Ethiopian Airlines Expands Their Flight Training Fleet With 2 Diamond DA42 NGs

Pilots hoping to fly for Ethiopian Airlines will be getting at least some of their training in Diamond DA42 NG twins, and the Austrian planemaker delivered two of the aircraft to Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) after a ferry flight from Wiener Neustadt (Austria), where Diamond Aircraft’s headquarters are located. The aircraft were delivered on September 29th.

One of the aircraft was ferried by Dr. Gerd Berchtold (pictured), CEO Diamond Aircraft, personally. He handed them over to Capt. Lemma Tekalign, Manager of the Ehtiopian Airlines Pilot Training School and his team.
 
The DA42 NG twin engine trainer aircraft, all equipped with Austro Engine AE300 Jet-A1 engine and G1000 integrated avionics system, will complement the already operated fleet of ten DA40 NG single engine trainer aircraft and a DA40 NG flight simulator. This supports the pilot training school (PTS) of Ethiopian Airlines to educate high quality professional pilots with low operating costs, due to the fact that the aircraft is fuelled with Turbine Jet Fuel, instead of AVGAS.
 
The Ethiopian Airlines PTS trains pilots from the whole central African region, and follows the latest standards in MPL (Multi Crew Pilot License) training programs and training equipment to assure that the quality of the pilots is up to top international standards.

(L-R) Madge, Dries

Back a bit closer to home, Mr. Christain Dries and Mr. Andy Madge, the Director of Air Traffic Services at Cobham Aviation confirm the sale of the first Diamond DA42 MPP GUARDIAN in the United Kingdom.  After the installation of special role equipment by Diamond Airborne Sensing, part of Diamond Aircraft GmbH, the aircraft will be used for the inspection and calibration of airfield navigation systems.

As well as being a very cost effective aircraft with very low direct operating costs Cobham Aviation are extremely pleased with the DA42's 'green' credentials.  The very low fuel burn of around 30 litres of Jet-A1 per hour results in very low levels of pollution and the low noise signature minimises noise pollution.  Diamond Aircraft are also investigating the possibility of using green 'bio-fuel' when this becomes available.

FMI: www.diamond.com