Pipistrel has achieved UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) type certification for the Velis Electro.

The manufacturer said the two-seater, intended primarily for pilot training, is the only in-operation certified electric aircraft in the world.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is designed and manufactured by Pipistrel, a Textron company. The type certification also includes the variant models of the Velis Electro, the Explorer and the Velis Club.

‘Big milestone’

“Achieving type certification by the UKCAA is a big milestone for Pipistrel in the UK, as well as within the wider aviation industry,” said Gabriel Massey, president & managing director, Pipistrel.

“The Velis Electro is now the only type-certified electric aircraft that can operate in the UK, and this opens up a world of possibility for sustainable flight.

“I would like to thank our UK distributor, Fly About Aviation, for their support with the certification and look forward to continuing our collaboration to help more British training schools, operators and aviation enthusiasts embrace electric flight.”

EASA certification

The UK CAA certification follows two years to the week that the Velis Electro earned EASA type certification, which Pipistrel said was the first electric aircraft in operation in the world to achieve this milestone.

“For us, electric aviation is the beginning of the runway to cleaner skies and we are delighted with the recent approval of the Velis Electro by the UKCAA,” added Sergey Grachev, founder of Fly About Aviation.

“We can now reach even more UK pilots and continue telling the story of sustainable aviation.”

The Pipistrel Velis Electro will be on display at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hall 4 with NEBOair.

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