European Flight Academy based in Rostock, Germany, has signed a contract with Diamond Aircraft for the purchase of five DA42-VI multi-engine training aircraft with the option of adding five more DA42s. Deliveries will commence in January 2018.

Trainee pilots have been schooled at the European Flight Academy, a brand of Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT), since 2010 and around 150 pilots are trained at its Rostock base each year.

The DA42-VI is the newest version of Diamond's leading light piston twin. Close to 1,000 DA42s have been delivered since its introduction more than 10 years ago. The all-carbon composite aircraft is equipped with jet fuel Austro AE300 engines, the Garmin G1000 NXi with three-axis automatic flight control system and optional electrically driven air conditioning.

LAT MD Matthias Lehmann says: “In terms of education quality, efficiency and ecology, this is a quantum leap for LAT's European Flight Academy.”

Diamond's director of civil sales Amila Spiegel adds: “We are happy that European Flight Academy as a brand of LAT has chosen our DA42-VI as its MEP trainer for its pilot training in Rostock. The DA42-VI is the ideal training solution for professional flight training organisations that are looking for safe, state-of-the art, fuel-efficient as well as maintenance-friendly aircraft. Diamond Aircraft is proud to add another well-known brand name to an already famous customer list consisting of CAE, Embry Riddle, L3 Aviation Academy, Hainan, FTE Jerez and many other fleet operators.”