Market Intelligence: Africa

Training Aircraft Manufacturer Earns Type Acceptance Certification for Electric Aircraft from African Regulator

Pipistrel has earned Type Acceptance certification from South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for the following products:

  • Pipistrel Explorer
  • Pipistrel Velis Electro
  • Pipistrel E-811 electric engine

This achievement sets a precedent for the validation of electric aircraft in the region, paving the way for future advancements and opportunities, opening up sustainable training opportunities in South Africa. Additionally, this achievement marks the first Velis Electro validation in the entire continent.

Source: Pipistrel Aircraft Announcement
Photo Credit: Pipistrel Aircraft (shown as meta image)

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South African Flight School Makes Statement Regarding US Government Action

Test Flying Academy South Africa notes that the United States Department of Commerce has added TFASA to a list of entities subject to export administration regulations. – 13 June 2023

As a South African company, registered with the South African National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), and not reliant on US exports, this change does not affect TFASA’s day to day operations.

Nevertheless, TFASA is disappointed that the United States Department of Commerce has taken this step without consultation.

TFASA has operated with the full knowledge of NATO defence and security agencies for over a decade. Recent communications between the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Air Force Office of Special Investigation and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots indicate that TFASA has broken no laws. In addition, following our UK lawyers correspondence with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) the MoD confirmed that ‘they do not believe that TFASA is engaged in activities which breach current UK law.’

TFASA will be contacting the United States Department of Commerce to clarify its position.

TFASA has strict protocols and a Code of Conduct in place that are designed to prevent any TFASA employee sharing any information or training that is, or might be considered to be, legally or operationally sensitive, or security classified.

All of TFASA’s training materials are either open source documents, or provided directly by TFASA’s clients.

TFASA is, and always has been, in full compliance with the laws of South Africa, and every other jurisdiction in which it operates.

TFASA highlights that the training it provides is also available from other civilian contractors including organisations based in the United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and European jurisdictions.

Source: TFASA

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Training Aircraft Manufacturer Pipistrel Expands Presence in Africa with Appointment of Distributor

Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company, is bolstering its African sales network with the appointment of Absolute Aviation, headquartered at Lanseria International airport in South Africa, as its distributor to 11 countries across southern and central Africa.

Already a longstanding channel partner of Textron Aviation as an authorized sales, service and parts representative for Cessna and Beechcraft in southern and central Africa, Absolute Aviation will take on responsibility for sales, service support and training for Pipistrel’s ultralight, light sport and type certified aircraft, which include the Alpha Trainer, Velis Electro, Explorer and Panthera. Absolute Aviation will also showcase demonstration aircraft across the region to promote Pipistrel’s offerings.

Absolute Aviation will serve Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“We’re fully committed to building our network of distributors so that we can precisely meet the needs of our customers across Africa,” says Steve Mckenna, director of Sales and Marketing, Pipistrel. “As an established Textron Aviation channel partner, Absolute Aviation’s customer-centric approach is well known to us and we’re looking forward to extending this collaboration to showcase Pipistrel.”

“Extending our relationship with Textron to include Pipistrel underlines the trust we have developed and the success we have delivered,” adds Neil Howard, CEO, Absolute Aviation. “We are committed to building on this track record for Pipistrel in the fast-growing African market.”

The appointment of Absolute Aviation follows Pipistrel’s expansion of its distribution network in key regions across the globe. Most recently, Pipistrel appointed Lincoln Park Aviation (LPA) as its distributor for 15 US states and Lanier Flight Center as its distributor for five US states.

Source: Pipistrel Aircraft Press Release
Photo Credit: Pipistrel Aircraft

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