Diamond Aircraft Austria and Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to jointly explore and develop opportunities for a more sustainable flight training, including testing of the all-electric eDA40 in a real training environment, an eDA40 purchase intention to supplement the current DA40 NG fleet as well as analyses for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
“Diamond Aircraft and LAT are both committed to the targets of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Aviation Programme by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA),” according to a press release. “With this collaboration both companies agreed on shaping a sustainable future for aviation together.
“Within the scope of the collaboration, the eDA40 will be tested in a real training environment at LAT’s Switzerland base in Grenchen. Results will help to further develop the e-aircraft for flight training and to explore options for a suitable operation of a mixed training fleet consisting of the eDA40 and the conventional AUSTRO jet-fuel powered DA40 NG. LAT has declared its intention to be the eDA40 launch customer for the EASA region and purchase a number of eDA40 for their flight training program to comply with the Lufthansa Group sustainability targets,” continues the statement. “More information on that will be released at a later stage. In addition, both companies will analyze and develop the use of SAF fuels for the entire Diamond piston aircraft range and jointly work on further projects such as sustainable propulsions, further operational options for trainer aircraft and synthetic flight training devices.”
eDA40 first trial phase at LAT’s Grenchen, Switzerland base is expected to take place end of 2023/beginning of 2024, after technical clearance is provided.
For more information
https://www.diamondaircraft.com/en/about-diamond/newsroom/news/article/lufthansa-aviation-training-becomes-launch-customer-for-the-all-electric-eda40/