Over 30 new aircraft coming to ATP Flight School in 2026

Florida-based ATP Flight School, the United States’ largest producer of commercial multi-engine pilots, has begun receiving its 2026 aircraft orders from Piper Aircraft and Textron Aviation. Over 30 new planes are set to join its training fleet this year, with the first delivery—a Garmin G1000 NXi-equipped Piper Seminole—made in January. This expansion underscores ATP’s commitment to meeting rising demand for professionally trained pilots in the aviation sector.

The Piper Seminole, a multi-engine aircraft, has long been a cornerstone of ATP’s training program. With more than 100 Seminole aircraft already in service, the type is celebrated for its reliability and role in building student confidence in multi-engine operations. The Seminole delivery was followed by the first of 27 new Cessna 172 Skyhawks scheduled for 2026, joining existing fleets. Over the past two years, ATP has added 144 factory-new Skyhawks, with orders extending into 2027. These aircraft, known for their durability and advanced avionics, further strengthen ATP’s reputation for offering one of the youngest and most technologically equipped training fleets globally.

Supporting its massive training operations, ATP’s fleet of 658 aircraft flies 600,000 hours annually. This scale is matched by a robust maintenance infrastructure: 26 Tech Ops bases employ predictive and proactive maintenance strategies that exceed regulatory standards, minimizing downtime and ensuring safety. This system is critical to sustaining ATP’s ability to graduate over 2,500 students yearly.

“With ATP training 25% of all regional airline new hire pilots, our investment in fleet growth is crucial in keeping pace with demand for ATP-trained pilots,” said Michael Arnold, ATP’s vice president of Marketing. The expansion ensures students gain experience on industry-relevant aircraft, streamlining their transition to airline careers.