Aircraft Leasing for University Flight Programs
Fly modern Tecnam training aircraft without the capital expenditure. Dry leasing converts aircraft purchases into predictable operating costs – keeping your budget flexible and your fleet current.
Why Universities Choose Leasing
University aviation programs face unique budget realities – long procurement cycles, capital budget constraints, and the pressure to keep pace with industry standards. Leasing eliminates the capital expenditure and replaces it with a manageable operating line item.
Smarter Resource Allocation
Stop tying up capital budgets in depreciating aircraft. Leasing converts a major capital expenditure into a predictable monthly operating cost – freeing resources for instructors, simulators, facilities, and the things that actually drive student outcomes.
Modern Training Standards
Give students access to the latest glass-cockpit aircraft that align with modern airline training requirements. Stay current without the depreciation risk of ownership.
Scalable Fleet Growth
Scale your fleet as enrollment grows – without going back to the capital budget. Leasing keeps your aircraft costs on the operating side of the ledger, so expanding from two aircraft to five is a business decision, not a procurement battle.
What If You Brought Flight Training In-House?
Many universities outsource their flight training to third-party providers – paying premium rates while missing out on a major revenue opportunity. Here is what happens when a university decides to bring it in-house with leased aircraft.
Ridgemont State University - Aviation Program
The Situation
Ridgemont State has a well-known aviation management degree and 120 students enrolled in flight courses each year. But the university does not operate its own aircraft – instead, students are sent to SkyBridge Flight Academy, a third-party school 20 minutes from campus, paying roughly $65,000 per student for their complete flight training package.
The university collects tuition but passes most of the flight training revenue straight to SkyBridge. They have the brand, the students, and the demand – but someone else is making the money.
The Move
Ridgemont leases 6 Tecnam P-Mentors and 2 P2006T twins from Nesher Aviation on a 5-year dry lease. They hire 8 CFIs, designate an existing campus hangar for operations, and launch Ridgemont Flight – their own Part 141 flight school, fully owned and operated by the university.
Total monthly lease cost for 8 aircraft: a predictable operating expense. No aircraft purchase. No debt on the balance sheet. No capital committee approvals for a multi-million dollar fleet acquisition.
The Result
Instead of paying SkyBridge $65,000 per student, Ridgemont now charges students the same tuition – but keeps the revenue in-house. With 120 students per year and dramatically lower per-student operating costs, the university generates significant net revenue from flight training that previously went entirely to a third party.
The program pays for itself in the first year. By year two, Ridgemont Flight is one of the most profitable divisions in the College of Aviation. The university controls the curriculum, the schedule, the student experience – and the economics.
The takeaway: Ridgemont already had the students and the demand. All they needed was the fleet – without the capital expenditure. Leasing made it possible.
This is a hypothetical scenario for illustration purposes. Actual results depend on program size, structure, and market conditions. Contact us to model your specific opportunity.
Purpose-Built for Academic Training
Our Tecnam aircraft are the preferred choice of university programs worldwide. The P-Mentor and P2006T feature glass cockpits with Garmin G3X avionics, preparing students for modern airline environments from day one.
With exceptional fuel efficiency, low operating costs, and outstanding safety records, these aircraft help universities deliver world-class training while maintaining operational efficiency. Nesher also covers engine overhaul costs – one of the largest line items in fleet operations.
Let's Build Your Program's Future Fleet
Whether you’re launching a new aviation program or modernizing an existing fleet, Nesher Aviation has the aircraft and expertise to support your mission.