Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Textron to Acquire Electric Aircraft Manufacturer Pipistrel

Textron Inc., home to the Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell aviation brands, today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Pipistrel, an award-winning pioneer and global leader in electrically powered aircraft, based in Slovenia and Italy.

With Textron, Pipistrel will have access to greater resources, technical and regulatory expertise and a global aircraft sales and support network, enabling it to accelerate its development and certification of electric and hybrid electric aircraft. Upon closing of the transaction, Textron plans to form a new business segment, Textron eAviation, focused on the development of sustainable aircraft, which will include Pipistrel.

“Pipistrel puts Textron in a uniquely strong position to develop technologies for the sustainable aviation market and develop a variety of new aircraft to meet a wide range of customer missions,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. “Today’s announcement supports Textron’s long-term strategy to offer a family of sustainable aircraft for urban air mobility, general aviation, cargo and special mission roles.”

“Pipistrel has been celebrated as one of the world’s most important and successful manufacturers of electric aircraft,” continued Donnelly. “Textron is committed to maintaining Pipistrel’s brand, headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing in Slovenia and Italy, while making additional investments in Pipistrel for the development and production of future products.”

Pipistrel founder and CEO Ivo Boscarol will remain a minority shareholder as well as Chairman Emeritus, consulting on future product plans and strategies for a two-year period.

“Under my 30-year leadership, Pipistrel’s team has achieved a unique prime position in personal, affordable, environmentally friendly and electric aviation. The trend and foundation for future projects has clearly been set,” said Boscarol. “To drive Pipistrel’s ambitious goals and to continue its story of success, the joining of Textron and Pipistrel provides deep expertise and resources which would otherwise be inaccessible to Pipistrel alone. With Textron, we are together geared to strive for future growth and look forward to announcing exciting new products and projects. I am delighted to continue witnessing my vision become a reality by being actively engaged with the company for the future.”

The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems.

About Textron eAviation

Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Textron eAviation will focus on sustainable flying, backed by Textron’s 100 years of expertise and the restless spirit for innovation that is embodied in our Cessna, Beechcraft and Bell brands.

Taking the lead in Textron’s development of sustainably powered flight, Textron eAviation will leverage the industry-leading product design, certification, manufacturing, and aftermarket solutions from across Textron’s businesses coupled with the newly acquired expertise of Pipistrel.

About Pipistrel

In 2020, Pipistrel’s Velis Electro became the world’s first, and currently only, electric aircraft to receive full type-certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This achievement followed a series of electric aircraft introductions since the company began research and development of electric propulsion in 2000. Pipistrel’s pioneering work has been recognized through awards from NASA, IDC, and other organizations. The company, which offers a family of gliders and light aircraft with both electric and combustion engines, has delivered more than 2,500 light aircraft worldwide since its founding in 1989 and additionally has both hybrid and electric propulsion models under development. This transaction include the following companies: PIPISTREL d.o.o., PIPISTREL VERTICAL SOLUTIONS d.o.o. and PIPISTREL ITALIA SRL.

For more information, kindly contact Textron.

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Global Pilot Training Group announces first E-Flight in Africa

The first E-Aircraft has taken its inaugural proving flight at 43 Air School, South Africa!

Laying the groundwork for zero-emission in African Aviation and Training, 43 Air school (Pty) Ltd a well-known and leading South African Flight School flew the first fully Electric Aircraft on African Soil on 16/3/2022, thereby demonstrating the arrival of electric flight technology in Aviation.

“As we know the path in this journey was long, but it is now well underway, and the African Aviation industry is no exception. Indeed, a milestone day for Aviation in South Africa and Arica as our work in laying the foundations in electric flight bodes well for the future of Aviation Training and industry-wide adoption and regulatory acceptance of alternative-propulsion in commercial aircraft and urban air vehicles” says CEO of 43 Air school- Attie Niemann. “This proves that electric aviation has arrived and can work in Aviation Training and with some more development in wider commercial applications.”

The first of hopefully many electric flights took place at 43 Air school with a Pipistrel Alpha Electro- one of the best and most advanced designed & produced electric aircraft in the world. The Aircraft type and its Manufacturer is the holder of the “Design Organization and Production Approval” certificate issued by the European aviation agency EASA.

At the moment, Pipistrel Aircraft can rightfully claim the title of the world’s leading company for the design and manufacture of innovative electric and hybrid-powered aircraft. This technology would mean significant cost savings for training and leisure flying and zero emissions. “Our goal is to actually electrify a good proportion of the fleet, in years to come, and on top of fuel efficiency, the company would save millions in maintenance costs because electric motors require “drastically” less maintenance. When this technology takes off with other operators, he said: “It could set a trend for more environmentally friendly and affordable flying. An aircraft like this one flown’ s running cost is a significant saving on conventional combustion and due to the lithium battery powering it we can safely fly for approximately an hour with reserves, which is sufficient for the majority of training flights it’s intended for. The Aircraft is super quiet and very efficient and powerful for its size and lovely to fly and also the batteries and electric motors will eventually be developed to power longer flights’. While the world waits for wider application of e-flight, he said cheaper short-haul flights powered by electricity could transform the way people connect and where they work.

For more information, kindly contact 43 Air School.

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Aircraft Manufacturer Embraer shares 2021 Performance

Embraer delivered 55 jets in the fourth quarter of 2021, of which 16 were commercial aircraft and 39 were executive jets (26 light and 13 mid-size). The Company delivered a total of 141 jets in 2021, comprised of 48 commercial aircraft and 93 executive jets (62 light and 31 mid-size). As of December 31, the firm order backlog totaled USD 17.0 billion, reaching its highest value since the second quarter of 2018 (See attached photo below).

The current backlog value already reflects the outcome of the negotiations with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) for the reduction from 28 to 22 the total number of KC-390 Millennium aircraft to be delivered under the terms of the amendments to the agreements.

In the commercial aviation segment, Embraer announced, during the Dubai Air Show, a firm order for three new E175, plus three purchase rights for the same aircraft model, for Overland Airways, from Nigeria. The 88-seat aircraft, with premium class cabin configuration, will be delivered from 2023. The deal is worth USD 299.4 million, at list price with all purchase rights being exercised. Embraer also conclude de purchase agreement of three additional 76-seat E175 to American Airlines valued at USD 160.2 million. The aircraft will be operated by American’s Deliveries by Segment 4Q21 2021 Commercial Aviation 16 48 E175 12 27 E190-E2 – 2 E195-E2 4 19 Executive Aviation 39 93 Phenom 100 4 6 Phenom 300 22 56 Light Jets 26 62 Praetor 500 8 14 Praetor 600 5 17 Mid-size Jets 13 31 TOTAL 55 141 wholly owned subsidiary, Envoy Air that will grow its E175 fleet to over 100 aircraft by the end of 2022. In the 4Q21, Embraer also signed an agreement with Azorra to acquire 20 new E2 family aircraft (E-190E2 or E195-E2), plus a further 30 purchase rights in a deal valued at USD 3.9 billion. Thus, The E2 family aircraft accumulated 50 firm orders and did not have any cancelation in 2021, establishing its leadership position in its market segment.

During the 4Q21, in the executive jets segment, Embraer and NetJets, Inc. signed an agreement for up to 100 additional Phenom 300, in excess of $1.2 billion. As part of the deal, NetJets will take delivery of the Phenom 300E in the second quarter of 2023, in both the United States and Europe. Embraer also delivered a new Phenom 300E in Quito, Ecuador, marking the first delivery of the aircraft type in the country, and the first Praetor 500 in Canada to AirSprint Private Aviation, a Canadian privately held Fractional Jet Ownership company.

For services & support, Embraer signed several contracts during the quarter. At MRO Europe, a leading aeronautical maintenance event, Embraer announced Pool Program agreements with KLM Cityhopper, the regional subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air Montenegro, and the renewal of the Pool Program with TAP express, TAP Air Portugal’s subsidiary. Currently, Embraer’s Pool Program supports more than 50 airlines worldwide.

Source: Embraer Press Release

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