Flight Training Europe to Acquire 20 New Piper Archer DX

On January 23, Piper Aircraft announced its fleet deal with FTEJerez, or Flight Training Europe, for 20 Archer DX training aircraft. The first half of the lot was delivered last December.

“Our acquisition of these brand-new Piper Archer DX aircraft is a testament to FTE’s commitment to excellence in aviation training,” expressed FTEJerez CEO Oscar Sordo. “The Archer DX will enhance our training capabilities and ensure that our students receive the best possible training in a modern, sustainable, and efficient flying environment.”

FTEJerez, based in Jerez, Spain, is best known for its partnerships with major carriers like British Airways, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and more. It has produced over 3,000 pilots to date through its famous zero-to-airlines training courses.

Though FTEJerez has experience with older Piper aircraft like the analog instrument Warrior, the new agreement will be the school’s first run with the Archer DX. This diesel-powered machine is Piper’s “green alternative” trainer class aircraft, using the Continental CD-155 engine to churn out a 114 kt cruise on just 5.8 gallons of gas per hour.

“Expanding into the European market with FTEJerez underscores Piper Aircraft’s commitment to supporting top-tier pilot training,” stated Ron Gunnarson, Piper’s VP of Sales, Marketing, Customer Support, and Quality. “The Archer DX delivers the reliability, performance, and efficiency required to meet the demands of students and airline partners alike.”

The 20-aircraft deal is Piper’s second large Archer DX fleet agreement this month. On January 16, Piper Aircraft announced that it had signed a contract with Air India Flight Training Center for the acquisition of 93 Archer DX trainers. 31 of these will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining 62 options scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

FMI: www.piper.com, www.ftejerez.com