Diamond Aircraft continues to expand its presence in the flight training market, with operators ranging from major college aviation programs to local flight schools.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University recently took delivery of the second of a fleet of ten DA42 Twin Stars. “The DA42 is the ideal twin training aircraft for our airline-bound customers”, says Frank Ayers, Chairman of the Flight Training Department of ERAU. “Its G1000 glass cockpit is the industry standard – but even more importantly, the twin FADEC diesel engines make flying the DA42 as close to flying a jet as you can get in a piston aircraft. We are very pleased with our first Twin Star. Our initial experience has not only been fun for our instructors and students, it has also confirmed how economical twin training can be in a plane which only burns 12 gph of JET-A total between the two engines.”
“Flight training is a key market for Diamond Aircraft”, says Chuck Glass, Director of Fleet Sales at Diamond. “We are uniquely positioned to work with flight training providers, whether they are local flight training schools, private flight academies or collegiate professional aviation programs. Our full line of aircraft – from the 2-seat DA20, the DA40 four-seater in fixed-pitch or constant speed, and the DA42 with its twin turbo diesel engines – mean flight training organizations can standardize along one line of airplanes with similar cockpits and systems. Our school partners also have the option of adding Diamond simulators, built by our sister company, Diamond Simulation, to conduct simulated training with a real aircraft feel.”
Flight training providers using Diamond aircraft are active in every segment of the market. In the US, the list of colleges and universities includes Utah Valley State College, Utah State, Phoenix East, Sabena Airline Training Center, Letourneau University, Doss Aviation and the USAF Academy, Minnesota State University via Northstar Aviation, and ATP in Jacksonville, FL. In Canada, Moncton Flight College, CANLink and Empire Aviation – associated with University of Western Ontario – operate Diamonds. In China, Beijing PanAm International Aviation Academy operates a fleet of 60 Diamonds at four locations with over forty more on order, and Shenzen Airlines will take delivery of four DA42s this month. Diamond Aircraft are also used in a number of FITS-approved training facilities, including Northwest Aviation in Schaumburg, IL, Skyline Aeronautics in St. Louis, MO, Falcon Aviation Academy in Peachtree City, GA, Angel City Flyers in Long Beach, CA and Air Orlando, in Orlando, FL. Carp Flying Academy in Carp, ON is a Canadian flight school flying Diamond Aircraft.
Several schools, both local Part 61 and airline-bound Part 141 operations, now operate Diamond Simulation flight training devices. Europe-American Aviation, a Diamond Brilliance Center based at Naples Florida, recently received FAA certification for its DA42 simulator as a Level 5 device. “The Diamond line of products has been great for us.We switched from traditional high wing aircraft to an all-Diamond fleet in June 2006, and haven’t looked back.We now operate 10 Diamond singles, as well as three Twin Stars and the DA42 simulator, and all of our planes fly between 50-75 hours per month,” says Carsten Sturm, owner and President at EAA. “The simulator is a great complement to our Diamond fleet. It enables us to conduct training more efficiently by being able to rewind IFR approaches, for instance – and to familiarize students with emergency procedures which are just too dangerous to practice in a real airplane.”
Also in Florida, at the Fort Lauderdale airport, Jet University is leveraging the Diamond product line, including the FTD, to conduct a unique ab initio program for airline-bound pilots. “Diamond aircraft and FTDs are ideal for our Express Airline Pilot Program”, states Heath Cohen, President of Jet University. “All of our students get glass cockpit time from the beginning – and with the economical Twin Star, we can offer cost-effective and valuable multi-engine time sooner in the program.”
On the West Coast, Galvin Flying Services operates a nine airplane Diamond fleet at two locations, Seattle and Hawaii. “We believe in Diamond as the flight training platform of the future”, explains Peter Anderson, President of Galvin. “We are quickly transitioning most of our Seattle flight line to Diamonds, and will receive our DA42 FTD next month. Our local pilot customers are excited at being able to fly one of the most modern fleets in the industry. In Hawaii, we are providing flight training for Honolulu Community College with an all-Diamond fleet. Beyond local students, the Diamond product is attracting international students to the Honolulu campus.”
To support its fleet of training customers, Diamond Aircraft has recently launched the Diamond Flight Center (DFC) Program. Schools operating two or more Diamond aircraft are eligible to participate in this program, which offers professional schools the opportunity to provide new Diamond owner training, benefit from an aircraft discount and referral program, and to leverage joint marketing opportunities and other training tools.
“At Diamond, our mission includes attracting new people into aviation – people who haven’t yet had the opportunity to benefit from traveling via Personal Aviation”, explains Heike Larson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Building a network of Diamond Flight Centers is part of the infrastructure of helping non-flyers obtain the benefits of aviation – and of developing a growth market critical to all of us in General Aviation.”