Group has identified “aircraft” as one of its strategic fields in its medium-term management plan “Frontier Expansion 2021”. Through our investment in Bye Aerospace, we will work to expand the aviation business field by grasping the trends of global innovation in zero-emission technologies and contribute to decarbonization of aviation.

The Fuyo Lease Group is dedicated to helping build a more sustainable society by implementing the concept of Creating Shared Value (CSV), which aims to grow as a company while proactively addressing social issues.

About Bye Aerospace

Bye Aerospace has developed and is in the process of FAA certifying a family of zero-emission, electric aircraft that are one-fifth the operating cost and safer than traditional airplanes. As a pioneer in electric aviation, Bye Aerospace has established itself as a leader with a production backlog of almost 900 aircraft. Based in Denver, Colorado USA, Bye Aerospace was founded by George E. Bye, who is Chairman and CEO.

For more information, kindly contact Bye Aerospace.

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