Piper Aircraft has confirmed a fleet agreement with the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, covering up to 188 aircraft valued at around $155 million. The contract builds on a relationship of nearly 40 years and will span eight years from 2027, with a possible two-year extension through 2036.

An initial 145 aircraft, made up of Seminole and Archer TX models, will support the university’s training programmes in Grand Forks and Phoenix. The deal surpasses the school’s previous 2016 agreement for 112 aircraft, which ends in 2026.

“Piper remains a vital collaborator in the continued success of flight training at UND,” says Robert J. Kraus, dean of the school. “We look forward to strengthening our relationship as we prepare the next generation of pilots for careers in the airlines, business aviation and the U.S. military.”

UND Aerospace currently operates 176 training aircraft and devices, averaging 1,300 hours per year per Archer TX and 900 per Seminole. It records around 190,000 annual training hours across its two campuses.

Piper credits the partnership’s longevity to its 24/7 technical support and responsive collaboration on aircraft development and support systems.