EASA issues world’s first type certificate for an electric aircraft

After more than ten years of development research, Pipistrel, a small aircraft designer and manufacturer focussing on electric aviation has been issued a type certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its battery-powered Pipistrel Velis Electro. This certification is the first for a fully electric aircraft.

The Velis Electro is powered by an electric E-811-268MVLC engine, which was certified by EASA on 18 May 2020. The entire certification process took less than three years.

The new aircraft is intended as a primary two-seat trainer.

“This is the first electric aircraft EASA has certified but it will certainly not be the last, as the aviation industry pursues new technologies to reduce noise and emissions and to improve the sustainability of aviation,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky.

“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. It is considerably quieter than other aeroplanes and produces no combustion gases at all,” said Ivo Boscarol, founder and CEO of Pipistrel Aircraft.