Charging Station Also Installed At The Airport

Los Angeles County Public Works, in partnership with Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, welcomed the nation’s first commercial electric aircraft charging station at Compton/Woodley Airport (KCPM). The Pipistrel SkyCharge docking station will support the museum’s two ALPHA Electro Light Sport all-electric aircraft and ultimately other electric aircraft in the future as electric aircraft gain interest. The SkyCharge docking station allows two aircraft to simultaneously charge an empty battery in 45 minutes.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum is planning to install additional Pipistrel SkyCharge docking stations throughout the County of Los Angeles system of airports. San Gabriel Valley Airport, located in the City of El Monte, will be next to receive the docking stations. As the ALPHA Electro and other electric aircraft become more abundant and availability of the SkyCharge docking stations expands, pilot training and general aviation overall will become greener – quieter, cleaner, more sustainable, affordable, and compatible with the environment and local communities.

The Pipistrel ALPHA Electro Light Sport is a 2-seat, single-engine, all-electric aircraft designed and manufactured in Europe specifically for flight training. The aircraft operates on a zero-emission lithium-ion battery, a sustainable source of energy which significantly reduces greenhouse gases. In addition, a recent study performed by Pipistrel showed that the ALPHA Electro operates at much quieter noise levels than do its gas-powered counterparts. The aircraft are currently certified to operate in rural areas and are in use at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport. Certification from the FAA to allow for operation of the ALPHA Electro within urban areas including the Los Angeles metropolitan area is anticipated to occur soon. Following certification, Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum will immediately put them to use at Compton/Woodley Airport.

(Images provided with Pipistrel news release)

FMI: www.pipistrel-usa.com