Textron Aviation's Cessna unit has secured a further follow-on order for its Skyhawk 172 from US pilot training specialist ATP Flight School, with the investment to boost the operator's fleet of the type to almost 130 examples.

Announced during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 28 July, the deal builds on another 15-unit order placed by the operator in late 2016.

"Deliveries of the new Skyhawks, integrated with next-generation Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, will begin in the third quarter," Textron says.

Vice-president Justin Dennis says: "These new aircraft will provide airline career pilot programme students with the platform they need for successful, efficient training.”

ATP Flight School has 42 training centres around the USA, with a total fleet of about 300 aircraft, also including recently acquired Piper Aircraft Archer TXs.

Source: FlightGlobal.com