Piper, Florida Institute of Technology Form Aviation Career Alliance
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Piper Aircraft, Inc. and Florida Institute of Technology have launched a Piper Aviation Career Alliance to educate and provide enhanced vocational opportunities for aviation program graduates and graduates from other programs offered through the university. The five-year agreement includes a fleet of new Piper training aircraft for Florida Tech’s training arm, FIT Aviation, and new career opportunities for its students and graduates through Piper internships, scholarships, career interviews and mentoring.
“We have enjoyed a very mutually satisfying relationship with Piper for decades, dating to the earlier days of our flight training program. This milestone underscores our faith in Piper and preference for doing business in our regional community,” said Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese. “It is the result of a solid track record of positive cooperation.”
“Piper is thrilled that the Florida Institute of Technology has agreed to become our launch customer for the Piper Aviation Career Alliance. We are doubly pleased that this top-flight institution has chosen our 75th overall birthday celebration and our 55th anniversary of becoming a Florida business to make the announcement,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott at the company’s celebratory anniversary Fly-In held recently in Vero Beach.
Potential Fleet of 28 New Piper Archers
Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics will take delivery of eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes during 2013 and also has options on 20 additional trainers (Archer TX or Seminole) for future delivery. This brings the total potential new aircraft under the agreement to a fleet of 28 aircraft. Neither party is releasing the value of the contract. The new Piper Archers will be among the first Piper training aircraft equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass panel avionics suite.
“Our new career alliance with Piper will help our graduates secure employment in the aviation industry. It will help them find positions in airline operations, airport and airline management, and as flight crew members in varied, responsible positions within corporate and commercial aviation and government agencies,” said Kenneth Stackpoole, Florida Tech vice president of aviation programs and dean of the College of Aeronautics.
Beginning in 2013, Piper Archer TX training aircraft will feature the Garmin G1000 all-glass avionics suite. 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,” said Glenn Vera, executive director of FIT Aviation. “We are looking forward to integrating the new Piper Archers with the G1000 avionics into our student training curriculum.”
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 Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. A global force in aviation, Piper is an investment of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Brunei. The company offers efficient single-engine and twin-engine trainer, personal and business aircraft. With economical acquisition and operating costs, Piper airplanes deliver the best value available today and into the future. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
