Is the Piper Arrow still required for the FAA commercial single-engine checkride?

No. The FAA revised the commercial single-engine practical test standards in 2018 and removed the complex-aircraft requirement, so a complex airframe such as the Arrow is no longer required to demonstrate proficiency on the checkride. The Arrow remains a common training airframe at Part 141 programmes that retain a complex training block in their CPL syllabus.

What is the difference between the Arrow II, Arrow III, and Arrow IV?

The Arrow II (1972–1976) was a stretched-fuselage development of the original Arrow. The Arrow III (1977–1979) added the semi-tapered wing common to the Warrior and Archer. The Arrow IV (1979–1990) added the T-tail. The current production PA-28R-201 Arrow continues the conventional-tail Arrow III configuration with modern Garmin avionics.

Is the Piper Arrow a complex aircraft?

Yes. The Arrow has retractable tricycle gear, a constant-speed Hartzell propeller, and trailing-edge flaps — all three elements required to meet the FAR 61.31 complex definition. A complex endorsement is required to act as PIC of the type.

How much does a Piper Arrow cost to operate?

Hourly direct operating cost typically lands between $170 and $240 per hour for an Arrow burning 100LL at 10 gph, including fuel, engine and propeller overhaul reserves, and a gear-actuator maintenance reserve, but excluding hangar, insurance, capital, and instructor. Wet rental rates at US flight schools generally fall between $220 and $360 per hour, roughly 1.4–1.6x the equivalent Archer rate.

Piper Aircraft

PA-28R Arrow

Single-engine pistonComplex trainerPre-1980 classicin production

Power: 200 hp
Cruise: 137 kt
MTOW: 2,750 lb
Range: 880 nm
Fuel: 100LL avgas

Reference data only — never for flight planning or operational use.

This entry is a fleet-research reference for flight school operators. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook), the manufacturer's latest service documents, and the relevant FAA / EASA TCDS for any operational decision — flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, regulatory compliance, or maintenance scheduling. Numbers shown here are POH-typical for the family's representative variant under standard conditions and are not a substitute for type- and airframe-specific data.

Editorial confidence: Medium confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

2 primary sources cited. Spec data is partially attributed; some operating details are editorial synthesis pending additional research.

View 3 disclaimers specific to this entry

Performance data
Reference data only — never use this entry for flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, or any operational decision. Numbers shown are POH-typical for the family's representative variant and standard conditions. Real-world numbers vary by airframe age, weight, density altitude, engine condition, and configuration. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH and the manufacturer's latest service documents.
Cost data
Cost ranges are illustrative reference figures for fleet planning. Actual acquisition, rental, and operating costs vary substantially by region, airframe age, engine and avionics generation, and local market conditions. Numbers should be validated against current quotes from local brokers, schools, and maintenance providers before any commercial decision.
Operator list
Operator lists capture schools and programmes we know to fly the type at scale. Lists are not exhaustive, may include operators that have changed fleets since publication, and should be treated as starting points for verification rather than current customer lists.

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)137 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)178 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)55 kt
Climb rate831 fpm
Service ceiling16,200 ft
Range880 nm
Endurance6 h
Takeoff roll1,025 ft
Landing roll1,525 ft

Weights

MTOW2,750 lb
Empty weight1,735 lb
Useful load1,015 lb
Baggage capacity200 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan35.4 ft
Length24.7 ft
Height8 ft
Cabin width41.5 in

Powerplant

EngineLycoming IO-360-C1C6 — 200 hp · 100LL · 10 gph
Total horsepower200 hp
Primary fuel100LL avgas
Unleaded pathG100UL eligible (STC available)

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeglass
Autopilot commonly availableYes
Typical packages
- Garmin G1000 NXi— modern (current new-build)
- Garmin G500 / G3X retrofits— common modern retrofit
- Six-pack analog with KX-155 / KAP-140— 1970s–1990s airframes

Certification

RegulatoryFAR Part 23 · EASA CS-23
Certified rolesNormal category · Utility category
IFRYes
Spin approvedNo
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelNo
Complex (FAR 61.31)Yes
High-performance (FAR 61.31)No

Why is the PA-28R Arrow popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Regulatory fit

Retractable gear, constant-speed propeller, and adjustable flaps qualify the Arrow as a complex aircraft per FAR 61.31 — the canonical FAA single-engine complex trainer for five decades.

Industry network effects

Used by virtually every Part 141 commercial programme to satisfy the 14 CFR 61.129 complex requirement until the FAA removed that requirement from the commercial single-engine practical test in 2018.

Production volume

Approximately 6,800 PA-28R airframes built across the Arrow II / III / IV / Turbo / current production line; production has continued at Piper's Vero Beach facility through 2025.

Operating economics

Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 has a published 2,000-hour TBO; rental rates commonly priced 1.4–1.6x the equivalent Archer to absorb the retract maintenance overhead.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

Schools running the Arrow typically configure it as a complex / commercial-track airframe paired with a Warrior or Archer ab-initio fleet. Engine reserves track against the IO-360-C1C6 2,000-hour TBO; propeller, landing-gear actuator, and gear-rigging cycles are commonly tracked as separate child components in the maintenance module. The complex endorsement requirement is modelled as a per-pilot validation that gates booking creation if the endorsement is missing.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebilling

Sources

Provenance for the data on this entry. Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Piper Aircraft
https://www.piper.com/aircraft/
Piper Arrow product page.
Primary sourceFAA TCDS·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/2A13
FAA TCDS 2A13 covers PA-28R variants.
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

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