Embry-Riddle Pursues Electric Flight Training

University embraces Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft to reduce emissions and redefine pilot instruction for a greener future.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 02:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pipistrel’s Velis Electro is the world’s first type certified electric airplane. [Courtesy: Right Rudder Aviation/Andrew Chan]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA wants aviation to clean up its act—specifically, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Last year the agency announced $291 million from the Inflation Reduction Act would support projects aimed at reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. One of the first stakeholders to accept the challenge was Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), which is embracing electrically powered aircraft as part of its training fleet.