MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech has received a $1 million grant from the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust that will allow the university to purchase cutting-edge flight simulators for its renowned flight training programs, President John Nicklow announced today.
The announcement was made as the university welcomed four new 2024 Piper Pilot 100i planes to its fleet during a ceremony at the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Research at Florida Tech Aviation in Melbourne. In May, the first four planes of the eight-plane order arrived.
“Our partnership with Piper ensures our student are trained in the best and the latest equipment,” Nicklow said.
Marc Oullet, vice president, engineering and manufacturing at Vero Beach-based Piper, noted the growth of Florida Tech’s aviation programs and said the university is setting the standard for aviation education.
“We thank you for putting your trust in Piper Aircraft,” he said. “We are grateful to Florida Tech for the quality education you give to students and are honored to employ numerous graduates.”
When the students are not actually flying, they can be virtually flying in powerful aviation simulators. With the generous Buehler grant, Florida Tech will purchase two FRASCA Mentor 242 simulators which replicate the five multi-engine Piper Seminole aircraft that are part of the 47-plane fleet at Florida Tech Aviation. The Seminoles are being upgraded with the G3 Touch Avionics that will be featured in the simulators.
Two additional simulators replicating the Piper Pilot 100i aircraft that Florida Tech Aviation just added to its fleet are under consideration for purchase in the next year or so.
Simulators play a critical role in aviation education.
“A flight simulator creates the unique opportunity for a controlled learning environment where the flight instructor may alter weather and flight conditions while isolating the student from the critical distractions from air traffic control, other aircraft, physiological challenges and imperfect environmental conditions,” said Jay Arcemont, executive director of flight operations at Florida Tech Aviation. “It is the perfect platform to introduce new concepts and cockpit tasks and allow the flight student to master those tasks through efficient and repeated attempts before they are demonstrated in an aircraft.”
Nicklow noted that the surge in student enrollment at Florida Tech Aviation – from 370 in 2021 to 660 in 2024, a 78% increase – comes amid a pilot shortage. The new planes and simulators “better prepare us to meet this rising demand with the excellence and cutting-edge approach our students expect of a Florida Tech education.”
With Buehler Perpetual Trust Trustee George Weaver in attendance, Nicklow said the university is grateful for his support.
“Our deepest thanks to George Weaver and the Weaver family for the Trust’s incredible generosity and your belief in what we are doing here at Florida Tech and Florida Tech Aviation.”
