Kilo Charlie Aviation has placed orders for a total of 30 Tecnam aircraft to be delivered over the next two years.

Kilo Charlie Aviation is a flight school located near Kansas City at New Century Air Center, formerly known as Naval Air Station Olathe, a joint civil-military general aviation airport. The school has 96 students and was founded in 2020 by Robert Renfro and Drew Konicek, both experienced pilots.

The Tecnam solution selected by Kilo Charlie Aviation is based on the full IFR P-Mentor and the twin-engine P2006T. Students will be able start their training in a P-Mentor with a modern Garmin G3X glass cockpit. In addition to an already very stable platform, the aircraft will be equipped with the optional BRS ballistic parachute.

After completing their instrument rating (IFR) in the P-Mentor, students can transition into the P2006T twin engine to train for their MEP (multi-engine piston).

The first 15 deliveries will comprise three P2006T and 12 P-Mentor aircraft. One P2006T has already been delivered, one P2006T delivery is scheduled in Q3 2023, one P2006T delivery is scheduled in Q1 2024 and 12 P-Mentor deliveries are scheduled: four in Q4 2023, four in Q1 2024 and four in Q2 2024.

Phase II of the 30 aircraft order will follow after the last of these first 15 have been delivered.

The Tecnam P2006T MkII is a twin-engine four-seat aircraft with fully retractable landing gear. Its simplicity, great performance, efficiency and ergonomics are what make this aircraft ideal for multi-engine training, as well as cross-country flying. The P2006T offers unbeatable value and innovative design with a modern Garmin avionics suite, integrating all primary flight, navigation, communication and terrain data on two high-definition LCDs.

“We are very pleased that so many American flight schools are choosing Tecnam to replace or upgrade their fleet. Today's students are very demanding and deserve a brand new aircraft with the latest technology. We thank and welcome Kilo Charlie for its choice,” Walter Da Costa, Tecnam chief sales officer, says.

“We have been in a two-year process trying to find the right aircraft partner for our career flight training school. Once Tecnam presented the P-Mentor we knew that all the work over the last two years had to be re-evaluated and compared to this aircraft. Safety and technology are our two highest priorities here, and after comparing everything it was without a doubt the best option for our school and students,” Robert Renfro, Kilo Charlie Aviation chief operating officer, adds.

“When we met with Tecnam for the first time we were unfamiliar with its organisation or aircraft. Immediately we knew that we had found a true partner. The award-winning aircraft combined with the expertise of an international leader in aviation made it an easy choice to move Kilo Charlie Aviation's fleet to Tecnam,” comments Drew Konicek, Kilo Charlie Aviation chief business officer.

“With a shared ambition for developing great pilots, we are thrilled to partner with Kilo Charlie Aviation in this venture,” adds Derek Riddle, director of aircraft fleet sales for Volare Air, Tecnam's sales representative for the region. “It is because of flight schools like theirs that this industry has such a promising future. Kilo Charlie's training programme offers students a competitive advantage for hiring opportunities once they graduate, and I can't think of a better place for our latest Tecnam training fleet.”