ATP Flight School has reached an agreement with Textron Aviation to purchase 40 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft. These planes, set for delivery in 2025, will join ATP’s current fleet of 200 Skyhawks located at 82 training centers nationwide.
The Cessna Skyhawk is manufactured by Textron Aviation, and this new order marks the second bulk purchase by ATP in less than a year: a clear indicator of the flight school’s expansion strategy. The school plans to train 20,000 airline pilots by 2030. The previous agreement, signed in October 2022, involved ATP purchasing 55 Cessna Skyhawks from Textron, with deliveries starting in the third quarter of 2023.
Chris Crow, Vice President of Piston Sales at Textron Aviation, spoke favorably of the deal, noting that the Cessna Skyhawk has been a long-standing training aircraft. The flight characteristics, avionics, and reliability of the Skyhawk have made it ATP’s chosen training platform for over three decades. The new aircraft will be used for training purposes, providing students with practical experience.
Michael Arnold, Vice President of Marketing at ATP Flight School, highlighted the school’s commitment to providing students with a modern fleet to help them achieve their career goals. The reliability of the Skyhawk as a trainer plays a crucial role in delivering quality training, he added.
Since its first flight, more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been delivered to customers worldwide, making it one of the most widely distributed aircraft in aviation history. This recent agreement between Textron Aviation and ATP Flight School reinforces the Skyhawk’s ongoing role in aviation training.
