China’s Sichuan Longhao Flight Training Co. Orders 20 Cessna Skyhawks For Pilot Training

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Chinese flight academy Sichuan Longhao Flight Training Co. has inked a purchase agreement with Textron Aviation for 20 Skyhawk single-engine piston aircraft for pilot training in southwest and central China. (Photo courtesy of Textron Aviation.)

Textron Aviation will deliver 20 units of what it calls “aviation’s ultimate classroom,” or the Cessna Skyhawk, to China’s Sichuan Longhao Flight Training Co. The Longhao Flight Training School already has 14 Skyhawks, a Cessna Citation M2, and three Skyhawk flight simulators. Textron will deliver the new Skyhawks through 2022; the manufacturer says more than 45,000 of the planes have been delivered since 1955, making it the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history.

A New Generation Of Pilots

Sichuan Longhao is a member of Longhao Group Co. based in Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, which owns numerous subsidiary companies across multiple industries. It owns aviation construction companies, cargo airline services, and general aviation and pilot training businesses. Launched in 2017, Sichuan Longhao Pilot Training Co. will use the new Skyhawks for primary pilot training in southwest and central China. Textron says the number of licensed pilots in China has increased in recent years due to the General Office of the State Council’s efforts to accelerate pilot development and training.

“With a long-standing relationship with Longhao, this order demonstrates its support and confidence in Textron Aviation and our products,” says Mike Shih, Textron Aviation vice president of sales and strategy in China. “We are pleased to be part of the efforts in China to cultivate new generations of pilots and promote the common development of aviation under the current 14th Five-Year Plan. Flight schools in the region continue to leverage the unique strengths and capabilities of the Cessna Skyhawk to support the need of pilots in China.”

Chinese leaders approved the 14th Five-Year Plan in March 2021. The plan covers a period from 2021 to 2025, outlining various social, economic, environmental, industrial, and other priorities, and also details long-term goals extending through 2035.

Built To Train

The Skyhawk is an apt training craft featuring large wraparound windows, LED lighting throughout the cabin, and dual USB ports in the cockpit. It’s available in three-seat training and standard four-seat configurations.

The plane’s Lycoming piston engine is rated for 180 horsepower (134 kilowatts). The Skyhawk has a 1,185-kilometre (640-nautical-mile) range and a maximum cruise speed of 230 km/h (124 ktas). A Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system featuring wireless connectivity and standard angle-of-attack display system are included.

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Source: Textron Aviation