New Aircraft Added to SLU Aviation Fleet

10/04/2019

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology has purchased four new Piper Archer TX (PA28-181) aircraft for the Department of Aviation Science. The new aircraft will be used for instrument and cross country flying for the students, and the aircraft will be equipped as technically advanced aircraft (TAA), which will be used for commercial pilot training as well as different certification purposes.

The four new planes will offer students opportunities to train on technologically advanced aircraft and to hone their piloting skills. Photo by Bill Baumheuter

“We are excited to have the Garmin G1000 NXi platforms in the new Archer aircraft, which will give our students and prospective students an advantage of training due to the technologically advanced platforms across a multitude of aircraft within our fleet,” Stephen Magoc, chair of the Department of Aviation Science said. “Our students experience the most up-to-date training possible. We hope this will entice future students to want to attend SLU for flight training as well.”

The new aircraft will be used for instrument and cross country flying for the students. In addition, the aircraft will be equipped as technically advanced aircraft (TAA), and will be used for commercial pilot training as well as different certification purposes.

The addition of the Archers will also enhance SLU’s fleet by giving students the opportunity to train in a technologically advanced aircraft, where they will learn critical skills that will aid them in their careers.

The Archers are equipped with the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics platform which is compliant to the rules and requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and European Aviation Safety Agency ADS-B requirements.

The Garmin G1000 NXi platform is backed up by the Aspen Evolution Backup Display System which is a digital and independent flight system designed to replace mechanical backup instruments.

The new planes will enable students to hone their piloting skills, while also making additional training aircraft available to students in one of the department and college’s largest incoming classes. In fall 2019, SLU welcomed its largest class in University history. Parks College overall has seen a 33% increase in students from the fall 2018 semester, with the flight science program recording a 42% increase in students in that same time period.

SLU flight instructors picked up the new planes on Saturday, Sept. 21, from the Piper company facility in Vero Beach, Florida, and flew them back to St. Louis.

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology graduates technically proficient and socially responsible engineering and aviation innovators. To learn more, visit the college.