Akagera Aviation welcomes two new Diamond aircraft

Akagera Aviation Flying Academy, based at Kigali International Airport (Rwanda), recently took delivery of one twin-engine DA42-VI and one single-engine DA40 NG Tundra version. These are the first Diamond aircraft for the flight school.

(fltr) Carl-Mikael Lang (Aircraft Delivery Manager) and Martin Scherrer (Head of Flight Operations) from Diamond Aircraft Austria who ferried the aircraft to Kigali handed over the keys to Faustin Muhunde (Quality & Safety Manager, Akagera Aviation)

Akagera’s brand-new DA40 NG Tundra and DA42-VI at their new home Kigali International Airport, Rwanda

According to Akagera Aviation they chose Diamond Aircraft for its pilot training fleet due to three main reasons:

• Fleet commonality: Diamond Aircraft is the only sole source supplier for single and multi-engine trainer aircraft, as well as flight simulators and proprietary engines. Offering huge advantages such as minimized instructor standardization, rapid student transition, streamlined maintenance procedures and reduced parts inventory.
• Jet-fuel powered aircraft: jet-fuel is easy to get and much cheaper than AvGas in Rwanda. Furthermore, Akagera Aviation will benefit from fuel and operational cost efficiencies with a lower environmental impact.
• Next generation aircraft: Akagera Aviation found Diamond aircraft to be the right aircraft to train next generation pilots.

“This delivery is just the beginning of many more aircraft and flight simulator(s) to follow, and we strongly believe Diamond Aircraft will help us achieve our goal of becoming a Center of Excellence in the region,” says Patrick Nkulikiyimfura, Managing Director, Akagera Aviation.

The DA40 NG and the DA42-VI represent the newest versions of Diamond’s technology leading piston aircraft fleet, the first certified general aviation piston aircraft to combine modern technology (composite) airframes, avionics and powerplants.

The DA40 NG and DA42-VI are equipped with efficient, clean and reliable jet-fuel piston Austro engines and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics systems, representing the very best of modern piston aircraft technology. The DA40 NG Tundra version features reinforced landing gear attachments, standard Beringer wheels wearing meaty 22 inch 8.50 x 6 mains, and a special long stroke hydraulic damper, controlling the extra heavy duty extended nose gear strut, soak up rough terrain with ease.

„We are proud to welcome Akagera Aviation to our long list of renowned flight school customers and are looking forward to support them on their future journey,” says Jane Wang, Sales Director, Diamond Aircraft Austria. “Akagera Aviation will not only utilize the most modern piston training aircraft technology available but also take advantage of Diamond’s operational cost efficiencies, low environmental impact and best safety record in the industry.”

Akagera Aviation and Diamond Aircraft are exhibiting together at the Aviation Africa 2022 conference booth no. 9 and 10, taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention center in Kigali (Rwanda) from 12 – 13 September.

About Diamond Aircraft’s Flight Training Solution
Diamond’s dedication to flight training has shaped its product line of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind. With its complete line of piston aircraft including a dedicated flight training concept with Single Engine Piston (DA40 NG) and Multi Engine Piston (DA42-VI) trainers, along with type-specific flight training simulators and proprietary jet-fuel engines, Diamond Aircraft is the only sole source provider in the flight training market. For more information, please click here.

About Akagera Aviation
Akagera Aviation is a Rwandan company with the vision to become a Center of Excellence in aviation training in East and Central Africa. Its mission is to spearhead aviation industry development in Rwanda, the region and beyond. The company started its operations in 2004 and holds not only Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority ATO certificate but also AMO and AOC certificates. Akagera Aviation Flying Academy has already trained a good number of pilots for the national carrier RwandAir, and helicopter pilots for different clients. For more information, please visit: www.akageraaviation.com