“We’re thrilled that ATP has chosen the Skyhawk time and time again to train its new pilots,” said Doug May, vice president, Piston Aircraft. “To meet the growing demand for pilots, flight schools need a proven, robust training platform, and that is exactly what the Skyhawk provides. We look forward to continuing to support training programs like ATP and the next generation of pilots.”

Deliveries of the new Skyhawks, integrated with next-generation Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, will begin in the third quarter. ATP’s order supplements its 2016 purchase of 15 similarly equipped Skyhawks.

“With demand for airline pilots reaching unprecedented levels, increasing training capacity is vital to ensure a stable pipeline of pilots to the nation’s regional airlines,” said Justin Dennis, vice president, ATP Flight School. “The Skyhawk offers time-tested dispatch reliability. These new aircraft will provide Airline Career Pilot Program students with the platform they need for successful, efficient airline career training.”

About ATP Flight School – Training Pilots Since 1984

ATP’s Airline Career Pilot Program prepares pilots for airline careers from zero time to 1,500 hours, with CFI jobs and airline employment. Addressing the pilot shortage, airlines attract new pilots to the industry with ATP’s Tuition Reimbursement Program, where airlines sponsor a portion of pilots’ flight training loan repayment. ATP also provides type-rating and ATP CTP certification. ATP’s 300 aircraft fly over 185,000 hours annually to provide nearly 5,200 FAA pilot certificates each year. As America’s largest flight school, ATP is the leading supplier of professionally trained pilots to the nation’s regional airlines.

About the Cessna Skyhawk 172

The Skyhawk platform is the world standard for pilot training and is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the leading Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system with wireless connectivity, a standard Angle-of-Attack display system, and proven dependability. The aircraft’s high-wing design enables superior flying characteristics ideally suited for pilot training. More Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 44,000 put into service.

About Textron Aviation Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. For more than 90 years, the Textron Aviation brands have represented unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership in the industry, offering an unmatched value proposition rooted in the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service organization. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 143 countries. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information, visit www.txtav.com.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.