VERO BEACH — Piper Aircraft will be building and delivering 240 new aircraft in its single-largest civilian order. The first 26 planes will be delivered this year. How long it will take Piper to manufacture and deliver the the remaining aircraft was not immediately known.
L3 Commercial Aviation, based in New York, placed the order, which will support the growing demand for its cadet pilot programs, according to a statement put out by Piper and L3 regarding the order.
“Many cadets tell us that the first time they take to the skies is one of the most exhilarating and important moments within their training journey,” said Geoff van Klaveren in a prepared statement. He is vice president of Airline Academy, which is part of L3 Commercial Aviation. “That’s why we are continuously exploring ways to improve both the quality and capacity of our training facilities. This significant investment in expanding and modernizing our fleet with these brand-new aircraft will help us in our aspiration to provide the highest-quality training while meeting the increasing international demand for new pilots from our airline customers.”
The Piper aircraft ordered will will be equipped with the latest technology used on commercial jets, providing the perfect training environment for pilots of the future as they prepare for their goal of joining a commercial airline, according to the statement.
The first delivery is expected to consist of 19 single-engine Piper Archers and seven twin-engine Piper Seminoles.
“We are delighted to sign this long-term agreement with L3, knowing that trusted Piper trainer aircraft will once again launch thousands of aspiring pilots’ careers around the world,” said Simon Caldecott, CEO and President of Piper Aircraft, in the prepared statement. “Our advanced training aircraft are the ideal classrooms for cadets to learn and first experience the unique joy of flying.”
This latest large-scale order follows another large order announced in 2018. That order calls for 152 aircraft to be delivered to Fanmei Aviation Technologies.
The new aircraft will be based at L3’s Airline Academies in Florida, Portugal, and in the U.K.
“The deal represents a significant investment in L3’s infrastructure and training capacity throughout its international footprint,” the statement reads.
