US-based Piper Aircraft has secured a deal to provide 50 Archer pilot training aircraft from its dealer, China Air Shuttle.

To be manufactured and certificated at Piper Aircraft’s factory in Vero Beach, Florida, the trainers are scheduled to be delivered by the second quarter of this year.

Once delivered, China Air Shuttle’s affiliate company in Rizhao, Shandong Province, will reassemble the aircraft, with Ruixiang Flight Academy being the launch customer.

"We are delighted with the increase in fleet sales to Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia."

Equipped with Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system and other technology, the aircraft will also be distributed to major flight schools and general aviation companies in the region.

Piper Aircraft president and CEO Simon Caldecott said: “As part of Piper’s commitment to the training market, as well as part of our overall growth strategy, we have increased our presence in the Asia Pacific region.

“As a result of our efforts, we are delighted with the increase in fleet sales to Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia.

“We continue to see a growing interest for our trainers worldwide with almost 150 currently on order.”

The company has so far provided 45 Piper Seminoles multi-engine trainers to various Chinese flight training institutions, and sold two Piper PA44 Seminoles to Ruixiang Flight Academy last year.

In addition, China Air Shuttle is planning to order and stock more trainers to meet the growing flight training market in China.

Last November, Piper Aircraft delivered the first of 100 new trainers to the University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences in the US.