Fri, Dec 09, 2022
French Gliding Federation Eyes Integral for Affordable, Sustainable Support Operation
French Sport plane manufacturer Aura Aero has obtained the approval of the French Gliding Federation (Fédération Française de Vol en Planeur, or the FFVP), with their purchase of an electric INTEGRAL.
The Federation will use their new aircraft as a glider tow for a local club, making them the first to operate an all-electric towing aircraft in France. The electric operation will help to minimize sound pollution, carbon emissions. While such reductions are dandy, the most important aspect to young students and cash-strapped gliding enthusiasts is the cost of electric operation over avgas-powered tow planes.
The Integral E will take a while to arrive in Federation service, with the type's first flight planned for next year. The first deliveries of the electric aircraft should begin sometime in 2024, when Aura Aero begins tackling its 100-strong order book. Its selection by the Gliding Federation is a feather in the cap for the new up-and-comer in France, and a development that Aura hopes will quickly become a trend. The Euro gliding market in general tends to be much more enthusiastic than the American GA scene, making an affordable, rechargeable tow plane a strong value proposition for hobbyists looking to free themselves from the ever-ascending price of avgas. In France alone, more than 162 clubs dot the country, with 215 aircraft and ULM tow planes in operation today.
“We are very happy to announce this partnership and to launch the tow-plane version of INTEGRAL. The trust that the FFVP places in us demonstrates the growing will of the aeronautical world to move towards an aviation concerned with its environmental impact. With this partnership, the AURA AERO family extends, taking one more step towards a decarbonized light aviation," said Jérémy Caussade, president of Aura Aero.
“By partnering with AURA AERO, the FFVP supports a French company offering innovative solutions to decarbonize light aviation," said Jean-Emile Rouaux, president of the Gliding Association. "Gliding is a low-carbon activity, currently implementing an ambitious policy aimed at replacing the most CO2 issuing tow-planes. With this partnership, we are innovating while contributing to reduce the environment and noise footprint of our activity. Since nature provides us with the energy necessary for our sport, preserving it is at the heart of our sustainable development strategy.”
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