The Ethiopian Airlines bought yesterday two, new Diamond DA42 Twin Star, twin engine, propeller-driven airplanes manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries.
The airplanes, which will be used in training new pilots, were bought for 550,000 euro each.
In addition to the previous ten single engine pilot training aircraft, the two DA42 Twin Star planes will upgrade the performance of the trainees, Beza Tesfaye, fleet planning manager of Ethiopian, said.
The new light training aircraft are technologically more advanced than the Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft which served the Ethiopian Airlines for over two decades.
The newly bought Diamond DA42 planes will have a great role in improving the training especially for new pilots, Captain Lemma Tekalegn, head of the Pilot Training School, said.
The new Diamond DA42 training aircraft will replace the old Piper PA-34 Seneca. The investment will enable Ethiopian upgrade the on-going training of pilots.
The pilot Training School of Ethiopian Airlines recently started a Multi Crew Pilot License Training Programme which enables pilots to fly a multi crew, multi engine and technologically advanced aircraft.
The Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy has been providing training programmes for pilots, aviation maintenance technicians, cabin crew and marketing and finance personnel since 1956.
