Six 2020 DA40 XLT Aircraft Added To Fleet

Established in 1942, the MTSU Aerospace Department is a signature department at the university and has grown into one of the most respected aerospace programs in the US. Seventeen full-time faculty members, 75 flight instructors, and around 1,000 majors places it among the largest of the nation's collegiate aviation programs. Students from 32 states and 16 foreign countries have been drawn to study at MTSU’s exemplary program.

MTSU has been a loyal Diamond fleet customer since the early 2000s; Along with the purchase of these six new aircraft, the Diamond factory service center is refurbishing 13 aircraft of the existing fleet. Since the airframes do not have a life limit, Diamond Aircraft is revamping the interior, updating some avionics options, and painting and restriping the old aircraft, to look as good as new.

“Diamond Aircraft would like to congratulate MTSU on the new aircraft purchase and on choosing to refurbish their existing fleet.” commented Scott McFadzean, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc, “MTSU and Diamond Aircraft have a long and outstanding relationship and Diamond will continue to support MTSU’s mission to prepare students to become leaders of the next generation of aviation professionals. We are honoured to continue to provide the industry’s safest training platforms for student pilots.”

“We’re excited to add these new planes to our existing fleet,” said MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes. “Our Aerospace program ranks as one of the best in the nation, and these planes will be key in our flight instruction.”

College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Bud Fischer said Diamond Aircraft “are our choice because of their superb maintenance record and their track record of reliable service in a busy flight-training environment.”

Following the arrival of the first four planes, “students were able to fly them as soon as we reopened from our COVID-19 shutdown,” said Nick Lenczycki, MTSU Flight Operations Center program manager. “We have been experiencing record growth (of professional pilot majors) prior to COVID-19,” said Lenczycki, citing the need for additional student training planes. “As a result, we have been adding aircraft for the last few years.”

FMI: www.mtsu.edu/aerospace/, www.diamondaircraft.com/