Story ID: 
Embry-Riddle Looks to Restock Cessna Skyhawk Fleet
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: Embry-Riddle's memorandum of understanding calls for the purchase of at least 60 Cessna Skyhawks between 2019 and 2022.
Word Count: 192
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has agreed to purchase at least 60 Cessna Skyhawks over the next four years, Textron Aviation announced Thursday at EAA AirVenture. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the two parties earlier this week includes options for more airplanes, according to Textron.

“In keeping with Embry-Riddle’s rigorous focus on aviation safety, new aircraft for our fleet were selected following an exhaustive evaluation by a team of experts on both our Prescott, Arizona, and Daytona Beach, Florida, campuses,” Embry-Riddle president P. Barry Butler said. “We are honored to extend our successful 21-year relationship with Textron Aviation to replenish the Embry-Riddle fleet with Skyhawk aircraft, to provide our students with a highly effective and reliable training platform that will serve them well.”

Since 2014, the university has purchased more than 75 airplanes from Textron Aviation, mostly Skyhawks. This new MOU serves to refresh the school’s fleet of Skyhawks. 

“Textron Aviation continues to build on its strong relationship with Embry-Riddle going back more than 20 years, and we look forward to helping train the next generation of pilots,” Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper said.