ATP Flight School, based in Jacksonville, Florida, has renewed an order with Piper Aircraft for 100 training aircraft and has taken delivery of six new Piper Archer TX trainers as part of the order.

Deliveries will take place over five years. 

ATP operates a fleet of 402 aircraft, including 92 Piper Seminoles, 150 Piper Archers and 160 Cessna CE172 Skyhawks. The company operates 47 locations, including six that opened in 2020. It plans to add five additional locations by year’s end. 

Despite a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline industry expects recovery and long-term demand for airline pilots, the company noted. More than 80,000 U.S. airline pilots will be forced to retire at age 65 over the next 20 years in addition to those taking early retirement. 

“Anticipated airline pilot demand exceeds the current capabilities of the flight training industry,” said Michael Arnold, ATP Flight School director of marketing. “ATP continues to invest in our graduates’ careers with the best flight training fleet in the industry.”