ATP Purchases 30 Piper Seminole Training Aircraft

LAS VEGAS, NV — Oct. 11, 2011

Piper Aircraft Inc. and Airline Transport Professionals reached agreement today at NBAA for the sale of as many as 30 Piper Seminoles with a total retail value of $18 million. Piper and ATP jointly made the announcement at the 2011 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting and Convention.

Airline Transport Professionals (ATP), a nationwide firm specializing in airline pilot training and pilot career development agreed to initially purchase a fleet of 10 additional Piper Seminole multi-engine piston-powered advanced training aircraft for delivery in 2012.

In addition to the firm 10-aircraft fleet order, ATP has an option for 20 additional Seminole aircraft for delivery in 2013 and 2014. While both companies are not disclosing the fleet purchase price, the retail value of 30 Piper Seminoles for delivery in 2012-2014 is more than $18 million.

All Equipped with Garmin G500

All of the new airplanes under the agreement will be equipped with Garmin G500 glass cockpit avionics suites. The G500 is a PFD/MFD dual-screen electronic flight display. Dual 6.5-in. LCDs, mounted side-by-side in the bezel, put both Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multifunction Display (MFD) capabilities directly in instructor and student field of view to help streamline instrument scanning and enhance situational awareness.

"This additional order demonstrates confidence on the part of ATP in Piper Aircraft and particularly, the Seminole, which has proven itself in hundreds of thousands of hours of flight school training around the world," says Piper President and CEO Geoffrey Berger. "Students in training appreciate the Seminole's ability to help them learn advanced flight maneuvers and procedures while ATP instructors appreciate the airplane's ability to teach these lessons in a safe and forgiving manner."

"ATP chose the Piper Seminole because of its dispatch reliability, compatibility with our existing fleet, and ATP's continuing commitment to providing high-quality multi-engine flight training and experience to pilots of all certification levels," said ATP Vice President Jim Koziarski, "This large fleet purchase will enable ATP to provide students with the latest in technology and high quality training aircraft."

In 2010, ATP purchased a fleet of six additional Seminoles for delivery during the year, bringing its total Piper fleet to 88 aircraft. The company also operates 57 Cessna 172s, five Diamond DA40s and a CitationJet. The new Piper Seminoles are powered by two Lycoming O-360-A1H6 engines each generating 180 hp, with a 2,000-hour time between overhaul. Seminoles have a 15,000-foot service ceiling.