Transport Canada has validated the type certificate for the currently produced Pipistrel Explorer, Velis Club and Velis Electro. This milestone paves the way for operators to own and fly the validated aircraft models, opening new opportunities for flight schools to incorporate these aircraft into their curriculum, providing future pilots advanced training opportunities.
Gabriel Massey, president and managing director of Pipistrel commented: "Transport Canada's validation of these aircraft type certificates serve as an acknowledgement of our teams engineering expertise and highlights the growing international recognition of our products in key global markets. This validation not only strengthens our position in the Canadian market, but also significantly enhances flight training capabilities across the country.”
The Pipistrel Velis Electro offers a lower-cost and zero emissions platform for pilots. The aircraft’s low-noise profile, producing noise levels of only 60 decibels, and user-friendly avionics, make it an ideal solution for flight training with zero carbon emissions. The aircraft achieved EASA type certification in 2020, UK CAA certification in 2022 and subsequent FAA LSA airworthiness exemption in 2024. Notably, in 2024, the Velis Electro’s electric engine was the first electric engine to receive type certification validation in Canada.
In 2022, Pipistrel delivered its first Velis Electro to Canada, to the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics at the University of Waterloo and its partner Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, supporting research and evaluation of battery-powered electric flight. Pipistrel Explorer offers superior performance with minimum power required, making it suitable for remote operations in varied temperatures and altitudes. The aircraft is approved for day and night VFR operation, intentional spins and comes with an IFR-ready avionics package. The type certification for the original Explorer model (Virus SW 121) was issued in 2016, and the Pipistrel Explorer (Virus SW 121A) achieved EASA type certification in 2021.
FLYONE Armenia, the country’s leading airline, has finalised an order with Airbus for two A321neo aircraft, marking a significant milestone in its fleet modernisation strategy. The agreement was...
The business aviation landscape is evolving rapidly. Client expectations are shifting, demand for unique travel experiences is on the rise, and aircraft acquisitions remain resilient despite geopoliti...
Speaking during the Riga Aviation Forum 2026, Pauls Irbins, Head of the Aerospace Direction at the RTU Innovation Office, presented a compelling vision of how Riga Technical University (RTU) can becom...
TFC Flight Training has become the first flight school in Germany to operate the Pipistrel Explorer following the delivery of two aircraft from Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. company and affiliate of Textr...
