TWO P-MENTORS EXPAND ADELAIDE AVIATION’S CASA PART 141 FLEET TO 13 AIRCRAFT

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam has announced that Adelaide Aviation, a CASA Part 141 approved flight training organisation based at South Australia’s Parafield Airport (YPPF), has selected the Tecnam P-Mentor as its primary trainer and taken immediate delivery of two aircraft. The delivery was facilitated by Hallmarc Aviation, Tecnam’s authorised Australian representative, which operates out of Melbourne’s Essendon Fields Airport. With the addition of the two P-Mentors, Adelaide Aviation will operate a total of 13 aircraft supported by nine instructors, serving domestic and international students across private, commercial and airline career training pathways.

Founded in 2020, Adelaide Aviation has grown steadily from start-up to a regionally significant training provider, and the selection of the P-Mentor follows what the school’s CEO described as a thorough multi-platform evaluation. Sherman Anthoney, CEO of Adelaide Aviation, said the P-Mentor stood out because it combined outstanding flying characteristics with next-generation technology, and an exceptional balance between innovation, safety and operational capability. He specifically cited the Garmin G3X Touch flight deck, constant-speed propeller, modern systems architecture and optional ballistic parachute recovery system as exposing students to contemporary technology while maintaining the safe handling qualities required of a primary trainer.

THE P-MENTOR: A SINGLE PLATFORM FOR AB INITIO TO INSTRUMENT TRAINING

The Tecnam P-Mentor is a two-seat, low-wing, single-engine aircraft with full CS-23 EASA and FAA IFR certification, powered by the Rotax 912iSc engine of 100 horsepower. Its design positions it as a single-platform solution covering the full arc of ab initio, private pilot, commercial and instrument training — a significant operational economy for flight schools seeking to reduce fleet complexity while maintaining the full range of training outcomes. Anthoney also highlighted the aircraft’s minimal environmental footprint, fuel efficiency, low noise levels and long endurance as attributes well matched to high-frequency training operations. He credited Hallmarc Aviation’s support and guidance over many years as a further factor in the decision.

Walter De Costa, Tecnam Global Sales and Marketing Director, said the P-Mentor was proving popular worldwide with forward-looking flight schools seeking the best of all worlds. Michael Loccisano, CEO of Hallmarc Aviation, said Adelaide Aviation had gone from strength to strength since Hallmarc’s first contact with the school several years ago, and that the acquisition of the two P-Mentors would position Adelaide Aviation as the flight school of choice in South Australia. The school’s total fleet of 13 aircraft, supported by nine instructors, positions it as a material presence in Australian general aviation training for students seeking careers in both domestic and international aviation.