Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2018 issue
CARBONDALE, ILL. – The aviation management and flight program at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale on Southern Illinois Airport is upgrading its fleet of aircraft with three new Piper Arrows equipped with state-of-the-art avionics. The aircraft were purchased solely with funds from student flight fees and are part of a fleet of 36 aircraft. University officials believe the new aircraft will attract new students because their glass panels will better prepare them to fly as professional pilots.
The aircraft are equipped with Garmin G500 TXi displays, autopilots and an adjustable pitch propeller.
The flight fees that students pay go toward operating the program, everything from fuel, instructor fees and equipment upgrades.