MELBOURNE, Fla. — Florida Tech Aviation marked a milestone Tuesday by adding eight aircraft to its training fleet.

The Piper Pilot 100-I planes arrived at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport to a water-cannon welcome.

"It’s a great step in a new direction for FIT, definitely going to bring in a lot of new students and a lot of prospective students to see these new aircraft," Florida Tech flight instructor Chris Hudak said.

The aviation program has grown from about 240 new students three years ago to more than 700.

Program leaders say they will go on to become pilots in a field that is still experiencing a shortage.

"I’m so proud that we are fulfilling this high-demand need from industry, and we do it with such grace and high quality," Florida Tech President John Nicklow said.

The new planes were purchased for $3 million with a gift from  the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust. Buehler is a longtime Florida Tech supporter.