Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Portugal Flight School Invests EUR 2 Million Into Training Aircraft Fleet Expansion

Portugal’s International Flight Academy (IFA), a leading aeronautical training company in Portugal, signed a contract with the multinational Textron Aviation for the acquisition – for 2.1 million euros – of seven aircraft from the renowned Pipistrel brand. Two of them will be the Velis Electro model, a fully electric aiplane powered by two water-cooled lithium batteries and with a flight range of 50 minutes, plus reserves. This aircraft, until now non-existent in Portugal, is the only one in the world certified by EASA – European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

The remaining five aircraft acquired by IFA are the Explorer model, also from Pipistrel. In addition to all the modern instrumentation (Garmin G3X touch glass cockpit, advanced autopilot and GPS), the Explorers are equipped with ballistic parachutes that function as a last resort solution, exponentially increasing flight safety and the physical integrity of its occupants.

According to José Madeira, Executive Director of the IFA Group: “These new aircraft meet the need to increase our fleet to meet the growing demand from students, national and international, interested in our different pilot training courses” .

According to IFA’s CEO: “The two Velis Electro aircraft will also be an absolute novelty in the way the company views training and the path we must all take towards carbon neutrality. The purchase of the only certified electric plane model in the world and the debut of an electric plane used in instruction in Portugal is a great source of pride for us, and another milestone of innovation in our 25-year history.”

With this investment, IFA – International Flight Academy increases its fleet of aircraft to 27, which also includes aircraft from Cessna, Grumman and Liberty brands. In addition to the airplanes, the company owns two state-of-the-art advanced flight simulators: an ALX – Alsim (for SEP and MEP instrument flight training) and a Simnest Airbus A320, a flight simulator for the A320 aircraft.

Headquartered at the Cascais Municipal Aerodrome, but with a second base of operations in Viseu and in the final phase of creating a third base of activity in the country, IFA Group directly employs around a hundred people and develops, in addition courses provided by IFA – International Flight Academy, also maintenance activities through IFA – Industries, created after the acquisition of Aviometa – Manutenção de Aviões, in 2018.

Source: IFA – International Flight Academy
Photo Credit: IFA – International Flight Academy

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European Flight Training Organization, Lufthansa Aviation Training, Takes Delivery of 3 Diamond Aircraft DA42-VI

On 5 February 2024, a Lufthansa Aviation Training delegation accepted three jet-fuel powered DA42-VI multi-engine training aircraft at Diamond Aircraft’s headquarters in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. These are the first three of seven DA42-VI aircraft ordered in December 2022.

“European Flight Academy trains its student pilots to the highest level, which includes a modern fleet of training aircraft at our flight school locations. With the new training aircraft, we are preparing future pilots for their cockpit careers in a resource-efficient, state-of-the-art and safe manner,” says Raymund Obst, Head of Pilot Schools European Flight Academy.

“The DA42-VI is an excellent multi-engine training platform, popular at many leading flight schools all over the world, that burns up to 50% less fuel than conventional AvGas-powered aircraft and is exceptionally silent,” says Jane Wang, Sales Director at Diamond Aircraft Austria. “We are very proud and happy to celebrate another delivery to our renowned customer Lufthansa Aviation Training.”

The brand-new DA42-VI multi-engine trainers will be placed at Grenchen, Switzerland.

The 4-seat DA42-VI is the newest version of Diamond’s technology leading light piston twin, the first certified general aviation piston aircraft to combine modern technology airframe, avionics, and power plants. The all-composite DA42-VI’s are equipped with efficient, silent, clean and reliable 168 hp jet fuel AUSTRO engines AE300, Garmin G1000 NXi with 3-axis Automatic Flight Control System and optional electrically driven air conditioning.

About Diamond Aircraft’s Flight Training Solution

Diamond’s dedication to flight training has shaped its product line of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind. With its complete line of piston aircraft including a dedicated flight training concept with Single Engine Piston (DA40 NG, DA40 XLT) and Multi Engine Piston (DA42-VI) trainers, along with type-specific flight training simulators and proprietary jet-fuel engines, Diamond Aircraft is the only sole source provider in the flight training market.

About Lufthansa Aviation Training / European Flight Academy

Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH (LAT) is one of the leading companies in the field of flight training with its competence in the training and further education of cockpit and cabin personnel at ten training locations. LAT combines the flight schools of Lufthansa Group under the brand European Flight Academy (EFA). The theoretical part of the flight training takes place in Bremen/DE or Zurich/CH; EFA locations for practical training are in Goodyear/USA, Grenchen/CH, and Rostock-Laage/DE.

Source: Diamond Aircraft
Photo Credit: SWISS

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European Flight School Presents New Addition to its Fleet – Elixir

Airbus Flight Academy Europe is proud to present the latest addition to their fleet in Angoulême, France. It’s an Elixir, a latest-generation aircraft that’s more fuel-efficient and quieter. Those aircraft are equipped with a cockpit specially designed, including two Electronic Flight Instrument Systems, to prepare student pilots for the technologies in today’s most advanced commercial aircraft. The cadets will be using it during the core phase as well as the VFR phase.

Source: Airbus Flight Academy Europe
Photo Credit: Airbus Flight Academy Europe

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US Flight School Skyview Aviation Invests Into Fleet Expansion to Meet Growing Pilot Training Demand

Skyview Aviation, a California, United States based flight training organisation with multiple bases, has been growing on a number of fronts as it aims to cater to a growing demand from aspiring pilots. In March 2022 Skyview Aviation was acquired by current owner Jay Vyas who has since then invested into:

  • Acquired a number of aircraft to train its growing number of international students – added to its fleet four new Cessna 172s, one C152 and one new Piper Seneca.
  • Expanded offices and facilities to accommodate growing number of flight instructors and staff
  • In 2023 the flight school enrolled close to 60 new international students including ones from India, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Egypt, Korea, Taiwan and Qatar.

Currently, Skyview Aviation has over 60 full time students with 14 Flight Instructors. It operates 16 aircraft including Cessna 172, Cessna 152, and Piper Seneca. Skyview Aviation is also in discussions with international airlines for abinitio pilot cadet programs.

Source: Skyview Aviation
Photo Credit: Skyview Aviation

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Aircraft Manufacturer Piper Aircraft Announces New Model in its Line of High-Performance Aircraft

United States headquartered Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced a new model in its PA46 line of high-performance aircraft—the Piper M700 FURY—a single-engine, 700 shaft horsepower, cabin-class turboprop.

The Piper M700 FURY represents the first step towards a new generation of the M-Class family, outperforming past PA46 models and several competitive aircraft in performance, operational cost efficiencies, and overall value. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engine, the M700 FURY boasts a maximum cruise speed of 301 ktas with a max range of 1,149 nm / 1,849 km (at max cruise speed, 1,424 nm at normal cruise speed) while maintaining its Basic Med compliant 6,000-pound MGTOW limit.

At a 301-knot max cruise speed, the M700 FURY stands alone as the fastest single-engine aircraft in Piper’s enviable 87-year, 134,000 unit production history, and it’s the second fastest model of all time. Only the mighty Piper Cheyenne 400LS turbine twin is faster.

Key performance highlights in different phases of flight include:

  • Take-off Performance – TOFL distance over a 50’ obstacle at SL, STD day MGTOW is a classleading 1,994 ft., representing a 641 ft., 24 percent improvement when compared to the M600 SLS that it replaces. That TOFL performance is also 1,198 ft. (38 percent) shorter than a competing single-engine jet.
  • Initial Climb – after a MGTOW departure, the M700 enjoys a class-leading 2,048 fpm climb rate, 32 percent better than the M600.
  • Climb to Altitude – settled into the climb, the M700 FURY reaches a comfortable FL250 in 13.9 minutes (34 percent quicker than the M600) after covering a short 34-mile distance (35 percent less distance than prior) while only burning 97 lbs. of fuel (25 percent less fuel than the M600 and nearly 50% less fuel than a single-engine jet competitor).
  • Cruise – 301-knot max cruise speed.
  • Landing Performance – Landing over a 50 ft. obstacle, the M700 FURY continues its classleading performance, achieving a 26 percent reduction versus the M600 and within half the ground roll distance of some competitors.

“The M700 FURY is a beautifully efficient, cross-country thoroughbred that gives our customers a performance-based flight experience with economics never seen before,” said Piper President and CEO John Calcagno. “We listened, and we delivered. The M700 FURY encompasses power, performance and the most advanced safety measures available today and an overall value proposition that is extremely compelling to individuals and corporate flight departments alike.”

Airframe changes to accommodate the more powerful engine include a redesigned, more efficient intake plenum that improves ram air recovery, new engine mount assemblies and an improved exhaust stack design that maximizes residual thrust.

The M700 FURY features Garmin’s G3000® avionics system—a touchscreen-controlled glass flight deck. The G3000 avionics suite is the most sophisticated Garmin technology available and offers the most comprehensive, intuitive and technologically advanced package in today’s market. It all comes standard in the M700 FURY along with the HALO Safety System (including Garmin’s Autoland technology) that was first certified in the M600/SLS.

The new model will retain Garmin’s PlaneSync™ technology, which includes a 4G LTE Cellular and WiFi® datalink that enables new avionics capabilities to streamline an aircraft owner’s pre-flight and post-flight activities. Piper is also first-to-market with Garmin’s remote aircraft status capability enabling owners to remotely check the fuel quantity, aircraft location, oil temperature, battery voltage, the current METAR at the aircraft’s location and more via the Garmin Pilot™ application. PlaneSync technology also automatically downloads databases wirelessly while the aircraft is powered down and the owner is away from the aircraft.

This new aircraft includes six (6) new interior schemes, featuring new leathers and aesthetically styled seats that have been thoughtfully crafted with the customer in mind.

FAA certification for the aircraft will be achieved before the end of Q1, 2024 with deliveries starting immediately thereafter. International validations for Canada, EASA, the UK, and Brazil will be achieved in the second half of 2024, with customer deliveries in those regions before the end of the year.

About Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, FL, 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 M700 FURY, M500, and M350–offers businesses and individuals elegant performance, value, and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class 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, and Seminole 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. 

Source: Piper Aircraft
Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

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