FAA Exemption Clears Runway for Electric Trainer at US Flight Schools

The Pipistrel Velis Electro, an electric aircraft already certified by EASA in Europe, has now secured a recent exemption from the FAA. That clearance opens a path for the two-seat trainer to operate in the United States, where flight schools have historically leaned on piston singles for primary instruction. For owners weighing the economics of a training fleet, an FAA-cleared electric airframe marks a real shift in what's available stateside, not just a European curiosity. The exemption is being read in the industry as a signal that electric aircraft are moving from certification milestone to operational reality in American flight training.

With reporting from Flying.