Market Intelligence: -Training Aircraft Developments

Training Aircraft Manufacturer flies for the first time parrallel hybrid configuration Aircraft

Tecnam Aircraft, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce and Rotax specialized teams, successfully flew the new P2010 H3PS hybrid aircraft for the first time on December  21st, 2021, at precisely 3:54 pm CET. The Permit to Fly was issued by ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority.

The flight was performed by Tecnam’s Chief Experimental Test Pilot Lorenzo De Stefano, with Tecnam, Rolls-Royce and Rotax Teams on the ground assisting in this historic moment.

Tecnam P2010 H3PS is powered by a 104kW Rotax 915 IS engine coupled with a 30kW Rolls-Royce electric motor, totaling 134kW (180hp) powertrain in a fully integrated parallel hybrid configuration. As such, this four-seat aircraft is first of its kind.

According to Tecnam Aircraft’s R&D Director Fabio Russo, the H3PS successful flight test demonstration marks a major milestone on the aviation industry’s journey towards de-carbonization and R&D on alternative powertrains.

“Though H3PS is not intended for market purposes, our successful flight tests demonstrate that hybrid powertrain, with combustion engine coupled with an electric motor, can bear the same useful load of the traditional 180hp combustion engine,” said Russo.

H3PS, which stands for “High Power High Scalability Aircraft Hybrid Powertrain”, is a project funded under the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Launched in 2018, the project has reached its objectives. With H3PS’ success, Tecnam Aircraft and project partners have validated the aircraft’s scalability potential, lower emissions, state of the art power management technology, building a viable launchpad for future green aircraft models.

Commenting on the future developments, Tecnam’s Managing Director Giovanni Pascale Langer stated that the company will continue to focus on driving the green transition in aviation.

“Tecnam’s approach to innovation is truly sustainable,” said Pascale Langer. “Our development focuses on three key pillars: environmentally friendly, technologically viable and marketable solutions. We do this by leveraging our multi-generational expertise, research and development, next-generation technology, and strategic partnerships.”

“I look forward to seeing H3PS inspire more innovation and drive our industry forward with cleaner, more efficient technologies,” Pascale Langer concluded.

Rob Watson, President of Rolls-Royce Electrical added: “The successful first flight of the P2010 H3PS demonstrator is a pioneering achievement by the team to advance hybrid-electric flight.  Working with Tecnam and Rotax has been hugely beneficial, and this project has continued to build our capabilities in delivering all-electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsion systems for the advanced air mobility market. Rolls-Royce is committed to investing in the technology solutions to enable and deliver sustainable aviation.”

“We are very pleased that we could intensify our collaboration with Tecnam and Rolls-Royce within the H3PS project. The tests showed that there are still challenges to take up, however due to the efforts of all three parties the test flight could be concluded with deeper understanding and of course with a safe landing. The project showed that the joint venture with the qualified knowledge of these three global player companies in aviation lead to very interesting and future-orientated results for innovative propulsion systems”, said Michael Dopona, Head of design Organization BRP-Rotax.

“In December 2021 ENAC issued the permit to fly, for research and development purposes” – commented the Director General of ENAC, Alessio Quaranta – “to the first Made in Italy General Aviation aircraft powered by hybrid propulsion system (electric – unleaded fuel): the Tecnam P2010 H3PS. It deals with an important technological innovation in favor of savings in consumption and emissions. ENAC actively participated this challenge in developing the new propulsion system and its integration within the Tecnam P2010 airframe, in line with Authority commitment towards a Sustainable Aviation future”.

Source: Tecnam Press Release

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Cirrus Aircraft announces 13 Year High for Aircraft Deliveries in 2021

Cirrus Aircraft announced another strong year of new aircraft deliveries in 2021 with the SR Series maintaining its status as the best-selling, high-performance piston aircraft for the twentieth year in a row.

In addition to delivering 442 SR Series aircraft and 86 Vision Jets in 2021, Cirrus Aircraft announced the G2+ Vision Jet, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK certification for Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland, expanded its Cirrus Services™ community and offerings, and delivered the first of five TRAC SR20s to Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus (K-State). Cirrus Aircraft also grew its national footprint for premium flight training, aircraft management, factory service and concierge customer experiences.

“Our team has accomplished incredible milestones this past year. Not only did we reach a 13-year high of new aircraft deliveries, but we also introduced new innovations within the SR Series and Vision Jet product lines and increased connectivity between pilot and aircraft by growing the Cirrus IQ ecosystem,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft. “In 2022, we are continuing to invest in our people, products and services to constantly elevate the ownership experience.”

To date, Cirrus Aircraft has delivered over 8,500 SR Series aircraft. This last year marks the eight consecutive year the company delivered more than 300 SR Series aircraft.

Recent developments specifically related to the pilot training industry include;

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French Flight School receives two Sonaca 200 Aircraft

30 Aircraft French Flight School, Aeropyrenees receives its order of two Sonaca 200 Aircraft which it ordered last year to replace its Grob 155A aircraft. Aeropyrenees signed purchase agreements for the two Sonaca aircraft as well as a Piper PA28 and TB20 in 2021.

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US University receives 2 new Cessna 172 Skyhawk Aircraft

Liberty University’s School of Aeronautics (SOA) received two new Cessna Skyhawk 172 aircraft from Textron Aviation in Independence, Kansas last week. With its enrollment steadily rising, these aircraft are already operational on the SOA’s flight line, bring the total training fleet to 27.

“This investment in our fleet reflects our commitment to excellence and the overall growth of our program,” said Dr. Rick Roof, SOA Dean. “It also ensures that we have world class training resources for our students.”

With the recent purchase of these aircraft, the fleet now includes 22 single-engine Cessna and five Piper Seminole twin-engine aircraft.

“These additions are both technically advanced Garmin G1000 Nxi-equipped aircraft,” Roof said, noting that the Cessna Skyhawk offers a safe, stable, and reliable training platform. “That’s important to us. It simplifies and standardizes our flight training programs by maintaining a consistent learning environment for our students.”

According to its manufacturer, Textron Aviation, the Skyhawk is the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built and has achieved a reputation for being the ultimate flight training aircraft for student pilots. At a cost of over $400,000 per plane, it offers simplistic flight characteristics, a slow landing speed, lenient stall, great visibility, and a sophisticated glass cockpit outfitted with Garmin G1000 avionics.

The new Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) ensure Liberty students are trained with the latest technological innovations within the realm of general aviation avionics systems. In addition to the Garmin G1000, these new Cessna 172 aircraft are equipped with a factory fitted Safe Flight Angle-of-Attack (AoA) indicator, and a new Garmin GI275 solid state standby attitude indicator. Both of these advancements provide heightened awareness and overall increased safety of our flight training program, according to Roof.

“Paired with our industry-recognized flight simulator department, these new aircraft provide a state-of-the-art training environment for our flight students,” Roof said. “Our simulators are configured to replicate the Cessna 172, so the two work hand-in-hand in creating a seamless transition from flight simulator to aircraft.”

Residential enrollment in Liberty’s SOA, the largest faith-based aeronautics program in the United States, recently surpassed 600 students, including 450 students enrolled in a degree requiring flight training. The school now has more than 50 flight instructors providing training Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to midnight. The program is currently training 225 flight course students this semester and these new aircraft will help meet the requirements of continued program growth.

“The School of Aeronautics is thankful for the continued support of Liberty University’s Executive Leadership team and their investment in the continued growth of our program,” he said.

The Cessna Skyhawk is also used by both the Liberty Belles’ Air Race Classic and National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) flight teams.

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Aircraft Manufacturer delivers first Aircraft to Flying Club

The first Elixir has reached its new base: the Aeroclub des Pertuis in La Rochelle. Arthur Léopold-Léger, CEO of Elixir Aircraft, congratulates all his teams on this success. All manufacturers are aware of the difficulty of industrialising a new EASA-certified aircraft: Elixir Aircraft is the first French company to have met this challenge in decades.

Delivery of the first Elixir to the Aéroclub des Pertuis, in La Rochelle

The Aéroclub des Pertuis is renewing part of its fleet by welcoming the first 4th generation aircraft, the Elixir. The aircraft, designed and produced in La Rochelle by the Elixir Aircraft company, perfectly meets the expectations of aeroclubs, offering:

  • fuel efficiency with an average consumption of 12.5L/h and 70% less CO2 emissions than the average,
  • safety, thanks to a “spin resistant” behaviour and unique equipment such as the airframe parachute or the anti-explosion tank
  • versatility, with an aircraft capable of carrying out all missions, from initial training to the most complex navigation.
An order book still full

After a year on the market, the order book continues to fill up with around thirty Elixir ordered to date, whether for individuals, flying clubs or training schools.

About Elixir Aircraft

Elixir Aircraft, a company based in La Rochelle with 54 employees, was created in 2015 to meet the challenges of French light aviation. The objective of the French SME: to produce safer, more economical and more versatile aircraft. Complexity is currently the reason why these aircraft suffer from failures (technical or human) and are expensive to operate (consumption and maintenance). Elixir Aircraft employs a technology derived from competition sailing, the Carbon Oneshot, to simplify the structures. More simplicity means fewer failures, therefore more safety, but also less maintenance, and less cost (estimates of 40€/hour of fuel and maintenance). In 2022, Elixir Aircraft will open a new production site in order to internalise the entire production of carbon parts.

Elixir Aircraft in figures

  • 57 employees, including 25 new hires since October 2020 (projection of +20 in the first quarter of 2022)
  • 1 year firm order book
  • 108 devices pre-ordered, i.e. 3 years of production pre-reserved

Source: Elixir Aircraft Press Release

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United Aviate Academy orders 25 new Cirrus Aircraft TRAC SR20 with an option of 50 more

Cirrus Aircraft announced that United Aviate Academy (UAA) has purchased a fleet of twenty-five TRAC SR20 aircraft for its program. These advanced, high-performance airplanes will be used for initial pilot training at the only ab-initio flight academy operated by a major U.S.-based airline. United Aviate Academy has the option and purchase rights to fifty more TRAC SR20 aircraft as the Aviate Academy expands. The agreement between Cirrus Aircraft and UAA is a testament to the shared pursuit to provide airline training opportunities in response to the global pilot shortage.

“United is thrilled to have chosen the Cirrus TRAC SR20 as the single-engine training aircraft for our United Aviate Academy. It reflects our commitment to preparing our future Captains using cutting-edge technology and safety systems,” said Curtis Brunjes, United’s Managing Director for Aviate and Pilot Strategy. “Cirrus Aircraft has been an innovative force in general aviation and we are proud to partner as we lead our industry developing the next generation of pilots.”

United Aviate Academy’s (Westwind School of Aeronautics Phoenix, LLC) year-long training program at Phoenix Goodyear Airport sets up students for a career that reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. The Academy is part of United’s industry-leading pilot career development program, which offers aspiring and established pilots the most direct path to a United flight deck. Within the next decade, United aims to hire more than 10,000 pilots and introduce aviation to about 5,000 new pilots through the Academy.

Designed to be the ultimate training platform, the technologically-advanced TRAC Series boasts an impressive list of features and capabilities that complement the SR20 aircraft’s stable flight characteristics. The integrated Garmin® Perspective+ flight deck includes two large flight displays, a Flight Management System (FMS) keypad controller, an Electronic Stability and Protection system as well as integrated engine indication and crew alerting/warning systems – all features found on today’s advanced airliners.

“The TRAC SR20 is the preferred aircraft for ab-initio airline pilot training, with its advanced flight management system and hazard avoidance features, the aircraft offers a training platform with capabilities that prepare students for the transport category jets that United Aviate students will fly during their airline careers,” said David Moser, Vice President of Fleet and Special Mission Sales for Cirrus Aircraft.

The interior was designed to meet the unique needs of a high-utilization training environment, replacing the luxury materials found in the SR Series with a durable all-weather floor liner and easy to clean wear-resistant seats. The spacious cabin provides an optimal workspace to learn and train, with more space than typical training aircraft, rear seats for additional students or observers and optional air conditioning for comfort in all seasons. The TRAC Series includes the TRAC20, TRAC22, and TRAC22T.

Additionally, the TRAC Series features a durable all-composite airframe structure with the signature Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®), making the TRAC Series one of the safest and most versatile training airplanes available today. The TRAC Series is further enhanced by a wide array of interactive, tailored flight training content through Cirrus Approach™, including online courses, engaging videos and the award-winning iFOM (interactive Flight Operations Manual) for convenient learning anywhere in the world.

Cirrus Aircraft is also developing a digital fleet management solution leveraging the onboard Cirrus IQ™ system to provide UAA with deeper insight into their flight data for safety and operational efficiency.

About Cirrus Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft is the recognized global leader in personal aviation and the maker of the best-selling SR Series piston aircraft and the Vision Jet®, the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet, as well as the recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. Founded in 1984, the company has redefined performance, comfort and safety in aviation with innovations like the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System® (CAPS®) – the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft. To date, worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has passed 13 million hours and 220 people have returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The company now has seven locations in Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

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