Velis Electro all-electric aircraft obtains type certificate

Small aircraft designer and manufacturer, Pipistrel Aircraft (Ajdovščina, Slovenia), announced that its composites-intensive Velis Electro is the first all-electric airplane to obtain a Type Certification (TC), which was granted on May 18 from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Pipistrel says the certified two-seater, intended primarily for pilot training, is another step toward its goal for environmentally sustainable and emission-free aviation.

Conceived as a fundamental part of the Velis Training System, Pipistrel says the Velis Electro was designed for easy operation and maintenance, without compromising safety. Employing Pipistrel’s type certified electric engine, the company notes that the aircraft uses a simplified user interface, maintains a reduced number of moving parts to decrease maintenance costs and has a built-in continuous health-monitoring system to mitigate malfunctions. Additionally, the powertrain and batteries are entirely liquid-cooled, and as part of the certification process, have demonstrated their ability to withstand faults, battery thermal runaway events and crash loads. According to Pipistrel, this enhanced reliability doubles the lifespan of powertrain elements in comparison to the previous generation of electric airplanes. Further, the overall reduced operating costs contribute to the affordability of pilot training.

“The type certification of the Pipistrel Velis Electro is the first step towards the commercial use of electric aircraft, which is needed to make emission-free aviation feasible,” says Ivo Boscarol, founder and CEO of Pipistrel Aircraft. “It also provides optimism to other electric aircraft designers, that obtaining the Type Certificate for electric aircraft is possible.”  

Pipistrel says it will deliver the first 31 Velis Electro to customers in seven countries in 2020.