Piper Aircraft and ATP Flight School will go home from EAA AirVenture with a firm fleet order for six new training aircraft, with options for 25 additional airplanes in 2027.
ATP, one of the world’s largest Piper training fleet operators, said during Monday’s formal announcement at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, it will take delivery of three new Piper Archer TX aircraft within 30 days, and three Piper Seminoles will follow in 2027.
“ATP’s unmatched investment in aircraft and fleet growth not only provides a safety-focused environment for students, but accelerates their training with increased aircraft availability,” said Michael Arnold, vice president of marketing for ATP Flight School, in a news release. “With a 3-1 student-to-aircraft ratio, ATP’s increased aircraft availability has, in part, allowed us to reduce the training timeline of [our] Airline Career Pilot Program by 25 percent, solidifying ATP as the most efficient path to an airline pilot career.”
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ATP offers its program utilizing the Archer TX for single-engine training and the Seminole for multi-engine training.
The Piper Archer TX features a Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpit and G5 standby display. The interior has Piper’s special flight school design created to withstand the rigors of flight training. There is also an option for factory-installed air conditioning, which adds to the Archer’s appeal as a training aircraft as ATP has 85-plus nationwide training centers, many in the warmer climates of the U.S.
The Piper Seminole is the most widely used multi-engine training aircraft in the world. Known for its reliability, predictable handling, easy-to-memorize systems, and traditional six-lever throttle quadrant, the aircraft has served as an excellent multi-engine machine for decades.
“This fleet agreement is a representation of Piper Aircraft and ATP’s ongoing relationship, and our shared commitment to pursuing flight training excellence,” said Piper president and CEO John Calcagno. “Our training aircraft continue to bring unbeatable value to flight schools, students, and instructors, equipped to deliver unmatched performance for countless hours of flight training. We look forward to seeing the continued success at ATP through the acquisition of these new aircraft.”
