All of the training aircraft and simulators are owned, maintained and operated exclusively by the Academy. This ensures uninterrupted aeroplane availability for the benefit of our students.
Our fleet is modern, well-maintained, and aims to give trainee pilots the best operational flying capabilities in the business.
The Piper Warrior III is used for the elementary flight training fleet. The Warriors in our fleet are late model low wing four seat aircraft with 160 hp Lycoming engines. These aircraft are stable, docile, and easy to handle, and perform well with a good climb rate and cruise speed.
The fuel endurance is excellent with very safe reserves for the routes flown, and they are well equipped with modern avionics and features such as standby instrument air system and emergency locator transmitter.
The handling characteristics make the Warrior III an efficient and safe basic training aeroplane. At most major aerodromes you will find Piper Warriors available for hire, which is an advantage for the continued flying of Private Pilots.
The multi-engine fleet is being upgraded by replacing the Piper Seminoles with the Vulcanair P68Rs. This premium twin engine high wing six seat aeroplane is ideal for professional flight training.
The multi-engine training now employs the high quality Italian Vulcanair P68R. This six seat cabin class high wing aeroplane was designed as a multi-engine aeroplane - the pilot sits ahead of the wing and engines with an uninterrupted view above and below, similar to an airliner.
The Vulcanair is equipped with state of the art Garmin G1000 EFIS (Electronic Flight Information System) which is similar to the equipment used in the Boeing 737-800 and the Airbus A320. The quality of design and construction of this aeroplane is outstanding.
The engines are 200 hp fuel injected Lycoming piston engines.
We have our own Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) that handles all routine service and maintenance. This enables us to keep our aircraft in optimum condition and readily available. Students are also able to gain greater insight into the technical aspects of the course.
Progress Flight Academy commissioned the design and construction of two Flight and Navigation Procedures Trainers level II (FNPT II) ‘simulators’ using actual aeroplane forward fuselage sections that replicate precisely the Vulcanair P68R aeroplane. The simulators are built to EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) FNPT II specification from aeroplane components and exactly replicate the aeroplane cockpit. These FNPT II devices qualify for 40 hours instrument flight training credit on an integrated course.
The Garmin G1000 equipment facilitates instrument flight training for the new GPS based instrument approach procedures now becoming prevalent throughout the world and now introduced at Gqeberha-Port Elizabeth International Airport.
All the procedural and operational instrument training is conducted in multi-engine simulators and aeroplanes. This major development enables us to achieve a superlative standard for graduates entering general aviation, and will enhance the transition to First Officer training for airline candidates. Students have the opportunity to practise instrument approach procedures relevant to their own geographic area.
Progress Flight Academy is the only flight school in South Africa using FNPT IIs that precisely replicate the aeroplane used for instrument training.