Tecnam and Professional Aviation have signed a purchase agreement for nine additional Tecnams, including and three P2006T twin engine aircraft. The aircraft will be used for both PPL (private pilot licence) up to the MCC/JOC (multi crew cooperation course/jet orientation course) modules for ATPL courses. Today Professional Aviation operates 14 Tecnam aircraft.

Professional Aviation, an Italian ATO based in Ozzano near Bologna, has seen steady growth since 2017. To meet the continuous increasing demand of pilots from major airlines, the academy is increasing its yearly student capacity by 50 per cent by 2025. A main pillar of this expansion is the aircraft fleet.

Professional Aviation chose Tecnam as main aircraft provider and partner as Tecnam offers a modern and efficient fleet solution, from single engine two-seaters for ab-initio to twin engine aircraft for multi engine piston and complex ratings, covering all needs of a modern flying school. Professional Aviation is also a Tecnam authorised service centre to minimise downtime and guarantee maximum safety.

The P2006T offers favourable value and innovative design with a modern Garmin avionics suite, integrating all primary flight, navigation, communication and terrain data on two high-definition LCDs. The aircraft is also equipped with two-axis autopilot, for the most efficient MEP complex training.

Fitted with two Rotax 912S3 engines, the Tecnam P2006T exhibits remarkable fuel savings and can be operated on Avgas and Mogas 95 octane fuel, leading to huge cost savings, offering the best training for multi engine, variable pitch and retractable landing gear ratings. The advanced avionic system offers VFR/ VFR night, MEP, IR and PBN (LNAV, VNAV, LPV).

Based on recent data and industry benchmarks, flight training schools operating Tecnam's single and twin-engine aircraft can save as much as 10 tons of CO2 emissions for every single student graduating with a commercial pilot licence, a 60 per cent reduction compared to legacy fleets using Avgas 100LL fuel, based on 155 flight training hours, including 30 hours on the twin.

“Continuing to grow up our international cadet programme we count on Tecnam aircraft fleet solutions as one of the main partners in our strategy. In addition, we are also asking Tecnam to option more aircraft in the same period to cover the extra needs we may have. We are now ready to support the many end-to-end cadet programmes the airlines are demanding from the training industry,” says Vito Preti, Professional Aviation's CEO and accountable manager.

Tecnam MD Giovanni Pascale adds: “Tecnam is committed to supporting and increasing the growth of modern flight schools such as Professional Aviation. Airlines urgently need pilots trained on modern aircraft with glass screen cockpit and the latest instrumental procedures.”