Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

US Aviation Training Group, Epic Flight Academy, Introduces 5 New Cessna 172s Amidst Accreditation and Program Growth

Florida, USA – headquartered Epic Flight Academy has announced several significant developments in February 2025:​

  • Epic Flight Academy has earned accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) for its pilot and aviation maintenance technician (AMT) training programs. This accomplishment follows a comprehensive self-assessment involving both students and staff. ​

  •  The academy has expanded its fleet with the addition of five new Cessna 172 Skyhawks. These aircraft, purchased directly from the factory, will have their tails painted red by the maintenance team to enhance visibility.

  • February saw the enrollment of new flight students at the New Smyrna Beach campus, as well as new aircraft mechanic students at both the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) campus and the New Smyrna Beach campus. ​

  • Epic’s outreach initiatives included visits to various educational institutions, such as West Port High School in Ocala, Florida, and participation in events like the 4th Annual Climb Event in Jacksonville, Florida.

  • Aircraft mechanic students engaged in extracurricular activities, including exploring the mobile maintenance command post for the Goodyear Blimp at the New Smyrna Beach Airport and touring the Cessna (Textron) Citation Service Center in Orlando. ​

Source: Epic Flight Academy
Photo Credit: Epic Flight Academy

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US Flight Training Group, ATP Flight School, Expands Fleet with Over 60 New Aircraft in 2025

Jacksonville Beach, FL, USA — ATP Flight School, the nation’s leading supplier of airline pilots, expands its fleet with 61 factory-new aircraft in 2025. The deliveries include:

  • 54 Cessna 172 Skyhawks, equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics
  • 7 Piper Seminoles featuring Garmin G1000 flight decks

These aircraft join ATP’s modern fleet as additional capacity to train the next generation of airline pilots.

The need for highly qualified pilots continues to grow, with mandatory airline pilot retirements peaking in the coming years.

To meet this demand, ATP is expanding training resources, including the opening of new training centers in:

  • Ann Arbor
  • Pontiac, Michigan
  • A fifth location in the metro Atlanta area.

At scale, ATP operates one of the youngest, most modern training fleets, totaling 614 aircraft, with 133 new deliveries in the past two years alone.

ATP will continue to expand its fleet with at least 40 new aircraft each year through 2027, further solidifying its position as the nation’s leader in airline pilot training.

ATP conducts over 850 daily flights, logging more than 581,000 flight hours annually.

This scale of operations is supported by an extensive safety and maintenance network. Nearly 30 dedicated Tech Ops maintenance bases ensure a well-maintained and dependable fleet, while ATP’s airline-style operations center at its Jacksonville Beach headquarters contributes to an efficient and structured training environment.

“The safety and reliability of ATP’s operations exceed the national average for general aviation flight instruction by a factor of ten,” said Michael Arnold, Vice President of Marketing, ATP Flight School. “This commitment to our students and instructors is only made possible through an unmatched investment in aircraft and safety, allowing aspiring pilots to train with confidence on the most efficient path to a successful airline pilot career.”

Deliveries of the new Cessna Skyhawks began in February and will continue throughout the year.

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 40 years, ATP has been the leader in professional flight training, supplying pilots to airlines and corporate operators.

Source: ATP Flight School
Photo Credit: ATP Flight School

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Air India Cadet Pilot Program Cadets Assist in Delivery of the First New Piper Training Aircraft

Sanford, Florida, USA – Air India Cadet’s at the flight training base of L3Harris Commercial Aviation have played a role in the upcoming launch of Air India’s new training academy, through assisting in the delivery of four brand-new Piper aircraft. The aircraft, recently manufactured at Piper Aircraft’s facility in Vero Beach, Florida, will be delivered to India in March 2025 to support Air India’s expanding pilot training program.

Source: L3Harris Commercial Aviation

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Tecnam’s P2006T NG Achieves EASA Certification in 2025

Capua, Italy –  Tecnam is proud to announce that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has officially awarded Type Certification to the P2006T NG (Next Generation)—a milestone that redefines excellence in the twin-engine aircraft category.

Fifteen years after its initial debut, the P2006T continues to evolve, setting new benchmarks in efficiency, technology, and performance. With hundreds of units in operation worldwide and continuous enhancements based on real-world operator feedback, the Next Generation P2006T is designed to surpass even its own legacy.

Built on Tecnam’s rich aviation heritage and decades of engineering expertise, the P2006T NG integrates cutting-edge advancements to meet the demands of flight schools, private owners, and special mission operators.

Unrivaled Efficiency & Sustainability

Compared to the P2006T MkII the P2006T NG has an increased Maximum Take-Off weight to 1290 kg (2844 lb) that allow more payload.

Equipped with fuel-injected Rotax 912iSc3 engines, the P2006T NG is in fact the world’s most fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft. It consumes as little as 14 liters per hour (3.7 USG/h) per engine, reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 45 metric tons per year—a breakthrough in environmentally conscious aviation.

Flawless Fleet Integration & Maintenance

Operators of mixed fleets will benefit from full interchangeability of engines and accessories between the P-Mentor and the P2006T NG, streamlining logistics and operational efficiency. Maintenance teams will appreciate the quick-release engine cowlings, ensuring effortless access to the powerplant bay for inspections and servicing.

Next-Level Avionics & Connectivity

The P2006T NG introduces a totally redesigned cockpit, featuring a central console designed to accommodate an FMS GCU477 keyboard, enabling smooth control and entry of all Garmin G1000Nxi avionics. The fully digital, 3-axis GFC700 autopilot  with ESP (Electronic Stability and Protection), coupled with the GI-275 stand-by instrument, enhances flight precision, while the innovative Garmin Flight Stream system ensures total connectivity between tablets, smartphones, and the aircraft.

Unmatched Accessibility & Comfort

From flight instructors and students to private owners and their families, the P2006TNG improves accessibility like never before. Four independent doors – one for the pilot, one for the co-pilot/instructor, one for the passengers and one for the baggage compartment – allow easy boarding and operations, making flying more enjoyable even for pilots with limited mobility.

Refined Aesthetics & Enhanced Safety

The P2006T NG introduces a sleek new window design, providing improved visibility and a modernized appearance. Its fully LED winglet-integrated position and navigation lights enhance aerodynamics and visibility, while enhanced LED landing/taxi lights further improve safety in all conditions.

Luxury in the Sky: The P2006T NG SPORT

For those seeking exclusivity, Tecnam offers the P2006T NG SPORT, a premium edition crafted with meticulous Italian design. This luxurious variant features:
✔ Black leather dashboard with soft LED lighting
✔ Handmade carbon fiber panels and leather yokes
✔ Alcantara headliners and plush moquette seats
✔ Side panels with carbon fiber details
Delivering an unparalleled flying experience, the SPORT edition blends performance with sophistication.

Special Mission Ready: The P2006T NG SMP

The P2006T NG is also available in a Special Mission Platform (SMP) configuration, with certified power box and hatches, supporting a wide range of applications, including:
✔ Search and rescue
✔ Reconnaissance & surveillance
✔ Border patrol
✔ Aerial mapping
This specialized version provides a cost-effective, highly capable solution for operators conducting demanding missions worldwide.

Global Availability & Customer Commitment

With a robust global support network, Tecnam ensures worldwide spare parts availability and after-sales assistance, reinforcing its commitment to customer satisfaction. Deliveries are now set to begin for customers across:

  • Spain
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • France
  • Portugal
  • Denmark
  • Argentina
  • Paraguay
  • Mexico
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

A Statement from Tecnam’s Leadership

“First of all, I would like to thank my design and certification team for this great result! Today, with this new certification, Tecnam confirms its position as one of the most prolific aircraft manufacturers, as we certify several new designs every year in order to offer our customers the most advanced aircraft.”— Giovanni Pascale Langer, Tecnam Managing Director.

The Tecnam P2006T NG is not just an upgrade—it’s a new standard in twin-engine aviation.

About TECNAM; “Quality Aircraft since 1948”
Tecnam is an Italian aircraft manufacturer and one of the world’s leading piston aircraft manufacturers. Founded in 1948 by brothers Luigi and Giovanni Pascale, the company is headquartered in Capua, Italy, and operates two subsidiaries in Sebring, Florida, USA, and Brisbane, Australia, to serve and support the needs of local Tecnam owners and operators. Tecnam designs and manufactures a wide range of aircraft for personal use, commercial operations, business travel, flight training, surveillance, law enforcement and other specialised applications.

Source: Tecnam
Photo Credit: Tecnam

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Diamond Aircraft’s Austro Engine Announces New General Manager in 2025

Wiener Neustadt, Austria – Austro Engine, a subsidiary of Diamond Aircraft specializing in jet-fuel-powered engines, has appointed Jürgen Schwarz as General Manager. Schwarz brings extensive experience from leadership roles at Mercedes AMG, Continental Aerospace, and Raikhlin Aircraft. His primary focus will be on Austro Engine’s strategic and operational reorganization.

  • Schwarz officially joined Austro Engine in January 2025.
  • His leadership will focus on making Austro Engine a first-choice manufacturer and powerplant integrator in general aviation.
  • With a background in engine development and aerospace leadership, Schwarz aims to enhance Austro Engine’s development, production, and customer satisfaction.
  • He emphasized the importance of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the future role of hybridization and electrification in aviation.

Statements:

  • “My goal is to work with the team to further develop Austro Engine into the first-choice engine manufacturer and powerplant integrator in the field of General Aviation.” – Jürgen Schwarz, General Manager, Austro Engine.
  • “Environmental compatibility is increasingly becoming the focus of development. Diamond Aircraft and Austro Engine set off in the right direction very early on with their highly efficient kerosene-powered engines.” – Jürgen Schwarz.

About Austro Engine
Austro Engine, based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, is a subsidiary of Diamond Aircraft. It specializes in developing jet-fuel-powered engines for general aviation, with a focus on efficiency and sustainability.

Source: Diamond Aircraft
Photo Credit: Diamond Aircraft

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KF Aerospace Highlighted as Exclusive North American Distributer for Grob Aircraft

Canada— KF Aerospace has been highlighted as the exclusive North American Distributer for Germany headquartered Grob Aircraft.

In January 2024 KF Aerospace had announced the exclusive dealership arrangement with Grob Aircraft SE for the North American market. This agreement entrusts KF Aerospace to market, sell and lease Grob products and pilot training services throughout Canada and the United States.

The Grob 120 is renowned for its use in military pilot training programs globally, including by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for basic flying training at the Contracted Flying Training and Support (CFTS) Program in Southport, MB. KF Aerospace has managed the CFTS Program with its Allied Wings partners since 2005.

KF’s longstanding maintenance and operational expertise with Grob’s 120A aircraft ensures a seamless and knowledgeable experience for North American customers.

About KF Aerospace
KF Aerospace, based in Kelowna, British Columbia, provides aviation solutions including maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and pilot training services, supporting both civilian and military aviation sectors.

Source: KF Aerospace
Photo Credit: Grob Aircraft SE

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