Year In Review: Flight School Fleet Updates In 2024

Students at India's Chimes Aviation Academy welcomed the addition of four Tecnam P2010 TDI aircraft in 2024. The school, which maintains a fleet of 22 aircraft, holds an additional 90 aircraft on order, which will enter service by 2030. Each of the new aircraft are equipped with a Continental CD170 engine and Garmin's G1000 NXi avionics suite. The school serves as one of the largest in India, with more than 600 alumni.

"With Tecnam's advanced technology and safety features, we aim to provide our cadets with a quality learning experience," said Y.N. Sharma, CEO of Chimes Aviation Academy.

Above, Sharma (left) shakes hands with Tecnam's Walter de Costa.

California Aeronautical University (CAU) purchased 15 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft to support its flight training programs across its campuses in Bakersfield, San Diego and Ventura in California, as well as its campus in Mesa, Arizona. According to CAU, the purchase was made to improve its student-to-aircraft ratio, "enabling students to begin flying in their first term and maintaining consistent aircraft availability throughout the entire duration of their training." Deliveries of the 15 new aircraft are expected to begin in 2027.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to announce this acquisition of Cessna Skyhawks, which marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing top-tier aviation education," said Matthew Johnson, president of CAU. "These new aircraft will help elevate our flight training degree programs, ensuring our students receive the best possible learning experience and preparing them for successful careers in the aviation industry."

Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) announced the arrival of three Diamond DA42-VI multi-engine training aircraft. The order was originally placed in December 2022 and includes a total of seven Diamond aircraft. According to LAT, the new aircraft will be used at European Flight Academy's facility in Grenchen, Switzerland. Each aircraft comes equipped with AUSTRO AE300 engines and Garmin's G1000 NXi avionics suite with a three-axis Automatic Flight Control System.

"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," said Raymund Obst, head of pilot schools at European Flight Academy, Lufthansa Group's flight school.

In May, LIFT Academy announced its continued partnership with Diamond Aircraft to substantially expand its fleet with 50 DA40 and six DA42 aircraft. According to LIFT, the aircraft will be used across its new campuses in Galveston, Texas, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and at Tuskegee University in Alabama. LIFT Academy serves as the pilot training academy for Republic Airways, a regional airline.

According to Ed Bagden, LIFT's director of flight operations and academic programs, the aircraft were: "chosen for their advanced technology and fuel efficiency, which not only align with our sustainability efforts, but also closely mirror the aircraft our pilots will operate at Republic Airways. This strategic expansion ensures that LIFT Academy continues to offer industry-leading training, preparing our students with a seamless transition to their careers as airline pilots."

Aerodynamics Academy, an Approved Training Organization based in Spain, purchased 15 Tecnam P2008JC Mk. II aircraft to serve its 200 students. The school is one of the fastest growing flight schools in Europe and now operates a fleet of more than 30 aircraft and five "high-generation" simulators.

According to Tecnam, the P2008JC Mk. II version features an updated avionics suite, a redesigned instrument panel and glare shield and includes Garmin's G3X Touch display with a MD302 attitude instrument.

Quality Fly, a flight school based in Spain, added four new Tecnam P2008JC Mk. II aircraft to its training fleet in 2024—replacing three outgoing Tecnam P2002 aircraft. The new aircraft were purchased as part of the school's fleet modernization program, aiming to standardize and modernize its aircraft offerings. Each of Quality Fly's aircraft are equipped with a FLARM collision warning system for real-time collision avoidance. According to the school, the new aircrafts' glass cockpits help reduce learning times and improves the student learning curve by more than 30%.

"This standardization simplifies training procedures and improves overall flight training outcomes on Quality Fly's ATP Integrated Program," the school said in a statement. "By the same token, moving into the MEP & IFR training in their Tecnam P2006 aircraft is a smoother transition."

Redbird, an India-based flight training organization, received four Tecnam P-Mentor aircraft to complete its training fleet order. The school's fleet now consists of eight Tecnam P-Mentor, four P2006T, 25 P2008JC and two 2010 TDI aircraft—covering all phases of CPL training, according to Redbird. The aircraft will be used to serve Redbird's more than 500 students across its bases in Baramati, Seoni, Gulbarga, Belgaum and Lilabari.

"Partnering with Tecnam brings many benefits to our flight training organization," said Redbird President Karan Mann. "By leveraging Tecnam's advanced aircraft and expertise, training processes become more efficient, reducing training times and costs. This synergy also elevates the student experience, increasing satisfaction, retention and graduation rates through modern facilities and expert instruction."

In May, Western Michigan University's (WMU) College of Aviation received seven Cirrus TRAC20 G7 aircraft. The seven aircraft are the first of WMU's order of 32, which it placed in July 2023. According to Cirrus, each aircraft will come with Cirrus Perspective Touch+ by Garmin, making it the first piston aircraft to use dual Garmin touch controllers. The aircraft will go on to serve WMU's more than 1,000 aviation students.

"Supporting one of the largest collegiate flight programs is exciting, especially during a time when pilots are in high demand," said Cirrus CEO Zean Nielsen. "The TRAC Series G7 offers the students at Western Michigan University a fantastic opportunity to position themselves for a successful career in aviation by training on the most advanced flight deck available with the Cirrus Airfram Parachute System for a primary trainer."

During the Middle East Aviation Career Trade Show & Conference (MEAC), Smart Aviation and Tecnam signed a purchase agreement for three additional P2006T NG twin-engine aircraft as part of its fleet expansion program. Smart Aviation, which is based in Poland, currently operates a fleet of seven Tecnam P2008 JC, four P2006T, one P2002 JF, one P2002JR and one P-Mentor aircraft. According to Tecnam, the new aircraft are equipped with two-axis autopilot and two Rotax 912iSc3 injected engines.

"Smart Aviation is a clear example of Tecnam's long-term commitment to innovating flight training," said Walter Da Costa, Tecnam chief sales officer. "Our fleet solution is a market leading offering that provides reliability, cost control, intelligent training and low emissions."

AeroGuard Flight Training Center, based in Pheonix, Arizona, added over 25 aircraft to its fleet in 2024. The fleet expansion was accomplished through the purchase of 10 new Piper Archer aircraft as part of a 90-aircraft order. The deal brings the school's total fleet up to nearly 120 aircraft.

"AeroGuard is committed to training and preparing future commercial airline pilots through our high quality and structured training programs, providing leading airlines with professionally trained pilots," said AeroGuard CEO Joel Davidson. "Our fleet growth represents our dedication to providing these future pilots with every resource they need to succeed while experiencing the highest quality flight training."