Slovenian Pipistrel Velis Electro has autonomy of 50 minutes
The world’s first certified 100% electric aeroplane – a device that makes a “big difference” to the cost of operation – is being used for instruction in Viseu, in northern Portugal.
“The (Slovenian) Pipistrel Velis Electro is the first certified 100% electric aeroplane in the world. It has only electric propulsion, powered by two batteries, each of 12.5 kilowatts (KW), in other words, 25 kw in total” José Madeira, executive director of the International Flight Academy (IFA), which has a hub in Viseu, has told Lusa today
The plane, which weighs around 500 kilos, has an autonomy of 50 minutes, and “is perfectly suitable for the initial phases of instruction”.
In terms of behaviour and flight capacity, it “behaves like a normal plane” that weighs 100 kilos more.
“We started our instruction process with a test phase and now we’re using it and adapting our instruction programme to the specific characteristics of an electric plane,” he explained.
Comparing operating costs with an internal combustion engine plane – the ones used so far at the IFA – “we’re talking about completely different realities”, he stressed. A conventional combustion engine plane will cost around €150 per hour while the electric €7 – €8.
Madeira conceded that an electric plane “cannot perform the range of operations that conventional planes can” but for this instruction phase, it is perfect.
“This is undoubtedly the future”, he said. “That’s why we have invested heavily in the electric plane. We expect there will be great innovation from the point of view of battery capacity, even the recycling of energy through the propeller. All these factors are being improved more and more. We believe that the future of instruction will very much involve the use of electric aviation”.
In addition to instruction, Madeira considers the “debate has to be much broader, because the amount of energy per weight of batteries is still far below what is used” in fossil fuels.
“Sustainable, green aviation will be made, from a commercial passenger transport point of view, much more through hydrogen produced through sustainable methods, namely solar power stations, than battery-powered electric aeroplanes,” he said.
This first plane, and the others that the IFA wants to acquire, will be based in Viseu, because it is an aerodrome “with little traffic, which is very suitable for this operation”.
A two-seater, the inaugural flight of the 100% electric plane was commanded by senior instructor Inês Oliveira, who was accompanied by student Sara Bala.
Oliveira told journalists that the flight “is very similar” to a fossil fuel aircraft, the “only difference” that the instructor considered “more interesting” is that “it’s a more ergonomic aeroplane and will make instruction easier” for students.
“It will be simpler for them, in other words, it’s a very good complement to the fleet,” she said, adding that the “greater silence” in flight “is better” for instruction.
The IFA has its headquarters in Cascais, where around 200 students are based, and a centre in Viseu, which has around 60 students of 11 nationalities from various continents. It has trained 40 pilots since 2019.
Source: LUSA
