Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Erin Lear launches Birde Academy, an all-electric flight school for women

The granddaughther of (William) Bill Lear, founder of the Lear Jet Corporation and inventor of the 8-track tape and the Motorola, Erin Lear is launching Birde Academy, an all-electric flight school for women which is the first of its kind.

The flight school is based in California and will be utilizing all-electric airplanes and will focus on training female aspiring pilots. Nevertheless, Birde Academy is definitely open to men.

Erin Lear has plans to purchase four (4) two-seat, all-electric eFlyer 2 aircraft designed by Bye Aerospace once available. According to Bye Aerospace, eFlyer 2™ was the world’s first FAA 14 CFR Part 23-Type Amendment 64-Certified Applicant for a “Normal Category” Electric Aircraft, (FAA application filed April 13, 2018). The aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft is over twice that of a typical legacy aircraft of similar size and has high overall propulsive system efficiency with high motor efficiency with low cooling drag.

For more information, kindly contact Birde Academy.

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CAE and Volocopter to partner and create the global air taxi pilot workforce of tomorrow

  • Ground-breaking training program to focus on safety and operationalization of eVTOL urban air mobility
  • Volocopter, urban air mobility pioneer, teams up with CAE, global leader in aviation training, to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) pilot training program in preparation for Volocopter’s first eVTOL aircraft upcoming entry-into-service
  • CAE commits to expanding its international training network to support Volocopter’s growth and global pilot training with a forecasted investment of up to US$40 million

CAE, a global leader in aviation training, and Volocopter, a leading pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced today the signing of a strategic partnership, subject to definitive agreement, to develop, certify, and deploy an innovative pilot training program for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations. A first in the industry, this eVTOL pilot training program will develop the pilot workforce of the future and ensure safe introduction of eVTOL operations globally by leveraging CAE’s advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), as well as data analytics and Volocopter’s leading understanding of requirements for integration into the UAM ecosystem.

UAM is an emerging part of the aviation industry focused on aerial connectivity in and around cities. Volocopter’s family of electric aircraft are designed to relieve today’s heavily fossil-fueled, inner-city traffic for both people (VoloCity, VoloConnect) and goods (VoloDrone) . The company’s first commercial eVTOL aircraft, the VoloCity, is well into its certification program with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and is positioned to launch first services in time for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Through existing agreements and partnerships with global leaders, such as Daimler, Aéroports de Paris, Microsoft Azure, and now CAE, Volocopter plans to launch its services in a number of cities globally within the next five years. Volocopter is committed to seeking certification with the highest global safety standards for aircraft and operations.

CAE commits to expanding its worldwide training network with a forecasted investment of up to US$40 million to meet Volocopter’s projected pilot demand in the early years of operation. CAE will be deploying training equipment and instructors in lockstep with Volocopter’s growth. As part of the agreement, Volocopter will purchase a simulator from CAE to be used in its pilot training program certification. CAE will create new, student-centric courseware, specifically designed for the pilots of the future as Volocopter’s courseware provider and will also offer pilot trainees customized resources that enable faster, more efficient pilot training.

“As we scale our UAM services in cities around the world, specific pilot training and qualification for our Volocopters will be an important element. We are proud to be partnering with CAE, who have a track record in developing best-in-class, innovative pilot training solutions for new aircraft programs. It will greatly benefit Volocopter’s entry-into-service timeline and scale,” says Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. “We are excited about CAE’s endorsement and look forward to collaborate as partners focused on combining future-oriented technologies to ensure aviation safety.”

“As a high-technology company and the industry leader in pilot training, we continuously look at providing solutions that make the world a safer place,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions. “We are committed to supporting Volocopter’s inspiring vision and we look forward to leading in the design of UAM pilot training that prioritizes safety of operations through our data-driven solutions, world-class pilot training experience, and longstanding relationships with civil aviation authorities across the globe.”

As outlined in CAE’s Advanced Air Mobility white-paper published this month (link), advanced air mobility will create an additional surge in the demand for pilots, with an estimated 60,000 pilots needed within the first decade of operation. Volocopter and CAE will work closely together to obtain regulatory approval for their pilot training program of the future.

Source: CAE Press Release. See here.

For more information, kindly contact CAE.

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Two-seater and four-seater aircraft manufacturing facility is being set up in India, Aero Freyr invested Rs 150 crore

Indian state department of Civil Aviation announced on the 29th of July, Thursday, the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aero Freyr to establish an aircraft manufacturing unit with flight testing and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facilities in Gujarat.

According to Times of India, Aero Freyr invested Rs 150 crore to set up the said facility that will manufacture two-seater and four-seater aircraft, and air ambulances. 

Aero Freyr has partnerships with companies in the US, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Serbia.

For more information, kindly contact Aero Freyr.

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Pipistrel celebrates one year since type-certification of the Velis Electro

One year after its introduction, the Velis Electro remains the only type-certified electrically powered aeroplane in the world. Beloved by pilots and operators for its simplicity and low operating costs, its small environmental footprint is redefining general aviation and acceptance of aerodromes by the surrounding communities. 

On this day one year ago, EASA granted the first type-certificate for a battery-powered aeroplane, the Pipistrel Velis Electro. The interest sparked in the aviation community has been overwhelming, and one year after, the Velis Electro is becoming a favourite among pilots and flight schools. The simplicity of operation and drastically reduced maintenance of the electrical powerplant translates into lower operating costs and therefore cheaper flight hour price. 

Big beneficiaries of this ground-breaking technology are the neighbouring communities. The acoustic nuisance of the Velis Electro contrasts significantly with usually older and heavier fuel-powered counterparts, reducing the noise by up to 70%. This has allowed the reintroduction of flight operations during weekends and holidays, an activity that had been previously banned on aerodromes with nearby populations, such as Toussus-le-Noble in France. The available flying time has therefore increased both for flight schools and for student pilots, who would otherwise need to secure slots during busy weekdays. 

The ultimate beneficiary of electrical aircraft is our planet, as emissions can be cut practically to zero, especially when electricity is generated from renewable sources. This is the case of the aerodromes of Fribourg-Ecuvillens in Switzerland and Aix-Les Milles in southern France, which implemented solar-energy chargers for electric aircraft and have recently become the home bases of their first Velis Electros. 

The first year of the Velis Electro in numbers and achievements: 

  • 5 aircraft per month is the current production rate of the Velis Electro. 
  • 6 Velis Electro were ordered by our launch customer, the French Aeronautical Federation (FFA). 
  • 50 aircraft plus 150 options is the largest order so far, by Green Aerolease. 
  • 13 aeroplanes form the largest fleet currently in operation by AlpinAirPlanes, accumulating an average of 150 flight hours per month in 10 Swiss FTOs. 
  • 9 countries already operate the Velis Electro: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. 
  • 200+ pilots have already received their endorsements to fly the Velis Electro. 
  • 29 pilot instructors have been approved to train on the Velis Electro. 
  • 27 Part-66 licenced mechanics from 9 Part-145 maintenance organisations have been trained to maintain and repair the Velis Electro. 
  • 1,500+ flight hours have been logged so far on the entire fleet, allowing to save 94,000+ kg of CO2 with respect to older fuel-guzzling trainers.
  • 2 Velis Electro will be leased by the Danish Defence, becoming the first air force to operate electrically powered aircraft. 

During this first year, the Velis Electro planes have also been flown in two record-breaking adventures: the Electric World Record Flight and Elektropostal. 

It was also awarded the title “2020 Plane Of The Year” by the prestigious Plane&Pilot magazine.

Source: Pipistrel Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Pipistrel.

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