OSHKOSH, WI. July 20th , 2026 – Piper Aircraft is proud to announce a landmark delivery of two Pilot 100i aircraft to Inter American University (IAU) of Puerto Rico. This significant milestone marks the first Pilot 100i delivery to a customer outside the continental United States.

To celebrate this historic occasion, one of the two Pilot 100i aircraft destined for IAU is currently on display at the Piper Aircraft exhibit during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, allowing the global aviation community to share in this milestone.

“The arrival of two Piper Pilot 100i aircraft is tangible evidence that reaffirms our commitment to offer our students the best, helping them acquire the skills and knowledge required for a career in today’s modern aviation industry,” said Dr. Jonathan Velazquez, Dean of IAU’s School of Aeronautics. “With these two airplanes, our fleet increases to 11 aircraft. These purchases continue to position Inter American University, the Bayamón Campus, and the School of Aeronautics, as a truly unique institution, and the leader in aviation education in Latin America.”  

Inter American University is a longtime Piper fleet customer and Flight School Alliance member. The addition of these two Pilot 100i aircraft further expands IAU’s robust all-Piper fleet, which recently grew with the addition of a factory-new Seminole, supporting IAU’s long-term fleet modernization plan.

“Expanding our flight training fleet through the acquisition of two new Piper 100i aircraft reflects Inter American University’s commitment to continually enhancing the education and training of pilots who will play a pivotal role in the future of international air transport, leveraging Puerto Rico’s island geography as a strategic starting point,” stated Dr. Rafael Ramírez-Rivera, President of IAU. “As an island, air transport is our fastest and most efficient means of physically connecting with the rest of the world. That reality has been a key driver behind the ongoing development of our School of Aeronautics through the use of modern and emerging technology,” Ramírez-Rivera concluded.

Currently, the aviation department at IAU offers three academic programs at their Bayamón campus: Associate of Applied Science Degree in Commercial Pilot, Bachelor’s Degree in Aircraft System Administration (Professional Pilot), and Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Science Management. The IAU School of Aeronautics is the only college in the Caribbean that offers two baccalaureates in different areas of aviation sciences, 

“At Piper, we value our fleet partners globally and join Inter American University in celebrating this milestone delivery,” said Piper’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support, and Quality, Ron Gunnarson. “We take pride in helping programs like IAU accomplish their flight training goals and provide their students an industry-leading aviation education. Delivering the first Pilot 100i outside the continental U.S. is a proud moment for our team, and AirVenture is the perfect venue to showcase this achievement.”

About the Piper Pilot 100i The Piper Pilot 100i is a single-engine trainer aircraft designed specifically to meet the needs of flight schools and training programs. It offers a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective platform for student pilots, featuring  the Garmin G3X touch screen avionics suite and a dependable IO-360 180 HP Lycoming engine, making it an ideal classroom for the next generation of aviators.

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, Seminole and Seminole DX 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. To learn more about Piper Aircraft, visit the company’s website at www.piper.com.

About Inter American University Inter American University of Puerto Rico was founded in 1912 when reverend John Will Harris established the Polytechnic Institute. Since then, the private non-profit institution has been dedicated to preparing students from Puerto Rico and various countries in the Americas and the Caribbean in a variety of careers. In 1944, it was the first institution of higher education outside the continental U.S. to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition to its nine campuses and two professional schools in Puerto Rico, Inter American University currently maintains a physical presence in Orlando, Florida; Panama; and Philadelphia. The University also offers programs taught entirely in English, as well as online programs, enabling it to serve students from different parts of the world.

 

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Piper Aircraft
For further information, contact:
Alba Walcott

Manager, Marketing and Events
Phone: (772) 299-2835
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to: alba.walcott@piper.com
piper.com

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Inter American University of Puerto Rico
For further information, contact:
Zaima Y. Negron Guzman
Executive Director,
Office of Public Relations & Communications
Phone: (787) 436-1998
Mail to: zynegron@inter.edu
inter.edu