Gloucestershire-based Skyborne Airline Academy has become the first UK pilot training school to place an order for Bye Aerospace’s all-electric aircraft.
The order comprises six eFlyer 2 and four eFlyer 4 examples. The manufacturer estimates the type will eliminate five million metric tons of CO2 generated every year during airline pilot training worldwide.
Lee Woodward, chief executive officer, Skyborne, said: “We are radically redefining every aspect of airline pilot training and that includes incorporating all-electric aircraft into our fleet as we invest in the latest technology for our trainees and staff.
George Bye, founder and chief executive officer at Bye Aerospace, added: “Skyborne is a pioneer of electric aviation in the UK and has been particularly resilient in their approach to flight training during the pandemic.
“Their ability to recognise and prepare for the benefits of electric aviation, while adjusting to the challenges presented by coronavirus, has been impressive.”
Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2 aims to be the first all-electric aircraft to achieve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 23 airworthiness certification.
The Critical Design Review for the type was achieved last month, with the next phase of the flight test programme currently underway.
The first two-seater eFlyers are expected to join the Skyborne fleet in the autumn of 2022, with the four-seat variant entering service the following year.
