Scottish commercial flight training provider ACS Aviation has committed to a €3.4 million fleet expansion, signing an agreement with Italian aircraft manufacturer Tecnam for up to 10 new P-Mentor training aircraft — the largest single investment in the academy’s history.
The deal, formalised at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026, comprises four firm aircraft valued at €1.3 million, with options for a further six worth €2.1 million. The expansion is set to grow ACS Aviation’s fleet to 23 aircraft by 2027.
Craig McDonald, Group Technical Director at ACS Aviation, said the order “represents the largest aircraft order in its history and will increase capacity, improve efficiency and ensure training reflects modern airline expectations.”
The Tecnam P-Mentor is a two-seat, IFR-capable trainer equipped with Garmin G3X avionics and a Rotax 912iSc engine. Its design allows students to progress from ab-initio through to instrument training on a single platform, while delivering reduced fuel burn and emissions — a key consideration as flight schools look to modernise their fleets.
The investment comes on the back of significant operational growth. ACS Aviation delivered nearly 15,000 training hours in 2025 and has trained more than 450 pilots since its founding in 2007, reflecting sustained demand for airline-pathway training in Scotland.
The deal was facilitated by Oriens Aviation, whose representative James Cracroft said the order “demonstrates strong confidence in the aircraft’s performance, safety and economics, reflecting increasing demand for next-generation training platforms.”
Pasquale De Rosa, Sales Manager Europe at Tecnam, added that the agreement “highlights the role of the P-Mentor in modernising flight training, with a focus on efficiency, safety and advanced avionics aligned with airline environments.”
The purchase forms part of ACS Aviation’s broader growth strategy, scaling training capacity while maintaining a modern, efficient fleet positioned to meet the pipeline demand of commercial aviation.
