Farmingdale College spends $1M on 3 planes

A $1-million purchase of three new Piper training planes will modernize the aviation program at Farmingdale State College and allow for expansion of New York’s only public professional pilot training program, school officials said.

Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York, and Farmingdale State President Hubert Keen will attend as the new planes are unveiled at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Aviation Center at Republic Airport.

The planes — two Piper Warriors and a Piper Arrow — use glass cockpit technology featuring computerized displays in place of dials or gauges, and modern automation platforms.

There are 160 students enrolled in the Aviation Department, which also includes airport management and air cargo programs. The new planes will increase capacity in the professional pilot program from 80 to 125 students.