Sales, Service, Rental And Training Under One Roof
ANN was privileged to be present as Diamond Aircraft set the
flight training standard higher than ever with the opening of
its first Diamond Brilliance Flight Center, in Naples, FL.
Diamond Brilliance operators are designated by Diamond Aircraft
for their provision of "world-class flight training and aircraft
rental services using exclusively Diamond aircraft and flight
training devices." The first center will be operated by
Europe-American Aviation.
"We are committed to providing our customers with the safest,
best-equipped aircraft; superior training; and unparalleled
customer service," said Diamond CEO Christian Dries. "We're
confident Europe-American Aviation will set the Diamond Brilliance
Flight Center apart from the competition."
Europe-American Aviation is an FAA-certified Part 141 school
with a large and growing local and international clientele. The
flight center's fleet will consist of two DA20-C1 aircraft, seven
Garmin G1000-equipped DA40 Diamond Stars, and one
turbo-diesel-powered DA42 Twin Star.
A Diamond-manufactured DA42-specific Level 5 flight training
device will supplement the new aircraft. Diamond says the simulator
is the first installation of its kind in the U.S. It replicates the
aircraft in every detail and incorporates a wraparound visual
system.
ANN's Jim Campbell was the first to sample the newly dedicated
DA-42 FTD, built upon the entire forward section of a DA42
airframe. Campbell reported that, "You literally step into the
forward cockpit of an actual DA42 airframe, providing the ultimate
in 'look and feel' realism necessary to making sure that the
transition from 'simulated' to 'real' is barely discernible. My
short 'flight' through Switzerland was intriguing in that the
flight dynamics I found in our actual DA42 flight test was mimicked
quite accurately in the sim... especially such hard-to-replicate
attributes such as the control pressures and responses in yaw
and roll with particular accurate replication of the yaw/roll
coupling I recall from the flying airplane. The visuals are also
quite striking. It's a wholly impressive system and should serve as
an excellent training device."
"No other manufacturer has a similar fleet line-up," said
Carsten Sturm (pictured below), president and owner of
Europe-American Aviation. "We are excited to offer state-of-the-art
training from ‘zero' time to commercial/instrument
rating."
Europe-American Aviation's affiliate, PrimePlanes Aircraft
Services, will maintain the fleet.
In addition to aircraft training and rental, the Diamond
Brilliance Flight Center will also serve as a showroom for Diamond
products. Premier Aircraft Sales Inc. will handle new aircraft
sales from the Naples location.