Fairoaks Airport in Chobham, Surrey, has just become the latest to receive a Pipistrel Velis Electro, the only electric aircraft to date certificated for passenger flight by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, bring the number of airfields around the UK with resident electric-powered aircraft to 14.
The leased aircraft has joined Synergy Flight Training from UK Distributor NEBOair. It is operating in collaboration with sustainability solutions pioneer 4AIR, a Flexjet sister company and BBGA member.
Synergy Flight Training and 4AIR are partnering to bring a new era of decarbonised flying, enabling future pilots to be trained on fully electric aircraft in the South of England, mirroring operations at SaxonAir Aviation Training at Norwich Airport.
Fairoaks and Norwich Airports join Duxford Airport, home of the British clean-tech innovator Faradair; Great Oakley Airfield; Humberside Airport, home of Eastern Airways; Old Buckenham Airfield, Popham Aerodrome, RAF Cranwell, Redhill Aerodrome, Rochester Airport, Sibson Aerodrome, Shipmeadow and Wickenby Aerodrome, in having resident Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, with charging supported by NEBOair.
Supporting the all-important infrastructure needed for the first all-electric aircraft, London-based Aerovolt, specialists in smart charging for electric aircraft, have deployed, or are in the throes of deploying, charging points at 36 UK airfields and airports.
Lydd, Shoreham, Henstridge, Dunkeswell, Sandown, Bournemouth and Snowdonia Aerospace Centre will be joined by Goodwood, Thruxton and Blackbushe Airports in the next few months.
Others committing to installations include Balado, Deanland Airfield; Derby; Isle of Man Ronaldsway; Kittyhawk; Lee-on-Solent; North moor; Shobdon; Tatenhill and Teesside Airports.
Kennedy Ricci, President of 4AIR stated: “The Pipistrel Velis (by Textron eAviation) generates emissions only during its construction, repair and maintenance, its eventual end-of-life disposal and from the electricity used for charging.
“Through our partnership with Synergy Flight Training, student pilots of the future (and qualified pilots too) will experience new forms of decarbonised flying which will become more commonplace over the next decade.”
