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NEWS RELEASE
NOTE: Embry-Riddle no longer administers this program. CAPT Program at Embry-Riddle Marks Successful First Year, Adds Diesel-Engine Diamond Aircraft
"CAPT's first two graduates received their Boeing MD-90 EFD captain's type ratings and finished the program in May of this year," says Paul Woessner, executive director of the CAPT Program. "Both of them are interviewing with the same airline and are likely to be hired soon. We should have six more graduates this fall." Developed in cooperation with domestic airlines, CAPT is a unique fast-track airline-specific training program that blends proficiency-based flight training, aeronautical academics, and advanced simulation for individuals who want to become regional airline pilots. For students with zero flight time, the program can take as little as one year. CAPT will become the first U.S. customer of the DA42 Twin Star when it adds three of them to its fleet in late 2004. A twin-engine propeller aircraft with four seats, the Twin Star is the world's first airplane to feature a diesel engine that burns jet fuel, full-authority digital engine control (FADEC), and the Garmin G1000 all-glass instrument panel. "CAPT cadets will find that using the Twin Star's advanced all-glass avionics and FADEC engine controls quickly and thoroughly prepares them for the Boeing MD-90 EFD jetliner, which uses similar systems," says Woessner. "This process will really smooth the way for CAPT cadets to earn the captain's type rating in that jetliner, which is required for graduation. The whole package makes each CAPT cadet a perfect new-hire for an airline." The Twin Star's diesel engines burn jet fuel instead of the aviation gas used by piston-engine aircraft, thereby saving money and acclimating students to managing engines that burn jet fuel. With the FADEC system, the pilot moves only one lever to control each engine. The computer automatically adjusts the pitch of the propeller, the fuel mixture, and other elements the pilot would have to control manually in a conventional piston-engine aircraft. The sophisticated FADEC system has previously been available only in advanced jet aircraft. The Twin Star's completely computerized Garmin G1000 instrument panel uses two large flat-panel screens to present all navigation, instrument, and aircraft information to the pilot, replacing old-style analog instruments. "We are delighted that Embry-Riddle will be our first U.S. customer because its reputation sends a message to other potential customers," says Peter Maurer, president of Diamond Aircraft. "Embry-Riddle's demand for safety and excellence tells the aviation world that while the Twin Star is new and revolutionary, its design and engines are solid and trustworthy." Besides Diamond aircraft and a Boeing MD-90 EFD Level-D full-flight simulator, the CAPT Program also uses Frasca 142 and Mechtronix King Air flight-training devices. In late 2004 CAPT will move to a new airline-style facility built to its specifications at Flagler County Airport, which is located 30 miles north of Daytona Beach. To learn more, call (877) 577-CAPT or go to www.captprogram.org. Diamond Aircraft is a leading manufacturer of two-place and four-place single-engine and twin-engine aircraft designed for both training and personal use. Diamond Aircraft is a pioneer in applying modern technology, such as composite airframe construction, glass-panel instrumentation, and innovative powerplants, including the world's first certified jet-fuel-burning turbo diesel piston engine in a modern airframe. Two Diamond factories, combining more than 500,000 square feet of production facilities, are currently producing more than 300 aircraft per year. Diamond Aircraft has delivered more than 2,500 composite certified aircraft since 1981. The Diamond Aircraft website is www.diamondair.com. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 degree programs through its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering and meets the needs of students and industry through educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates more than 28,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., through its Extended Campus at more than 130 teaching centers in the United States and Europe, and worldwide through distance learning. |
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