Multiple European Flight Schools Select Tecnam P-Mentor During AERO 22

The event showcases the latest in general aviation technology, and several schools are taking advantage of the sustainable designs manufactured by Tecnam.

Aerotec Pilot School in Madrid, Spain, purchased five new Tecnam P-Mentors. The P-Mentor is an IFR capable, two-place, single-engine aircraft designed for the training environment. The aircraft is powered by a Rotax 912iSc paired up with a MT constant-speed propeller for fuel efficiency and low emissions. Among the features available on the P-Mentor are:

Aerotec Pilot School offers training from ground schools up to airline transport certificates. The school already operates three Tecnam P2008 and one P2006T.

“We chose the P-Mentor over its competitors for its undoubtable features and benefits, our positive experience coming from flying and operating the P2008 and P2006T," says Tomás Marqués Fernandez-Bernal, Aerotec Pilot School founder and CEO. "We are glad to offer in our courses what is probably the best modern training aircraft. We hope that our students will be able to pilot them soon, so they can confirm the wisdom of our choice.” 

“We are delighted to continue to support Aerotec, one of the most innovative flight schools. And we also are glad for their support in our research of excellence in manufacturing aircraft, shaping the future of training and passion for flying.”  says Tecnam’s chief sales officer, Walter Da Costa.

Center Air Pilot Academy in Denmark took delivery of the first of a total of seven Tecnam aircraft at AERO 22. The school purchased five P-Mentors and two twin-engine P2006T MKIIs. 

“At Center Air Pilot Academy, we are constantly looking for solutions to develop and improve our flight training," Simon Frost, Center Air Pilot Academy Co. owner and chief instructor, said in a statement. 

"Concerning our analysis for our next generation aircraft fleet, we have focused on safety, technology and environmental costs without compromising our high-quality flight training. The Tecnam aircraft far exceeded the competition in our analysis. The P2006T MKII and the P-Mentor, with their low fuel consumptions, will help us significantly in reducing our total carbon dioxide emission compared to our current fleet and comparable aircraft. With this fleet renewal our flight training continues to evolve and creates the best possible environment for our students, to commence world-class training becoming commercial airline pilots."

The P2006T offers a modern Garmin avionics suite, integrating all primary flight, navigation, communication and terrain data on two high-definition LCDs. The P2006T is also equipped with an S-Tec 55x high-performance, two-axis autopilot, with advanced features.

The aircraft is fitted with two Rotax 912S3 engines, and can be operated on avgas and mogas 95 octane fuel, leading to huge cost savings, offering the best training for multi-engine, variable pitch and retractable landing gear ratings under EASA regulations.

In a media release Tecnam said, "The choice of Center Air Pilot is not only a purchasing of new aircraft, it is joining a new philosophy in Flight Training. This fleet renewal will improve the quality of training while limiting its cost for students and better preserving the natural environment. Recent study shows that flight schools operating with Tecnam single and twin-engine fleet can reduce emissions by up to 60 percent: 10 tons of CO₂ for each student by the time they receive their commercial pilot license."

Bartolini Air, a group of EASA-certified aviation companies offering flight training, private jet charter and management, aircraft sales and maintenance has been chosen by Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, to become an approved training partner. 

Bartolini Air has selected the Tecnam P-Mentor for its Ryanair Mentored Programme. The program is designed to create pilots for the airline, training them from student to airline ready. 

Bartolini Air has been using Tecnam aircraft since 2010. At the moment, it operates 14 Tecnam models.

“This is not the first time that we have trusted Tecnam to implement innovative solutions in our pilot training,” said Bartolini Air’s president Bartlomiej Walas. “I have no doubt that the arrival of the P-Mentor in our fleet will only confirm our ability to offer the highest quality training throughout the course in just one single aircraft.”

Ryanair’s director of sustainability, Thomas Fowler, is pleased with his airline’s choice.

“We are delighted to see that our approved partner flight school, Bartolini Air, who trains our future pilots on the Ryanair Mentored Programme, are investing in the newest generation aircraft P-Mentor from Tecnam which will have a hugely positive impact on the environment thanks to a 60 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to current IFR training planes and a fuel consumption of 14 litres per hour, which means a 50-percent reduction compared to standard training planes,” Fowler said in a statement.

Tecnam managing director Giovanni Pascale Langer said, “The P-Mentor has already generated great interest among forward-thinking flight training organizations like Bartolini Air who trust Tecnam design, fine flying qualities combined with state-of-art avionics and perhaps most of all, its impressive fuel consumption and CO₂ emission cuts. We see this as important steps not only for flight training centers, but in the future aviation industry across all its segments.”