ATP expands training fleet

Piper Aircraft Inc. is selling a fleet of six Piper Seminole multi-engine piston-powered training aircraft to Airline Transport Professionals (ATP), a nationwide firm specializing in airline pilot training and pilot career development. The planes, valued at about $3.9 million, will be delivered in 2010.

ATP Vice President of Flight Operations Jim Koziarski said, “Our fleet purchase will help us meet increasing demand for Mountain State University’s ATP Pilot Operations degree program, for which ATP provides all the flight training.”

The program offers an aviation bachelor’s degree program with online coursework directly integrated with a standardized flight training curriculum available nationwide. Designed for future professional pilots, MSU and ATP students build over 100 hours of multi-engine Piper Seminole flight experience in a coast-to-coast, airline-style environment.

With the purchase, ATP will operate 87 Piper Seminoles in its training fleet. The company also operates 50 Cessna 172s, five Diamond DA40s and a CitationJet. The new Piper Seminoles are powered by two Lycoming O-360-A1H6 engines each generating 180 hp, with a 2,000-hour time between overhaul. Seminoles have a 15,000-foot service ceiling.

For more information: Piper.com, ATPFlightschool.com