Imagine not pulling up to the fuel pumps either before or after a training flight. The dream of a flight school operating an airplane that doesn’t operate on fossil fuels is now a real possibility for operators in Canada with Transport Canada’s certification of Pipistrel’s ALPHA Electro earlier this month. The ALPHA Electro was also certified in Australia about 18 months ago. In Canada, the ALPHA Electro was certified as an Advanced Ultra-light, a category that doesn’t exist in the U.S. ALPHA Electros are flying in the U.S., but under the experimental LSA banner, a category that makes them ineligible to be used for hire.
Pipistrel’s ALPHA Electro Earns Canadian Certification
Key Takeaways:
- Transport Canada has certified Pipistrel's ALPHA Electro electric training aircraft as an Advanced Ultra-light, making fossil-fuel-free flight training a reality for Canadian operators.
- The ALPHA Electro is currently blocked from entering the U.S. flight training market because the FAA's Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) definition specifies a "reciprocating engine," excluding electric propulsion.
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