Aeronave a propulsão elétrica: perspectiva de utilização na instrução de voo brasileira

Abstract

Recent world studies have pointed out the need for changes in engines in general, including aeronautical ones. This is due to the fact that conventional engines currently adopted have high consumption, are noisy and polluting. From this premise, this research aims to verify the viability of adopting engines powered by electric propulsion in Brazilian instruction. In order to achieve these goals, this study was based on a basic, descriptive research of bibliographic and documentary procedures. It was found that the only aircraft available on the market currently certified for use in flight instruction is Pipistrel's Velis Electro. This aircraft was less polluting and noisy, as well as being able to reduce costs in the order of 90% in terms of fuel use and 52% related to maintenance, when compared to conventional engines, such as those of the Cessna 150 aircraft, adopted in this segment in Brazil. In view of this, estimates by Safe concluded that, due to the decrease in operating costs, the price of flight hours of the private pilot course would be reduced by about 35% of the total value. This would mean more clients (student-pilots) for schools and flying clubs, which, in effect, would increase the volume of resources. However, despite the advantages mentioned, the Velis and probably other similar aircraft face substantial challenges. The first of these is its high price, around R$1.190.000,00 and, in comparison with the Cessna 150, it can be five times pricier. The second concerns the autonomy of only 50 minutes of flight time and considering the mandatory five flight hours to carry out visual navigation, this aircraft does not have the necessary time provided for in national regulations. Finally, the Velis batteries are still in the process of improvement, both in terms of recharging and durability. Therefore, despite being promising, the electric propulsion aircraft for flight instruction in Brazil, at least in the short term, seems unfeasible, mainly because of the low autonomy developed by this model. It is concluded, therefore, that its insertion in the national market will depend on how much, in fact, this type of aircraft can provide in terms of dropping operating costs and, indeed, the values of the courses given by the aviation schools, and if their technical limitations will be offset by such reductions.