Ethiopian academy selects turbo diesel for its C172 Skyhawk fleet

The new CD-155 engines will replace avgas-burning Lycoming engines and are made in the German plant of Continental Motors. The engines will be installed by Africair, an accredited Centurion Diesel Master Installation Center.
“I am delighted by Africair’s decision to replace Lycoming avgas engines with Continental’s jet-fuel CD-155 engines," said Ken Suda, President, Continental Motors Germany.
"First and foremost, it underscores the fact diesel is the right choice, now, and for the future. Not only is Africair independent from expensive, and increasingly scarce avgas in many markets, but Africair’s customers will also enjoy the benefits of CD-155’s industry-leading quality and reliability, fuel efficiency, and ease of operation."
Lynne Keller, President of Africair, said, “Africair has a long history of supporting Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy dating back to 1977, when their first Skyhawk XP was delivered, and we have been continually supporting their operations ever since.
"Earlier this year, we delivered three diesel equipped Skyhawks to the Academy and we will be installing the Continental Diesel into seven more Cessna Skyhawks starting in early 2015, allowing Ethiopian, one of our most valued customers, the ability to take advantage of diesel power ownership in their flight schools.”
Ethiopian Airlines will use their new diesel 172s to conduct flight training, averaging 6-7 hours per aircraft per day during peak training. Earlier this year, Cessna announced it would be offering the Cessna 172 as new with the Continental Motors CD-155 engine as an option.
Each of the Africair Cessna 172s has a computer port that allows a technician to download engine performance/operational data, which can then be easily reviewed by qualified technicians. The aircraft are also equipped with the Garmin 1000 avionics suite, helping students transition to larger aircraft equipped with advanced glass cockpit displays.
Recently, the Ethiopian Aviation Academy became an Authorized Training Center for the International Air Transport Association (IATA). More than 1,000 candidates currently enrol in the academy per year and plans are underway to increase capacity to 4,000 over the next decade.