Santa Monica Flight School to Deploy Pipistrel Velis Electro Trainer

Pipistrel is part of the Textron eAviation segment of Textron Inc. According to Textron, the Velis Electro received full type certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020, followed by an FAA exemption earlier this year that permits it to be used for flight training.

"The foundation has leased the Velis Electro to Proteus Air Services, a flight school in Santa Monica, where it will be used primarily for pilot training," said Eco-Aviation president Scott Burgess. "Additional discovery flights in the Velis Electro will provide hands-on, educational experiences for students and others in the community. These flights are designed to inspire and educate community members about the possibilities within the aviation sector, particularly those who may not have previously considered it as a viable career path."

Burgess said the Velis Electro was selected because it offers a lower-cost and more sustainable learning platform for student pilots to acquire flying skills while giving them early experience on next-generation power systems. 

"The aircraft is quiet, producing noise levels of only 60 decibels, low cost, and user friendly, making it an ideal solution for flight training with zero carbon emissions," he said, adding that the foundation is expecting the arrival of its second Velis Electro in November.

In addition to providing flight training, the Eco-Aviation Foundation has plans to create an Eco Flight Ground School and initiate scholarships while working with local youth-focused community centers and aviation training opportunities.

According to the foundation, the scholarships will fund private pilot ground school, training on electric aircraft technologies, and the FAA knowledge test.