On opening day of this year’s SUN ‘n FUN, Piper Aircraft reported it had taken a 112-aircraft order from the UND Aerospace Foundation, which provides training and aircraft to the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.
Deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of 2016 and stretch out over eight years.
“This is an important order for the UND,” said Bruce Smith, dean of the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. “We see Piper as an essential partner in producing the next generation of pilots. Its aircraft enables our students to become familiar with the most advanced systems in aviation trainers which will prepare them well to fill the growing demand for high-quality pilots.”
The order is designed to replace the institution’s current fleet of existing single-engine aircraft with the Archer TX and its multi-engine Seminole fleet with new Seminoles.
“We have designed the Archer TX and Seminole to give students the technical abilities and modern proficiencies they will need in today’s aviation workforce,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “For nearly 30 years UND has been ordering aircraft from Piper. UND’s continued commitment to Piper confirms our belief that Piper trainers offer a cost-effective means of both developing and replacing aircraft at training organizations.”
As with all Piper Aircraft, both the Archer and Seminoles are equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics.
While neither party is announcing the value of the contract a, standard equipped Piper Seminole starts at $697,000 while the Archer TX starts at $345,000.
Congratulations UND, great choice! my son is a top student there and loves it.
Lol a “top student”
It seems that only colleges–those able to charge whatever they want–can afford new aircraft for training. Buying new doesn’t work for those training operations that have to borrow money to buy them–and the rates the colleges charge are far higher than those charged by other training operations, as they have a captive clientele.
Don’t worry Bernie will forgive the College Loans when the kiddos cry…
Currently UND only charges about 120 an hour for a very new cessna. Sounds resonance to me.
Actually Jim, the opposite is true. As a flight school graduate and CFI at UND, the C172 and PA-44 per hour charges were always than other FBO’s or training departments; I have instructed CFR Part 61 in the same region as well. The top of the line UND aircraft were $15-$40 less per hour than a 40 year old aging C172 at an FBO. UND even charged slightly less for instructor rates as well. UND’s large purchasing power and high enrollment allows costs to be disbursed better and cheaper. Insurance (a huge cost for training outfitters) is significantly less for UND with newer equipment, specially ordered windows in the top, Glass cockpit, ADS-B, and enhanced seat belts.
UND online content is a true gift to the GA community. Good to hear common sense and facts presented in lieu of knee jerk reactions based on no facts.Polite and accurate rebuttal to an asinine comment.