Battery-Powered SportPlane Enters Market as ‘Cheap’ Little Trainer

Textron's sustainable light plane brand Pipistrel got some good news from the FAA in recent weeks, "opening up flight training in an electric aircraft in the United States".

The plane in question is their battery-powered Pipistrel Velis Electro, which got a light-sport aircraft airworthiness exemption allowing it to be used within stateside flight training programs. As such, Pipistrel says the Velis Electro is a much lower cost and sustainable learning platform for low-time pilots learning the ropes. That just adds to the Velis' lore as the "first commercially available, type-certified electric aircraft in the world."

“This is a great day for flight training organizations and aspiring pilots," said Kriya Shortt, Textron eAviation CEO. "With this exemption, the cost-barrier to pursuing primary flight training can be substantially reduced. We are thankful to the FAA for its support in bringing more opportunities for electric aviation to the United States.”

"The FAA exemption is an important milestone on the journey to sustainable flight," said Gabriel Massey, managing director at Pipistrel. "We are proud of our team and what we have achieved towards creating the future for electric and sustainable aviation, globally. Taking off for the first time is exhilarating, and even more so in an electric aircraft. We are looking forward to seeing more pilots take to the skies and experience their first flight in the Velis Electro.”

FMI: www.pipistrel-aircraft.com