Transport Canada Validates Type Certification for Several Pipistrel Aircraft

Pipistrel recently announced that the Velis Electro, Velis Club and Pipistrel Explorer have received type certificate validation from Transport Canada.

With this validation, operators can now acquire and fly these aircraft models, making it easier for flight schools to add them to their fleets to train future pilots.

"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,” said Gabriel Massey, president and managing director of Pipistrel.

Massey added, “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 is an all-electric aircraft that produces zero emissions. Its intuitive avionics and low noise profile of 60 decibels make it a popular solution for flight training.

The aircraft has achieved certifications and recognitions such as:

• EASA type certification in 2020
• UK CAA certification in 2022
• FAA LSA airworthiness exemption in 2024
• First electric engine to get type certified in Canada in 2024

In 2022, Pipistrel’s first delivery of the Velis Electro to Canada was in 2022, and the aircraft went to the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) at the University of Waterloo and the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC). Its aim was to support the research and development of battery-powered electric flight.

The Pipistrel Explorer is ideal for remote operations that take place in varied altitudes and temperatures. The original Explorer model (Virus SW 121) earned type certification in 2016, while the Pipistrel Explorer (Virus SW 121A) achieved EASA type certification in 2021.

Key features of the Explorer include:

• Capability for day and night VFR operation
• Intentional spins
• IFR-ready avionics package

Pipistrel is a Textron Inc. company.