Piper Aircraft Inc. recently delivered another five new Piper Archer TX training aircraft to the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), under a joint Piper Aviation Career Alliance program. The agreement provides enhanced vocational and educational opportunities for graduates of FIT’s aviation program, as well as for graduates from other programs offered through the school.

The Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics took delivery of eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training aircraft earlier in 2013, and five so far in 2014, bringing the total Archer units delivered under the joint arrangement to 13. Additionally, FIT took delivery of a new twin-engine Seminole in January, bringing the total units delivered to 14 aircraft. Under the long-term agreement with FIT there are options remaining on 14 additional trainers (Archer TX or Seminole) for future delivery. Total potential new aircraft under the agreement amounts to a fleet of 28 planes.

The new Piper Archers are among the first Piper training aircraft equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass panel avionics suite. They will be located on the Melbourne, Fla. campus of the Florida Institute of Technology.

“Piper Aircraft is extremely pleased that our joint Career Alliance with the Florida Institute of Technology is providing opportunities for aviation students as well as the company,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott.

“In the midst of predicted global pilot shortages, the Florida Institute of Technology’s Aviation Programs have joined forces with four European Approved Training Organizations to enhance the University’s pilot training capacity,” said Ken Stackpoole, Florida Tech vice president for Aviation Programs and executive director of FIT Aviation LLC. “These new Piper training aircraft will help us meet this growing international demand.”

The flight training arm of the University already has existing pilot training contracts with operators like Turkish Airlines, serving 135 students. These new Approved Training Organizations provide European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Instrument Rating Conversion courses, which are required to be completed in European airspace for pilots to earn their EASA pilot licenses including a type rating.

These new partnerships ensure Turkish Airlines pilots can expeditiously complete all of the requirements for their ratings—both here and in Europe. The four new partners are:

• Ben-Air Flight Academy (BAFA) in Antwerp, Belgium
• Flying Time Aviation in Brighton, England
• CTC Aviation in Bournemouth, England
• Aeros in Coventry, England

Pilots training at the Florida Institute of Technology will complete the program in approximately 16 months start to finish, training mostly in Melbourne, Fl but also spending several weeks with one of the four Approved Training Organizations in Europe.

About the Piper Archer TX
As a classroom, the Piper Archer provides everything needed to learn to fly safely. Standard instrumentation includes the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system, a perfect mixture of low workload and high technology. Piper’s specially created flight school interior, designed to withstand the rigors of flight training, is standard equipment, and the option of factory-installed air conditioning adds to the Archer’s appeal as a training aircraft. It is powered by the 180 hp Lycoming 0-360-A4M piston engine and offers 128 ktas / 237 km/h cruise speed.

About The Florida Institute of Technology
The Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics is recognized as one of the top university-based aviation programs in the nation. Its programs and faculty have earned an international reputation for excellence in the education and preparation of aviation professionals. It offers graduate and undergraduate programs in the Aeronautical Sciences to include Aviation Management, Pilot/Flight Crew, Aviation Computer Science, Meteorology, Airport Management and Development, Human Factors, and Aviation Safety. The college enrolls 400 undergraduate and graduate students in programs on its Melbourne, Florida campus, in its Aeronautical Science Program in Panama, and many others through distance learning. For more info, go to fit.edu.

About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the Meridian, Mirage and Matrix – offer businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca V and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

 

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Piper Aircraft
For further information, contact:
Jackie Carlon
Phone: (772) 299-2900
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to: Jackie.Carlon@piper.com
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