Lufthansa Aviation Training-Diamond Sign LOI

Diamond Aircraft, the Chinese-owned, Austrian-built manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, and Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT), the flight-academy subsidiary of German flag-carrier, Lufthansa, have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) expressing the two entities’ intention to jointly explore and develop means by which flight-training may be undertaken more sustainably.

The cooperative effort includes: testing of Diamond’s all-electric eDA40 single-engine, four-seat aircraft in real-world training environments; an intention on the part of LAT to purchase a number eDA40 airplanes with which to supplement its existing fleet of DA40 NG aircraft; and analyses germane to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

The LOI speaks to Diamond Aircraft’s and LAT’s shared commitment to meeting the targets of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) European Green Deal and Sustainable Aviation Program.

Lufthansa Aviation Training CEO Matthias Spohr stated: "We have enjoyed a long and trusting partnership with Diamond Aircraft. Diamond Aircraft's fuel-efficient DA40 and DA42 models are already operating very successfully at our flight-schools in Rostock (Germany) and Grenchen (Switzerland). I am very pleased that with the signing of the LOI for the all-electric eDA40, we are now jointly opening a groundbreaking chapter in the topic of sustainability. This topic is of particular significance for our European Flight Academy, which is known for its high and globally recognized quality standards in selection and training. The testing of the all-electric eDA40 is an important step towards future pilot-training in an even more environmentally friendly manner."

Per the provisions of the Diamond-LAT collaboration, the eDA40 will be tested under actual training conditions at LAT’s Grenchen, Switzerland base. Data deriving of LAT’s assessments the all-electric aircraft will be plied to the furtherance of the eDA40’s development as a flight-training platform and the compilation of a hybridized fleet comprising both the eDA40 and conventional AUSTRO jet-fuel powered DA40 NG airplanes.

LAT has set forth its intention to be the eDA40 launch customer for the EASA region. The academy will purchase a number of eDA40 aircraft commensurate with the Lufthansa Group’s stated sustainability targets. Additional information pertaining to LAT’s eDA40 acquisitions will be made public at a later date. What’s more, LAT and Diamond will jointly analyze and implement the use of SAF throughout the entirety of Diamond’s piston aircraft models and work together on future enterprises such as sustainable propulsion systems and synthetic flight-training devices.

Diamond Aircraft Austria CEO Liqun (Frank) Zhang remarked: “We are excited and honored to announce renowned Lufthansa Aviation Training as our launch customer for our all-electric eDA40 and as a strong partner for an important and trendsetting collaboration for a better tomorrow. Creating an eco-conscious and cost-effective option for the training market has always been at the core of Diamond Aircraft. The eDA40 with its proven airframe, the quick recharge capability ,and the low operating cost will be an excellent aircraft for LAT’s carbon-neutral approach. With our agreement we expect a huge step towards a greener aviation future and to develop the most advanced electric training-aircraft in the world.”

The eDA40—which shares significant commonality with Diamond’s extant, certified, fossil-fuel powered DA40—is slated to be the first EASA/FAA Part 23 certified electric airplane to feature DC fast charging of the ship’s EPiC batteries. The aforementioned technology will facilitate turn-around of charge-depleted aircraft in under twenty-minutes. The kinetic facet of the eDA40’s powertrain is Safran’s ENGINeUSTM 100 electric smart motor. All told, the eDA40’s electric powertrain is advertised to run for up to ninety-minutes between charges. The airplane’s actual endurance—applying lessons learned from electric automobiles—is likely to fall well short of the OEM’s claims.

The eDA40’s cockpit will be appointed with the latest iteration of Garmin’s G1000 NXi glass cockpit and numerous ancillary avionics gadgets.

Initial trials of the eDA40 at LAT’s Grenchen, Switzerland base are expected to commence in late 2023 or early 2024—following technical clearance by the appropriate regulatory bodies.

FMI: www.diamondaircraft.com