Piper Delivers 8 Archer TX Trainers to Florida Institute of Technology

May 6, 2013
It has delivered eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes, equipped with the latest Garmin G1000 avionics, to Florida Institute of Technology.

VERO BEACH, Fla., May 6, 2013 - Piper Aircraft Inc. today delivered eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes, equipped with the latest Garmin G1000 avionics, to Florida Institute of Technology.

"We are pleased that Florida Institute of Technology is our launch customer for the Piper Career Alliance, and today we are doubly gratified to hand over the keys of the first eight Archer TX trainers," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. "In the future they will help the university train hundreds of new aviators just beginning their professional aviation careers."

"We are anxious to integrate these new Piper Archer TXs into our curriculum," said Kenneth Stackpoole, Ph.D., Vice President of Aviation Programs and Dean of Florida Institute of Technology. "These new airplanes will be put to use immediately, training our student pilots."

In addition to the eight aircraft delivered today, Florida Institute of Technology's College of Aeronautics has options on 16 additional trainers - either Archer TXs or twin-engine Seminoles - for future delivery, bringing the total potential new aircraft under the agreement to 24.

The new Pipers will be among the first Archer TXs equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass panel avionics suite, just certified this April. It is a seamlessly integrated package that makes flight information easier for students to scan and process. The G1000's revolutionary design brings new levels of situational awareness, simplicity and safety to the training cockpit.

Piper began the Piper Aviation Career Alliance with Florida Institute of Technology to educate and provide enhanced vocational opportunities for aviation program graduates as well as graduates from other programs offered through the school. In addition to a new fleet of Piper training aircraft, the five-year agreement includes enhanced career opportunities for students and graduates through Piper internships, scholarships, career interviews and mentoring.

About the Piper Archer TX

As a classroom, the Piper Archer provides everything needed to learn to safely fly. Standard instrumentation includes the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system, a perfect mixture of low workload and high technology. Piper's specially created flight school interior, designed to withstand the rigors of flight training, is standard, and the option for factory-installed air conditioning adds to the Archer's appeal as a training aircraft. It is powered by the 180 hp Lycoming 0-360-A4M and offers 128 ktas / 237 km/h cruise speed.

About Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology's College of Aeronautics is recognized as one of the top university-based aviation programs in the nation. Its programs and faculty have earned an international reputation for excellence in the education and preparation of aviation professionals. It offers graduate and undergraduate programs in the Aeronautical Sciences to include Aviation Management, Pilot/Flight Crew, Aviation Computer Science, Meteorology, Airport Management and Development, Human Factors, and Aviation Safety. The college enrolls 400 undergraduate and graduate students in programs on its Melbourne, Florida, campus, in its Aeronautical Science Program in Panama, and many others through distance learning.

About Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. The company offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series - the Meridian, Mirage and Matrix - offer businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca V and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX, Arrow, Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.