Purdue University will soon have the only collegiate turbojet pilot training program in the world.

Today university trustees are expected to approve spending more than $8.5 million to replace the entire fleet of the aviation technology department.

The purchase includes one $3.5 million jet plane that will allow all aviation students the distinction of graduating with a Federal Aviation Administration jet rating that no other program can provide.

"Now, we have eight or 10 students a year who graduate after training as a (jet) co-pilot," said Brent Bowen, Department of Aviation Technology head and professor.
"With the new plane, all students will graduate as a pilot in command of a jet plane. ... This will be the only program in the world to add this."

The Purdue Board of Trustees finance committee approved the purchase Thursday during its regular committee meeting. The full Board of Trustees will meet today at 8:30 a.m. in Stewart Center, Room 326 for a final vote.

The total cost, $8,624,046, will be paid from the sale of the current fleet of 18 training planes, two King Air jet planes and the department's own funding.
The new fleet will be fitted with a common operating system designed from the newest technology and designed airframe.

The jet plane will be operated by the system used in single-engine training planes so students will be able to progress more naturally from trainers to jets, Bowen said.
"The King Air is a good plane, but it is a 20-year-old technology," he said.

Dennis Depew, dean of the School of Technology, said the key to advancing the professional flight program is having a technology base that make a seamless interaction between deck display technology, navigation, communications and flight technology.

The planes to be purchased are: one Embraer Phenom 100 jet, two Cirrus SR-22G3 single engine planes, and 14 Cirrus SR-20G3 single engine planes.

Besides the advanced technology, Bowen said the Cirrus planes have a ballistic parachute system intended to support the entire plane in the event of engine failure.

Purdue administration will use the Phenom for business travel as they do the King Airs currently.

Students co-pilot these flights with a command instructor for education experience, Bowen said.

If the trustees approve, Bowen said, the planes will be purchased quickly, but the replacement process will happen in summer 2010.

The current training fleet is about 10 years old, said Mike Suckow, assistant department head in aviation technology. Replacing planes every six to eight years is common, he said.