Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

French Flight School Inaugurates as Cirrus Training Center

Orbifly, a flight school based in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France, is the newest Cirrus Training Center (CTC). Orbifly recently held an inauguration as an official Cirrus Training Center in Europe.

Check out the event through the video below.

About Orbifly

Founded in 1999, Orbifly is well known as the pioneer in FAA IFR training in Europe. More than 600 pilots flying in Europe already trusted the flight school for their CPL/IFR/ATPL Ground School or Flight training.

Source: Orbifly

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US Based ATP Flight School Orders Additional 40 Cessna Skyhawk Aircraft, Deliveries to Begin in 2026

Textron Aviation announced an agreement with ATP Flight School for the purchase of an additional 40 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft to be delivered beginning in 2026. This addition to ATP’s existing fleet of nearly 225 Skyhawks, deployed across more than 85 training centers nationwide, will provide students with access to a modern and advanced fleet in support of their pilot career aspirations.

The Cessna Skyhawk is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company.

This agreement marks the fourth fleet purchase, amounting to a total of 135 of Cessna Skyhawks, for ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program in just over a year, as the flight school scales to train 20,000 airline pilots by 2030.

“For over six decades, the legendary Cessna Skyhawk has inspired the next generation of pilots and served as the world’s leading flight trainer,” said Chris Crow, vice president, Piston Sales. “We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with ATP and provide their students access to the most produced single-engine aircraft globally.”

The Cessna Skyhawk is renowned as the go-to training aircraft in the industry. Its steady flight dynamics, cutting-edge avionics and reliable dispatch history have made it ATP’s trusted training platform for the past three decades.

“With already one of the youngest, most modern fleets at scale, the firm orders for 135 Skyhawks are for direct fleet growth, not replacement. Over the next three years, ATP will be expanding its Cessna fleet by 60% and delivering over 40 new state-of-art planes to ATP students each year through 2026,” said Michael Arnold, vice president of marketing, ATP Flight School. “ATP’s fleet expansion has been responsibly paired with an investment in its Florida-based flight operations center. Dedicated safety, tech ops, and quality assurance departments promote a high level of safety across the ATP network with real-time monitoring, risk mitigation, and safety trend analysis as they orchestrate 800 daily flights. This structured airline-based approach to flight operations provides students with a safety-focused environment from the onset of their professional careers as they become airline pilots on the most efficient path possible.”

About the Cessna Skyhawk

The Cessna Skyhawk is considered the aircraft of choice for pilot training, and it is the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history. Since the aircraft first took flight in 1955, over 45,000 Cessna 172 aircraft have been delivered to customers around the world — more than any other aircraft in the industry. The single-engine four-seat, high-wing Skyhawk is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics with wireless connectivity, a standard angle-of-attack display system, and proven dependability. The aircraft also features McCauley’s aluminum fixed pitch propeller, providing greater reliability and operating time and a Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine with 180 horsepower.

About Textron Aviation

We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipstrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training.

About ATP Flight School

ATP is the nation’s largest flight school, providing students with the most efficient path to a successful airline pilot career. For over 35 years, ATP has been the leader in professional flight training and supplying pilots to airlines.

About the Airline Career Pilot Program

ATP’s fast-track, fixed-cost Airline Career Pilot Program takes students from zero experience to commercial multi-engine pilots and flight instructors (CFI, CFII, MEI) in seven months. Offered at 84 locations nationwide, students gain the competitive edge with airline-oriented training, nationally awarded flight instructors, new aircraft, dedicated training and career support, airline-sponsored tuition reimbursement, airline direct programs, and access to 38 hiring partnerships. Airlines hire more Airline Career Pilot Program graduates than from any other flight school.

Source: Textron
Photo Credit: Textron

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Airbus Flight Academy Europe Takes Delivery of the First Batch of Brand New Elixir Aircraft

Airbus Flight Academy Europe, a 100% subsidiary of Airbus providing civil and military pilot training, has received its first batch of more fuel efficient, quieter Elixir training aircraft as part of its sustainable development strategy.

The first four aircraft, out of a total of eight to be delivered, are equipped with a cockpit specially designed for the Airbus Flight Academy, including two Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS), to prepare cadet pilots for the technologies in today’s most advanced commercial aircraft.

“We are delighted to announce that, following the delivery of our very first Elixir aircraft, our cadets will now be flying this quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft during the first flight phases of their training. This is a first step towards the gradual modernisation of the training fleet to reduce the environmental impact of our academy,” says Jean Longobardi, Airbus Flight Academy Europe CEO & President.

Airbus Flight Academy Europe was established in 2006 to provide training facilities and services to support the initial, basic and advanced training of civil and military pilots. Airbus Flight Academy Europe has developed its own pilot training capabilities and has been delivering the Airbus Pilot Cadet Training Pme since 2019. Located in Angoulême, south-west France, the training centre offers all the necessary training facilities and assets to provide the best training conditions for our cadets.

The Airbus Pilot Cadet Training Programme is open to high school graduates over 18 years old worldwide. Candidates will undergo online and on-site screening tests before being eligible for training which will include 800+ hours of ground school, and 200 hours of practical (flight and simulator) training. Around 80 cadets are trained at the Airbus Flight Academy Europe each year.

Airbus Flight Academy Europe owns a fleet of Diamond DA42, Cirrus SR20, Grob 120 A-F and now four Elixir aircraft, all dedicated to the cadet training. In addition, Airbus Flight Academy Europe operates on its site and customer sites a fleet of two FNPT II qualified simulators to offer the best training solutions to student pilots.

About Elixir Aircraft

Elixir Aircraft, a company based in La Rochelle with more than 80 employees, was created in 2015 to meet the challenges of the French light aviation sector. The objective of the French SME: to make safer, more economical, more environment-friendly  and more versatile aircraft. Complexity is the current reason why older generation aircraft suffer from failures (technical or human) and are expensive to operate (fuel consumption and maintenance). Elixir Aircraft employs a technology from the world of competitive sailing, the Oneshot Carbon, to simplify the structures. More simplicity means fewer failures, therefore more safety, but also fewer maintenance, and lower costs (estimates of 40€/h of fuel and maintenance). At the end of 2021, Elixir Aircraft opened a new production site in order to internalize the entire production of carbon parts. 

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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ICON Aircraft Announces New ICON Authorized Flight Training Partner

ICON Aircraft is excited to announce that ICONIC Adventures Tennessee, a subsidiary of Spearman Aircraft, is up and running as an ICON Authorized Flight Training Partner. Now, adventure seekers – regardless of aviation experience – can experience the award-winning ICON A5 light sport aircraft firsthand.

Spearman Aircraft’s maintenance team boasts over 100 years of combined experience and is certified as an ICON Service Partner. One of the largest maintenance and service providers in Tennessee, ICONIC Adventures is the group’s first foray into flight training and discovery flights, using their brand new ICON A5 in the electric blue colorway.

“As the ICON A5 owner community continues to grow beyond 200 owners, we are seeing greater interest from people wanting to fly the ICON A5,” said Noah Collins, Sr. Director of Global Sales and Service for ICON Aircraft. “Our partnership with ICONIC Adventures enables that experience in a part of the country that is absolutely perfect for amphibious flying. Now, aspiring or existing pilots in the area can experience the A5 and the beauty of the Smoky Mountains on a discovery flight or while receiving flight instruction from an ICON Authorized Flight Instructor.”

Said James Spearman, Founder of Spearman Aircraft: “We’re excited to bring the ICON experience to the East Tennessee area! Nearby Douglas Lake and Fort Loudon Lake are prime locations to show off the versatility of the A5, and the backdrop of the picturesque Smoky Mountains, downtown Knoxville, and the surrounding areas offer a different experience each flight. Experienced pilots and those just becoming interested in aviation alike have enjoyed seeing East Tennessee from a different view with the ICON A5 in every season.”

ICON’s Flight Training Network includes high quality flight schools throughout the United States, and is comprised of more than thirty ICON Authorized Flight Instructors.

Source: ICON Aircraft
Photo Credit: ICON Aircraft

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