Air India Aviation Academy Turns to Piper to Supply Fleet

Air India Aviation Academy has ordered 93 Piper Archer DX low-wing trainers. [Courtesy: Piper Aircraft]

Piper Aircraft has entered into a new fleet agreement with the Air India Flight Training Center, a newly established school in Amravati, India.

The flight school has placed an order for 93 Archer DXs, with 31 firm orders scheduled for delivery in 2025 and the option of 62 additional aircraft in 2026 and 2027. The first deliveries of the popular low-wing trainer will begin in the first quarter of 2025, according to the manufacturer.

"We are excited to welcome Air India to the Piper Flight School Alliance,” John Calcagno, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft, said in a statement. “We take pride in supporting institutions like Air India by providing aircraft that are renowned for their reliability and ease of use, ensuring the success of the next generation of airline pilots."

According to Piper, this agreement is a significant step for the company as it advances its global fleet in the Asian market. Air India's decision to acquire the Archer DX is in line with its strategic vision to support the newly established flight school, which is on track to be the largest aviation training facility in South Asia.

The Archer DX is powered by a Continental CD-155 diesel engine. The low-wing airplane is capable of cruising at a speed of 114 ktas at 70 percent power on only 5.8 gallons of jet fuel, which is more easily attainable outside the U.S. than 100LL.

The cockpit is equipped with a G1000 avionics suite, described as a "great mix of low workload and high technology." The Archer DX also boasts a special interior designed to stand up to the rigors of the flight training environment.

"It is an honor to collaborate with Piper Aircraft to bring the Piper Archer DX to our new training center," said Campbell Wilson, CEO and managing director of Air India. "This investment underscores our commitment to equipping our pilots with cutting-edge training tools. The addition of these aircraft will enable Air India to train hundreds of cadets in our pilot programs."

Air India Aviation Academy is a 600,000-square-foot integrated aviation training facility that its officials say will eventually train 50,000 aviation professionals, from pilots to ground handlers, within the next few years.

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Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.