Embry-Riddle to replenish flight training fleet

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University plans to replace many of its existing aircraft with at least 60 new Cessna Skyhawks from Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, as well as four new Diamond DA42-VI aircraft from Diamond Aircraft Industries.

The fleet replenishment reflects Embry-Riddle’s continuouseffort to advance aviation education in service to students by ensuring thatthe school’s fleet is updated on a regular basis.

“In keeping with Embry-Riddle’s rigorous focus on aviationsafety, new aircraft for our fleet were selected following an exhaustiveevaluation by a team of experts on both our Prescott, Arizona, and DaytonaBeach, Florida, campuses,” said Dr. P. Barry Butler, president of Embry-Riddle. “A global pilot shortage and the promiseof high-paying careers have resulted in high demand for our flight-trainingprograms,” Butler said.

In Daytona Beach and Prescott combined, total enrollment inthe university’s residential Aeronautical Science programs leading to abachelor’s degree for professional pilots has increased about 25 percent overthe past three years, with nearly 2,000 students enrolled as of fall 2018.Demand for the fall 2019 semester is expected to reach more than 2,300students.

In response to this high demand, Embry-Riddle is gearing upfor a major replenishment and likely expansion of its fleet, based onenrollment. Between now and September 2022, Embry-Riddle will purchase at least60 new Skyhawk aircraft. After that, the university has the option to purchaseanother 10 Skyhawks per year, through 2030, based on demand for the aviation-trainingprogram. Four new Diamond DA42-VI aircraft are also being purchased for thePrescott Campus, along with two new Frasca flight simulators.

All of the new aircraft were selected for their reliabilityand performance, particularly at high altitudes — an important attribute forflight-training in Prescott.

“A large committee of experts — including students, flightinstructors, faculty, aviation maintenance professionals and businessrepresentatives — carefully assessed a variety of aircraft attributes beforeidentifying the Skyhawks as the best choice for Embry-Riddle,” said Dr. KennethByrnes, chair of the Daytona Beach Flight Department. “The group ultimatelyconcluded that these aircraft offer a safe, dependable design, they are easy tomaintain, and they have an excellent operational safety record.”

Professor Parker Northrup, Flight Department chair on thePrescott Campus, reported that his program is gearing up to serve approximately600 students this fall. The Daytona Beach Campus Aeronautical Science programexpects to serve roughly 1,700 students in September, Byrnes said.

“The decision to acquire the new Skyhawks resulted from adeliberate and inclusive review process,” Northrup said. “Embry-Riddle chosethis particular aircraft because of our zero-defect aircraft flight policy. Themaintenance record of the Skyhawk is superb, and these aircraft have a trackrecord of reliable service in a busy flight-training environment.”

The Diamond DA42-VI aircraft offer superior high-altitudeperformance and are fully compliant with Federal Aviation Administration ADS-B(navigational) requirements, Northrup added. Finally, he said, the planes offer“full authority digital engine control,” known as FADEC, and therefore willprepare Embry-Riddle students to fly with the most up-to-date technology.