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The skies are looking brighter for students in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology’s Department of Aviation, as the University welcomes six brand-new 2025 Cirrus SR20 aircraft to its fleet. The over $4 million investment marks a significant milestone in the program’s continued growth and commitment to student success.

The new aircraft are not just additions to the aircraft training fleet but represent a strategic move to expand student opportunities, enhance safety and modernize training with the latest aviation technology. With these new planes, the University’s flight program now operates 21 training aircraft, allowing for increased enrollment and providing students with access to industry-leading equipment.

“These airplanes are an essential part of our flight training program growth,” said Patrick J. Fox, Ph.D., P.E., BC.GE, F.ASCE, dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. “This addition not only allows us to train with the best technology but also allows us to accommodate more students. We have a significant waitlist for our flight program, and we plan to grow our faculty and staff in response to this demand.”

Each of the four-seat Cirrus SR20s is outfitted with cutting-edge features, including Garmin Pilot avionics, Synthetic Vision Technology on 10-inch displays, Sirius XM weather and audio, engine and fuel monitoring and autopilot systems. The aircraft also includes the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), a whole-aircraft parachute designed to safely lower the plane in emergencies and a 4-point safety harness with airbags—making them among the safest training aircraft on the market.

The 200-horsepower aircraft will also allow for students to fly cross-country while the seating provides space for observers in addition to the pilot and instructor. 

“Flight school graduates nationally often struggle to adapt to advanced technology in the field,” said Deak Arch, chair and associate professor of Aviation. “By narrowing that gap during training, we’re giving our students a true advantage as they enter the workforce. Safety was another critical factor—we chose one of the safest and most advanced training platforms available.”

The arrival of the Cirrus aircraft comes at a pivotal time in the aviation industry. With the flight program operating at full capacity and demand surging, it was clear that expanding the fleet was essential to continue offering students a high-quality education. After an extensive search for used aircraft that met program standards turned up short, the decision was made to invest in new planes with the latest technology.

​The demand for pilots is currently at a historic high, driven by a combination of factors including rapid airline expansion, an aging workforce and surging air travel post-pandemic. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the global aviation industry will require approximately 674,000 new pilots between 2024 and 2043 to meet these needs. In North America alone, the shortage is projected to reach 30,000 pilots by 2032. This shortage has led to increased competition among airlines, resulting in higher salaries and enhanced recruitment efforts to attract new talent into the profession.

Students will use the new aircraft primarily for advanced flight courses, transitioning to the Cirrus during their Commercial, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument (CFII) training. They’ll begin their education in the program’s Piper Warriors and Cessnas before stepping up to the high-performance Cirrus models as their skills progress.

“This purchase not only expands our capacity—it modernizes our fleet to reflect the evolving aviation industry,” said Arch.

The Cirrus SR20s are the first major aircraft addition since 2008 and mark a new chapter for the aviation program—one where students are better equipped, better trained and more ready than ever to take flight in their careers.