Bye Aerospace Gets FAA Nod to Start eFlyer 2 Flight Tests
The FAA has issued a special airworthiness certificate for Bye Aerospace's two-seat electric trainer, clearing it to begin flight testing.
Bye Aerospace has received a special airworthiness certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration for its first eFlyer 2, an all-electric two-seat aircraft intended for pilot training. The approval was announced on 9 September after an inspection at the company's Centennial Airport facility near Denver.
The certificate allows Bye to begin flight testing. The company said the FAA reviewed the airframe, electric propulsion system, instruments, and other functional systems to confirm the aircraft is safe for operation. Bye is completing final inspections and operational readiness activities ahead of a phased flight-test program.
A first flight is expected soon, though no date was given. Bye has worked on the eFlyer 2 for several years, having submitted a certification plan in 2018 and flown a proof-of-concept demonstrator about 100 times.
The aircraft uses a 125kW Safran ENGINeUS 100B1 electric motor, already certificated in Europe. Bye targets two hours of endurance plus a 30-minute reserve. The eFlyer 2 will compete with conventional trainers such as the Cessna 172 and Piper Archer, as well as electric types including Pipistrel's Velis Electro and the in-development Bristell B23 Energic.
Sources
- flightglobal.comBye Aerospace steps closer to eFlyer 2 first flight with FAA approval