55 Cessna Skyhawks aircraft will support pilot training for ATP Flight School

Textron Aviation and ATP Flight School agreed for the purchase of 55 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft. The piston aircraft will add to ATP’s existing fleet of nearly 200 Skyhawks, across 74 training centers nationwide. Deliveries of the 55 aircraft will begin in late 2023 and continue throughout 2024. 

Chris Crow, vice president, Textron Aviation Piston Sales, commented: “This order announcement demonstrates our continued long-term relationship we have with ATP in support of their flight training needs. For more than six decades, the legendary Cessna Skyhawk has been one of the world’s top training aircraft. We are thrilled to see these aircraft utilized to inspire the next generation of professional pilots.” 

Students in ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program will utilize the new Cessna Skyhawks to train as airline pilots amid unprecedented demand for the skillset. The stable flight characteristics, advanced avionics, and proven dispatch reliability of the Cessna Skyhawk make it a dependable training platform for ATP, who flies 40,000 flight hours per month. 

Michael Arnold, director of Marketing, ATP Flight School, said: "ATP takes pride in providing Airline Career Pilot Program students with one of the newest, most advanced safety-focused training fleets. The Skyhawk has proven to be an integral part of the ATP fleet, which system wide delivers 480,000 flight hours and nearly 9,000 pilot certificates issued annually. The new order with Textron Aviation will be essential in continuing to provide students with the fastest path to gain certification and start their careers as airline pilots."

The Cessna Skyhawk is considered the aircraft of choice for pilot training, and it is the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history. Since the aircraft first took flight in 1955, over 45,000 Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world – more than any other aircraft in the industry. The single-engine four-seat, high-wing Skyhawk is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics with wireless connectivity, a standard angle-of-attack display system, and proven dependability. The aircraft also features McCauley's aluminum fixed pitch propeller, providing greater reliability and operating time.