The Avinor Group

Avinor and the Norwegian Association of Air Sports (NLF) acquire new electric aircraft

Del
In 2019, Avinor and NLF's electric plane, LN-ELA, had to make an emergency landing during a demonstration flight. Now an order has been placed for a new electric aircraft which constitutes an important part of the commitment to the electrification of aviation.
Photo: Pipistrel
Photo: Pipistrel

In 2017, Avinor and the Norwegian Association of Air Sports (NLF) acquired a Pipistrel Alpha Electro type electric aircraft. This was the first electric plane in Norway, and was used in a series of demonstration flights. The first official flight departed Oslo Airport on 1 June 2018 with the Minister of Transport and Communications at the time, Ketil Solvik-Olsen, was the passenger on board along with Avinor’s CEO, Dag Falk-Petersen, who served as pilot.

During the Arendal Week political festival last year, the engine failed during a flight, and Avinor’s CEO Dag Falk-Petersen, who was piloting the aircraft, had to undertake an emergency landing in a pond without sustaining any personal injury. The cause of the engine failure remains unknown, but the insurance claim has been finalised. Together with NLF, Avinor has bought a new Pipistrel Velis Electro type aircraft.

‘It is difficult to imagine a world without aviation, but we have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Avinor is working proactively together with other operators in the aviation industry on zero- and low-emission solutions, and the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t changed this,’ says Avinor CEO Dag Falk-Petersen.

Multiple options considered

In January, Avinor and NLF received a quote for the repair costs of the crashed aircraft. The report notes that the fuselage is almost undamaged and can be reused, but that all other components must be replaced due to the plane being submerged in water. The repair costs are similar to the cost of acquiring a new aircraft of the same type. Thousands of flying hours with electric aircraft have been logged in recent years. Avinor and NLF discussed a range of options and agreed to acquire a new electric aircraft.

‘The aircraft we are buying is a further development on LN-ELA. It’s certified by EASA, which means it can be used for things like pilot training. This highlights that the development of electrified aircraft is moving forward,’ says John Eirik Laupsa, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Association of Air Sports.

Avinor and NLF’s new electric aircraft

The aircraft that has been ordered is Pipistrel's new EASA certified model the Velis Electro 600. This aircraft is roughly the same size as the previous type, and the performance is comparable. The aircraft has two seats, a range of one hour, and a battery capacity of 24.8 kWh. The aircraft has a list price of approximately NOK 1.7 million. The vast majority of this cost is being covered by insurers.

The old electric aircraft is to be donated to the Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø.

Avinor CEO Dag Falk-Petersen believes that Norway is particularly suited to being a pioneer in the pursuit of more sustainable aviation.

‘We have a network of short runway airports where electrified aircraft can play an important role. Avinor will ensure that the infrastructure is in place - whether this is to enable battery recharging or the provision of hydrogen for fuel cells. We have great faith in the fact that the aviation industry of the future will be emissions free,’ says Falk-Petersen.

The aircraft will be delivered in May 2021 and will be based in Oslo.

‘We look forward to its maiden flight in the early summer of 2021,’ Dag Falk-Petersen and John Eirik Laupsa conclude.

Kontakter

Press service for journalists

We do not answer inquiries between 2100 and 0630 unless there is a critical incident. For info regarding flights - see avinor.no and choose airport.

Tel:+47 918 15 614presse@avinor.no

Bilder

Photo: Pipistrel
Photo: Pipistrel
Last ned bilde

Om The Avinor Group

Avinor is a wholly-owned state limited company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications and is responsible for 44 state-owned airports.

Avinor has taken a leading role in reducing climate gas emissions from the aviation industry, including the development of electric aircrafts and supplying sustainable jet-biojetfuel.

Avinor provides safe and efficient travels for around 50 million passengers annually, half of which travel to and from Oslo Airport.

Over 3000 employees are responsible for planning, developing and operating an efficient airport and air navigation service. Avinor is financed via airport charges and commercial sales.  The air navigation services is organized as ​subsidiary wholly-owned by Avinor. Avinor's headquarter is in Oslo.

Følg pressemeldinger fra The Avinor Group

Registrer deg med din e-postadresse under for å få de nyeste sakene fra The Avinor Group på e-post fortløpende. Du kan melde deg av når som helst.

Siste pressemeldinger fra The Avinor Group

Fourth quarter 2023: Reduced revenue due to changing travel patterns.12.2.2024 14:23:28 CET | Press release

“Avinor's main challenge is reduced revenues due to changes in travel patterns after the pandemic. There are far fewer business travelers than before, and Norwegians' domestic travel activity has levelled off. Lower traffic volume, lack of adjustment of airport taxes, as well as reduced revenue per passenger, largely due to reduced duty-free quota, challenge the Avinor model”, says Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor.

Northern Norway's Skyward Surge: International Flights and Tourism on the Rise23.1.2024 13:22:01 CET | Press release

Northern Norway is experiencing a remarkable surge in international traffic, marked by a significant increase in passenger numbers and the establishment of new direct routes. This growth is most notably seen in Troms and Finnmark, with figures indicating a rapidly growing interest in the region. Avinor, in collaboration with local tourism actors and airlines, has played a crucial role in developing these routes.

I vårt presserom finner du alle våre siste pressemeldinger, kontaktpersoner, bilder, dokumenter og annen relevant informasjon om oss.

Besøk vårt presserom
HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye