Tecnam sells P-Mentors to Melbourne Flight Training; Epic Flight Academy buys Cessna Skyhawks

Tecnam announced that US-based Melbourne Flight Training has placed an order for 20 Tecnam P-Mentors, eight P2010 180hp and three P2006Ts. This acquisition will enhance the quality of flight training programs, reduce costs for student customers, and provide a range of training options to meet the needs of the student body. The P2006T was delivered during the Sun ‘n’ Fun in Lakeland. The remaining aircraft will be delivered during 2024. The Tecnam aircraft line offers a perfect progression of high and low-wing ab-initio trainers (P-Mentor & P2010), culminating in the multi-engine P2006T model. Intelligent training with the latest Garmin glass avionics, the latest certifications, low emissions make the Tecnam fleet a concrete solution for the flight schools of the 21 century. Based on recent data and industry benchmarks, Italian aircraft manufacturer TECNAM has revealed that flight schools operating TECNAM’s single- and twin-engine fleets can save as much as 10 tones of CO emissions for every single student graduated with Commercial Pilot License – a 60 percent reduction compared to fleets using 100LL fuel on a journey of 155 flight hours, 30h of which on twin. Derek Fallon, Melbourne Flight Training Founder and President said “Melbourne Flight Training is thrilled to announce our acquisition of a new Tecnam Aircraft training fleet, marking a new chapter in our commitment to providing exceptional flight training experiences. With the addition of these state-of-the-art aircraft, we’re excited to continue empowering our students to soar to new heights with confidence and skill. We are elated to be joining the Tecnam family and look forward to our partnership as we commit to training new professional flight students enrolled in our Career Aviator Pathway program.” Walter Da Costa, Tecnam’s Chief Sales Officer said “We are very excited about this fantastic partnership with Melbourne Flight Academy. Our fleet solution is unique in the market, ensuring reliability, cost control, smart training and low emissions. Together with Melbourne Flight Academy, we are proud to innovate the flight training paradigm in the USA.” Epic Flight Academy expands fleet with Cessna Skyhawk Textron Aviation announced an agreement with long-term customer Epic Flight Academy at the 2023 Sun n’ Fun Aerospace Expo for the order of 15 new Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft. As a Cessna Pilot Center, Epic Flight Academy has been training pilots since 1999 and thousands of students from over 80 countries have graduated from the flight school. The Cessna Skyhawk is Epic’s exclusive single-engine aircraft, with a total fleet of 43 ordered since 2016. The new aircraft will supplement and expand Epic Flight Academy’s current fleet based at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport in Florida. “The Cessna Skyhawk has been one of the world’s top training aircraft for over six decades,” said Chris Crow, vice president, Textron Aviation Piston Sales. “We are thrilled to see these aircraft continue to inspire the next generation of professional pilots through this agreement with Epic Flight Academy.” The stable flight characteristics, advanced avionics, and proven dispatch reliability of the Skyhawk have made it a dependable training platform for Epic. The new airplanes will be used exclusively by students to put them in the pilot’s seat of the best training aircraft in the industry. “At Epic, our motto has always been ‘Safety first!’ This is why we train our pilots in the Cessna Skyhawk,” said Danny Perna, founder and CEO, Epic Flight Academy. “This aircraft proves itself with every flight and prepares our students for a successful career. We can’t wait to take delivery and expand our fleet.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]