LIFT Academy flight training program expands partnership with Diamond Aircraft Industries with additional aircraft order

Leadership in Flight Training (LIFT) Academy took delivery of an additional Diamond training aircraft, growing its Diamond Aircraft Industries fleet to 47 aircraft to include two DA20 aircraft. LIFT Academy, which trains nearly 300 flight students annually, is the largest U.S. operator of Diamond aircraft & has one of the newest, most technologically advanced fleets in the nation. It also has an option for 50 additional aircraft.

“We were strategic in choosing Diamond for their aircraft’s demonstrated safety & technological similarity to an airline jet, the company’s approach to cutting-edge technology & our shared vision in creating an aviation career pathway that people find accessible & rewarding,” Ed Bagden, LIFT Academy’s Director of Operations & Academic Programs, shared. “From day one, Diamond has believed in our mission of becoming the top flight training academy in the U.S. both in our career development pathways & quality of training.”

LIFT Academy, located at the Indianapolis International Airport, partnered exclusively with Diamond Aircraft Industries in 2018 as it launched its flight training program with brand new DA40 NG single-engine aircraft & Diamond DA42-VI twin-engine aircraft. Just three years later, LIFT has become one of the largest flight training institutions in the country & its students have operated more than 110,000 training hours on the fleet.

“LIFT has been an excellent partner for us & it has been a thrill to see LIFT students excel in this innovative program, which takes students from zero time to fully qualified airline pilots while training on our aircraft,” Annemarie Mercedes Heikenwälder, Sales & Marketing Director of Diamond Aircraft Canada, said. “Adding the DA20 to their portfolio is a testament to the strong partnership we have & the quality of aircraft we deliver.”

Similar to all the aircraft currently in LIFT’s fleet, the brand new DA20s will be equipped with Garmin G500 avionics & are fuel-efficient, burning 3.2 gallons of fuel per hour.

About Diamond Aircraft’s Flight Training Solution
Diamond’s dedication to flight training has shaped its product line of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind. With its complete line of piston aircraft including a dedicated flight training concept with Single Engine Piston (DA40 NG) & Multi Engine Piston (DA42-VI) trainers, along with type-specific flight training simulators & proprietary jet-fuel engines, Diamond Aircraft is the only sole source provider in the flight training market.

About LIFT Academy
Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy is a U.S.-based commercial aviation pilot training school owned & operated by Republic Airways. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, LIFT revolutionizes commercial aviation training, utilizing state-of-the-art, eco-friendly training technologies & systems to educate future aviators. Students receive instruction from experienced pilots, under FAA & industry standards, with the most advanced equipment & curriculum that combines flight, flight simulator, online & in-classroom training. LIFT Academy students train on a fleet of advanced new aircraft & flight simulators produced by Diamond Aircraft Industries, including the DA40 single-engine, the DA42 twin-engine aircraft & now the DA20, as well as Diamond Flight Simulator Training Devices (FSTD) built to achieve the most realistic cockpit simulation environment. LIFT offers its graduates a defined pathway to a pilot career at Republic Airways.