Flight Training Adelaide, which trains cadets for airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Qantas, QantasLink, JAL Express and J-Air, has ordered eight firm and 18 optional Diamond DA40 light single-engine aircraft for its Parafield, Australia base. The contract was signed with Diamond Aircraft in conjunction with Australian distributor Hawker Pacific, which will provide after-sales support.

The first four of eight 2012 deliveries will be made in mid-2012. Meanwhile, the options, if exercised, are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014. The DA40s will replace Socata TB-10s and Grob 115s. The new aircraft offer “the technology we desire and simplicity of operation and maintenance,” said Pine Pienaar, CEO of Flight Training Adelaide.

The Garmin G1000 full glass cockpit “provides the perfect introduction for cadets and is an easy transition to our DA42 twins,” Pienaar pointed out. The after-sales support to be provided by Hawker Pacific, was “an important element of the decision,” he added.