UND Aerospace purchases record order from Piper Aircraft

Over next eight years, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences will replace its fleet with 145 new aircraft

Last month, UND signed a contract with Piper Aircraft Inc. to update the University’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences fleet of aircraft — the largest domestic training order in the company’s history.

The contract, which is set to deliver 145 aircraft over eight years starting in 2027, replaces UND’s existing agreement with Piper, signed in 2016. It will update the fleet at both the Odegard School’s Grand Forks and Mesa, Ariz., campuses.

The agreement also allows UND to pursue a two-year extension through 2036, with the potential to buy up to 188 total aircraft.

Robert Kraus, dean of the Odegard School, said Piper has a long history of partnering with UND — and a reputation for reliability and strong customer support.

“Piper remains a vital partner in the continued success of flight training at UND,” Kraus said. “We look forward to strengthening this collaboration as we prepare the next generation of pilots for careers in the airlines, business aviation and the U.S. military.

“The entire Piper team has been outstanding — responsive to our needs and collaborative in enhancing the components and capabilities of the Archer and Seminole fleets,” he added.

Once the new aircraft arrive, Kraus said, older planes in UND’s fleet will either be leased or sold.

“Our maintenance team has done an outstanding job taking care of the aircraft over the years, and the new owners will be able to use them for years to come,” Kraus said.

Headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla., Piper Aircraft Inc. specializes in manufacturing single and twin-engine aircraft such as the Archer TX and Seminole. Both are fixtures of the Odegard School’s fleet, said Director of Flight Operations Jeremy Roesler.

“The aircraft are dependable and play a big part in keeping our students safe in all their phases of pilot training,” Roesler said. “Without a doubt, Piper is the leading manufacturer for the commercial pilot training community.”

Kraus added that the new aircraft will have an added benefit of an improved Garmin datalink system, which will facilitate transferring information from the aircraft into the college’s databases. Such a practice will improve safety and maintenance analysis.