Florida-based Melbourne Flight Training has placed an order for three P2006Ts, as well as 20 Tecnam P-Mentors and eight P2010 180hp. This acquisition will enhance the quality of the FAA Part 141 approved school's flight training programmes, reduce costs for its student customers and provide a range of training options to meet the needs of the student body. The P2006T was delivered during the recent Sun 'n' Fun in Lakeland, Florida. The remaining aircraft will be delivered during 2024.

The Tecnam aircraft line offers a perfect progression of high and low wing ab-initio trainers (P-Mentor and P2010), culminating in the multi-engine P2006T model. Intelligent training with the latest Garmin glass avionics, the latest certifications and low emissions make the Tecnam fleet a concrete solution for the flight schools of the 21st century.

Based on recent data and industry benchmarks, Tecnam has revealed that flight schools operating its single and twin engine fleets can save as much as 10 tones of CO emissions for every single student graduating with a commercial pilot licence, representing a 60 per cent reduction compared to fleets using 100LL fuel on a journey of 155 flight hours, 30 hours of which are on a twin.

Founder and president Derek Fallon says: “Melbourne Flight Training is thrilled to announce our acquisition of a new Tecnam training fleet, marking a new chapter in our commitment to providing exceptional flight training experiences. With the addition of these aircraft we're excited to continue empowering our students to soar to new heights with confidence and skill. We are elated to be joining the Tecnam family and look forward to our partnership as we commit to training new professional flight students enrolled in our Career Aviator Pathway programme.”

Tecnam chief sales officer Walter Da Costa adds: "We are very excited about this fantastic partnership with Melbourne Flight Academy. Our fleet solution is unique in the market, ensuring reliability, cost control, smart training and low emissions. Together with Melbourne Flight Academy, we are proud to innovate the flight training paradigm in the USA."