In my previous post, I mentioned that the desire to learn how to fly has been with me since childhood. However, recent concerns about the CO2 impact of flying made me pause and reevaluate my dream. I've taken steps to reduce my personal carbon footprint and fly less frequently. Considering that aviation is responsible for approximately 2% of CO2 emissions, it's essential to weigh this impact. Interestingly, only 5 to 10 percent of the Earth's population takes flights within a year, which highlights the imbalance. These thoughts led me to reconsider my long-held aspiration of becoming a pilot.
But then, quite serendipitously, I discovered that a local flying school has one of the first electric aircraft in its fleet: the Pipistrel Velis. This remarkable aircraft was the first fully electric type certified aircraft by the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) in June 2020.
Shortly after learning about this, my wife convinced me that the time was right, and she enrolled me in the flight school. :-)
Last week marked my fourth session, the third of which was on the Velis, and I must say it's truly amazing. It bears a striking resemblance to an electric car: no fumes, no loud noises (unlike flying with combustion engines that require noise-canceling headphones to communicate with your co-pilot), and no vibrations at all. The freedom of flying without the distractions of a combustion engine beside you is exhilarating.
The only drawback: Electric aircrafts are not yet suited for extensive A to B transport. The Velis has a flight time of approximately 50 minutes. During flight training, you initially focus on the "circuit": taking off from and landing at your airfield, conducting rounds in the vicinity. Much practice in this pattern is required before attempting landings at different airfields. So it is well suited for flight schools.
With this groundbreaking aircraft, I'll managed to halve my emissions during flight school, and I find that truly inspiring! To pioneer new endeavors, someone has to take the first step. I'm grateful that Pipistrel developed this electric aircraft, thrilled that my flight school offers it, and I am excited to participate in this electrified future of aviation!
On a related note, numerous electric aircraft are in development, set to allow A-B flights with extended ranges. I'll delve into these advancements another time.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you believe electric aviation is the future?
For those who've contemplated learning to fly, what factors have deterred you from pursuing it?
If you're a pilot, what motivated you to embrace aviation?
I'm eager to hear your thoughts!
This is me during my first session with the Velis:
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