China taps Piper to supply 152 GA training aircraft

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/...ining-aircraft

Piper wins record order for 152 training aircraft
Order announced at Singapore Airshow
February 7, 2018 By David Tulis

Piper Aircraft Inc. scored a big win with firm orders for 152 training
aircraft announced during the Singapore Airshow Feb. 7. The
transaction tops any training order in the company’s history,
according to a news release announcing the deal with Chinese flight
training specialists Fanmei Aviation Technologies.
Piper Archer photo courtesy of Piper Aircraft.
Piper Archer photo courtesy of Piper Aircraft.

The flight school’s $74 million purchase will be spread out over seven
years and includes 100 Archer TX single-engine trainers, 50
multiengine Seminoles, one Seneca, and one Piper M350.

The multi-year order topped the aircraft company’s tally of 99
aircraft sold through the third quarter of 2017, according to a
General Aviation Manufacturers Association report published in
November.

Deliveries will begin in March, with the first aircraft going to the
Fanmei Flight School in the Sichuan province.

Don Li, the president of Fanmei Aviation Technologies, noted in the
news release that the agreement was a “key element” in China’s general
aviation roadmap as the country ramps up to accommodate an increasing
travel appetite. "Everything else was already in place,” Li said,
“including a quality training program with committed staff and
outstanding facilities.” He lavished praise on the Piper Archer and
Seminole, calling them the world’s “premier training aircraft,” and
said that the line would help prepare students “for their continued
success after graduation” as they seek aviation careers.

Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott complimented Fanmei for
“establishing a prestigious pilot development program to meet the
growing need for exceptionally trained airline flight crews.” He added
that the synergy was a “wonderful opportunity for both organizations
as we work collectively to help address the global pilot shortage.”

The sale follows a 2016 Rand Corp. report that indicated China would
make the country more accessible to GA operations by doubling the
number of GA airports, relaxing certain altitude restrictions, and
accelerating flight plan approvals to bring things more “in line with
international GA norms.”

During the last decade, the Asian country has also invested heavily in
U.S. aircraft manufacturing concerns, buying stakes in Cirrus
Aircraft, Mooney International, and other aviation investments,
according to the report. The same document noted that U.S. aerospace
and defense industries were a “significant component” of the U.S.
economy and annually contributed “more than $300 billion in economic
value.”

Piper has a long history making training and technically advanced
aircraft. In 2017, the Vero Beach, Florida-based company celebrated
the eightieth anniversary of its simple and much loved, modified, and
copied two-seat Piper Cub. In 2016, the manufacturer earned
certification for its six-seat luxury performance turboprop Piper
M600.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/07/us-f...ht-school.html

Chinese pilots are going to use US planes to learn how to fly

U.S. general aviation aircraft maker Piper will sell 152 planes to
China's Sichuan Fan-Mei Aviation Technologies.
The deal will run over seven years and is worth $75 million.
Sichuan Fan-Mei Aviation Technologies runs a pilot training
program in the Chinese mainland.

Saheli Roy Choudhury
Published 12:05 AM ET Wed, 7 Feb 2018

Piper Aircraft's Archer model that is commonly used to train new
pilots.

U.S. airplane maker Piper Aircraft said Wednesday it will sell more
than 150 trainer planes to China's Sichuan Fan-Mei Aviation
Technologies, which runs a pilot training program in the mainland.

Piper Aircraft, which makes small general aviation aircraft and is
based in Vero Beach, Florida, will sell 152 planes over seven years in
a deal worth $75 million. It includes the sale of 100 Archer TX single
engine aircraft that are used to train new pilots.

For the current year, Piper said it planned to deliver 20 planes, with
the first delivery starting in March to the Fan-Mei flight school in
Sichuan province. The deal was announced at the Singapore Airshow.

Piper President and CEO, Simon Caldecott, told CNBC that Asia has
become a key market for the company because there is a growing demand
for new pilots in the region.

"One of the things I've been looking at, and constantly monitoring, is
the global shortage of new pilots," Caldecott said. He pointed to
aircraft maker Boeing's predictions that Asia Pacific will eventually
lead the global demand for pilots.

Indeed, in its 2017 pilot outlook, Boeing said that, by 2036, the Asia
Pacific region will have a demand for 253,000 new pilots — about 40
percent of the global demand. Meanwhile, North America is predicted to
need about 117,000 pilots and Europe about 106,000.

Overall, Boeing said, the aviation industry would need to supply more
than 2 million new commercial airline pilots, maintenance technicians
and cabin crew.

"So there's a big demand, just in Asia, for new pilots," Caldecott
said. "In the past, historically, most of those (pilots) trained in
either the U.S., Australia, some in South Africa. But as countries
like China develop, they want to train more of their own."

Don Li, president of Sichuan Fan-Mei Aviation Technologies, told CNBC
that the deal with Piper was the biggest ever in the company's
history.

He added that there were plans to order between 40 and 60 additional
Piper aircraft over the next two to three years for short-haul air
shuttle and personal use — that estimate could also increase according
to "how we cultivate the market," Li said.

The aircraft models that Li referred to — the Piper M-Class and Seneca
— are awaiting certification in China at the moment.

As the company is privately owned, Fan-Mei did not receive any
government subsidies to make the purchase, Li said.

Sichaun Fan-Mei Aviation Technologies is a subsidiary of Sichuan
Fan-Mei Education Group which provides aviation education in China to
about 40,000 students. That includes training for flight attendants,
aviation mechanics, airport management and security.

On top of the five locations the firm has in China, there are plans to
set up in other parts of the country, Li added. Previously, Fan-Mei
bought training aircraft from companies like Robinson Helicopters and
Bell Helicopter, while Piper is the only fixed-wing company it has
purchased aircraft from, Li said.

He added the company was in talks with other companies to purchase
different types of aircraft to continue investing in its pilot
training efforts.

"This is only the start. We want to become the full-spectrum service
provider for the general aviation industry," he said.
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http://www.piper.com/piper-receives-...-technologies/


Piper Receives Largest Trainer Order in Company History from Fanmei
Aviation Technologies
February 7, 2018

VERO BEACH, Fla., February 7, 2018 – Piper Aircraft, Inc. has received
an order for 152 aircraft from Fanmei Aviation Technologies, Piper
Aircraft’s exclusive dealer in China. This is the largest single
trainer order received by Piper Aircraft in company history. Fanmei
Aviation Technologies is a subsidiary of Sichuan Fanmei Education
Group co. Ltd which is a leading provider of aviation education in
China.

The historic seven-year purchase agreement includes 100 Archer TX
single engine trainers, 50 multiengine Seminoles, one Seneca and one
Piper M350. Deliveries begin in March with the first aircraft going to
the Fanmei Flight School in Sichuan province.
“We are very excited to have Fanmei Aviation Technologies in our
Dealer Network,” said Piper’s Asia Pacific Sales Manager, Jeremy
Prost. “Fanmei Education Group has a great vision for the future of
General Aviation in China and we believe that this vision and
commitment will work in pair with Piper’s 80 years of aircraft
manufacturing experience to supply high quality aircraft and support
to Chinese customers.”

“The agreement and cooperation with Piper Aircraft is the key element
for our general aviation roadmap,” said Don Li, President of Fanmei
Aviation Technologies. “Everything else was already in place,
including a quality training program with committed staff and
outstanding facilities, and now we have added to our fleet, in my
opinion, the premier training aircraft in the world with the Piper
Archer and Seminole, which will help prepare our students for their
continued success after graduation. In addition, as the exclusive
Piper dealer in China, we look forward to serving our customers in the
fast-growing general aviation market, not only with excellent Piper
aircraft, but also with our most dedicated high-quality services.”

“Just as we are making history with receiving this large order, so is
Fanmei by establishing a prestigious pilot development program to meet
the growing need for exceptionally trained airline flight crews. This
is a wonderful opportunity for both organizations as we work
collectively to help address the global pilot shortage.” said Piper
President and CEO Simon Caldecott.

About the Archer TX
The Archer TX includes the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics package which
incorporates modern processing power that supports faster map
rendering and smoother panning throughout the displays. Saving
valuable time in the cockpit, the displays initialize within seconds
after start-up, providing immediate access to frequencies, flight plan
data and more. Also included is the Attitude Heading Reference System
(AHRS) (GRS 77), an Aspen Electronic Standby System (EFD-1000), a
solid state 3-axis Magnetometer (GMU 44), Dual IFR Enroute/Approach
and WAAS Certified GPS systems and Nav/Comm (16 watt) radios (GIA
63Ws), an Electronic Engine Indication System (EIS), a Mode S
Transponder with ADS-B in / out capability (GTX 345), Digital Audio
Panel (GMA 1347), Traffic Information Systems (TIS), and Terrain and
Obstacle Mapping round out the standard equipment on the TX. The
Archer TX comes standard equipped with a 180 hp Lycoming engine,
offers 128 ktas / 237 km/h cruise speed. An optional fuel injected
Lycoming IO-360-B4A engine is also available.
About the Seminole

The Seminole includes the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics package which
incorporates modern processing power that supports faster map
rendering and smoother panning throughout the displays. Saving
valuable time in the cockpit, the displays initialize within seconds
after start-up, providing immediate access to frequencies, flight plan
data and more. Also included is the Air Data Computer (GDC 74A),
Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) (GRS 77), an Aspen Electronic
Standby System (EFD-1000), a solid state 3-axis Magnetometer (GMU 44),
Dual IFR Enroute/Approach and WAAS Certified GPS systems and Nav/Comm
(16 watt) radios (GIA 63Ws), an Electronic Engine Indication System
(EIS), a Mode S Transponder with ADS-B out (GTX 335R), Digital Audio
Panel (GMA 1347), Traffic Information Systems (TIS), and Terrain and
Obstacle Mapping round out the standard equipment on the TX. The
Seminole, equipped with two 180 hp Lycoming engines, has a maximum
takeoff weight of 3,800 pounds, a max speed of 162 kts and ceiling of
15,000 feet.

About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., offers
aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single- and
twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the M600,
M500, M350 and Matrix – offers businesses and individuals elegant
performance and value. The Twin Class Seneca V and Seminole balance
proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in twin-engine
aircraft. The Trainer Class Warrior, Archer TX, Archer DX, Arrow,
Seminole and Seneca V aircraft form the most complete
technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world.
Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

# # #
Piper Aircraft
For further information, contact:
Jackie Carlon
Phone: (772) 299-2900
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to:
piper.com