Flying Magazine
• Jonathan Welsh
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro, an electric aircraft designed for flight training, has secured EASA certification and recently received an FAA exemption. The regulatory milestones position the aircraft as an early example of electric propulsion moving from demonstration toward practical general-aviation operations.
Policy & Regulation
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Pipistrel’s Velis Electro, an electric aircraft designed for flight training, has secured EASA certification and recently received an FAA exemption. The regulatory milestones position the aircraft as an early example of electric propulsion moving from demonstration toward practical general-aviation operations.
Dutch flying-car developer PAL-V has reached a key regulatory milestone after EASA approved its ability to manufacture aviation products. The authorization moves the company beyond vehicle development toward a certified production capability for its aircraft, an important step in its commercialization plans.
An EU court has rejected Ryanair’s request for an injunction against aid provided to Lufthansa, a decision that removes an immediate legal obstacle to the German carrier’s support while highlighting continued scrutiny of state assistance and competitive conditions in European aviation.
High activity
The Department of Transportation issued a final rule narrowing when U.S.-based airlines must provide free overnight accommodations and meal vouchers after cancellations or significant delays within the carrier’s control. The change gives airlines a broader carve-out from passenger-care obligations during extended disruptions.
High activity
Two Democratic senators are urging the FAA to distribute the remaining 2.8% of a congressionally approved pay increase for air traffic controllers, accusing the agency of withholding raises. The FAA says additional conditions remain, intensifying a dispute over controller workload and a broader scheduling overhaul.
The FAA would allow aviation medical examiners to issue pilot medical certificates directly to applicants with diabetes not treated with insulin, removing an additional agency review step. The proposed change would not apply to insulin-treated pilots and could streamline certification for eligible aviators.
A Shanghai listing rule has made orbital flight a prerequisite for commercial space companies seeking public-market access, prompting China’s rocket startups to accelerate launches. The policy is linking capital-market eligibility directly to demonstrated launch capability and reshaping competition across the country’s emerging commercial space sector.
Congo has revoked the licences of 16 air operators, a significant regulatory action affecting the country’s commercial aviation market. The move could reshape the competitive and operational landscape for affected carriers, though the available report does not specify the reasons or immediate consequences.
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