Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all! This is one of the most common misconceptions about training with us. There is no separate license category for electric aircraft — you earn a standard EASA PPL (or other license) that is valid for all single-engine piston aircraft, whether electric or conventional.

E-Flight Academy is a fully certified EASA flight school, just like any other. The only difference is how we train: part of your flight hours are on our modern electric aircraft, which means quieter, more sustainable, and more cost-efficient training.

After graduating, you can fly any aircraft within your license privileges — from a classic Cessna 172 to the latest electric models. Your license is exactly the same as one earned at a traditional flight school.

What you do get extra: training on cutting-edge technology, a fully digital learning environment, and the experience of being part of the future of aviation.

Yes, but not all of them. We fly with seven aircraft, five of which are fully electric.

Electric fleet

These are certified aircraft of the Light Sport Aircraft (CS-LSA) type. The endurance (time in the air) of these aircraft is maximum 50 minutes. You land with at least 10 minutes reserve in the battery. Most of a flight training can be done with these.

Conventional aircraft

For the longer navigation flights, we fly with a Pipistrel Virus SW 121. This is the exact same aircraft as our electric Velis, but with an efficient conventional engine. And then we also have a Bristell B23 for the more intensive exercises like stalls and steep turns.

Best of both worlds

So you get the best of both worlds: sustainable flying on electric aircraft, combined with conventional aircraft where needed for your training.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro falls under the Light Sport Aircraft class. The maximum takeoff weight is 600 kg. It is a light and small aircraft with two seats. The wingspan is over 10 meters. If you want to know more about this aircraft, check out the manufacturer's website.

We primarily talk about endurance rather than distance — the time an aircraft can fly. This is because wind has a major influence on distance.

In practice

Most flights will depart from Teuge and land at... Teuge. So the range is 0. If you were to use the full 22 kWh and fly an average of 80 knots (130 km/h), you would cover 130 kilometers. However, that rarely happens.

Reserve requirements

Legally, there must be at least 10 minutes reserve after landing for flights from and to the same airfield (A→A). Flying to another airfield requires a 30-minute reserve (A→B). This limits the maximum time in the air.

Navigation flights

For longer navigation flights, we use our conventional Pipistrel Virus SW 121, which has a much greater range.

Absolutely! You can book the aircraft here. Please note that you can only fly electric in the Velis if you have successfully completed our conversion training. More information about this training can be found on our E-conversion page.

The demonstrated crosswind for the Pipistrel Velis Electro is 15 knots. This means that if the wind - measured at a right angle to the runway - is stronger than 15 knots, it is not safe to fly. A good website to monitor this is: https://metar-taf.com/nl/EHTE (see 'crosswind' section).

Charging takes about as long as the time you can fly with it. Allow approximately one hour!

No, you cannot remove the wheel covers, only for maintenance if necessary. Use the tire inflation extensions in the aircraft cabinet.

For a trial lesson, you don't need any prior knowledge. You fly with an experienced instructor. He or she determines when it's safe and responsible to fly yourself. A trial lesson is for everyone! Be sure to read the reviews from people who have taken a trial lesson before. It gives a good picture.

Of course! Because all lessons are one-on-one with an instructor, each lesson is tailored to the student. Experienced pilots usually fly the entire flight themselves and will have advanced exercises on the program. We have given trial lessons to quite a few 737 pilots, F16 pilots, and even astronauts. All enthusiastic 😉.

Two options: You both book a full lesson or you share one lesson between the two of you. The latter we call the Duo Trial Lesson. We have many people who take two or more full trial lessons with us and come with two or more people. We can arrange it so you get the briefing together, get to know the aircraft together, and then go up together, each with your own instructor. Indicate in your order that you would like to fly together, and we'll make sure the instructors know. After your order, you'll receive a link with the available options.

What a great idea! You can easily do that here. Enter the name of the person you want to surprise, pay, and the rest happens automatically. You'll receive a personalized surprise video that you can send via WhatsApp, for example. And you or the person you're giving the lesson to can easily schedule the trial lesson online.

No, we do that for you. Just schedule a day that works best for you. We'll send you a message if the lesson needs to be rescheduled due to bad weather conditions. Usually, we can determine this the day before. In some cases, on the day itself.

Like most flight schools, we maintain a minimum age of 8 years for trial lessons. Unless you are 8 years old and taller than 1.95m (see question about height). Or 8 years old and heavier than 90kg (see question about weight).

We maintain an upper limit of 90kg. If you're heavier, please call us. We'll see if we can schedule a lighter instructor.

The Pipistrel Velis is not a very large aircraft. As a guideline, we maintain a maximum height of 1.95m. Taller people have flown in it before. But whether it fits or not depends on things like leg length. So if you're taller than 1.95m, please contact us. Or come try it on first ;)

Often we only know for sure a day in advance whether a lesson or flight can proceed. If it can't, we always contact you by phone. We take your travel time into account. If it can't proceed, we immediately look for a new date or you can reschedule it online yourself.

This: https://metar-taf.com/nl/EHTE is a very handy website! You can also see which runway is in use (26 or 08) and the associated weather factors. An important factor is the crosswind. It should not exceed 15 knots. And the clouds should (preferably) be higher than 1500ft.

There are several. Strong wind, low-hanging clouds, or fog are the most persistent. Rain doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. If the forecasts don't look good, we usually contact you a day in advance to reschedule your lesson.

Teuge is an uncontrolled airfield. This means you don't need permission to start your engine or to depart. This makes the traffic flow very easy. And because of this, it's rarely very busy. On Fridays and weekends it is slightly busier than during the week. But don't let that stop you from scheduling something on those days!

You will receive an internationally recognized license (EASA PPL) that allows you to fly the exact same aircraft as with a PPL license from any other school.

How is this possible?

This is possible because we teach part of the training (8 hours) on a single-engine piston aircraft. This is required for the mandatory longer flights and navigation components of the training.

What you get

The advantage is that after training with us, you get both the single-engine piston class rating and the logbook endorsement that allows you to fly electric aircraft (TMG/SEP electric). So you can fly both conventional and electric aircraft with your license.

Why upfront?

Paying in advance is much more pleasant for us, and actually for you too, than paying afterwards. All the less fun administrative work is already done before you go flying. We don't need to talk about money on your flying day. The instructor doesn't walk around with a payment terminal and no, no cash register and no change either. It's all about flying\! You can fully enjoy yourself.

No worries afterwards

Afterwards, you don't have to worry about invoices to pay either. And honestly, for us it's nice to know where we stand as well. It keeps things simple and transparent for everyone.

Flexibility

You determine the pace, whether you want a break or want to stop entirely. As long as there are unused lessons, you can schedule them. And if for any reason you decide to stop, we refund any unused lessons minus transaction costs.

Or: Can I claim the costs as study expenses?

PPL

With a PPL, you cannot perform commercial activities. Therefore, in most cases, you cannot list the training as business expenses. The tax authority website states: "The training or study is aimed at your profession or future profession."

CPL / Instructor Rating

If after your Private Pilot License you continue for a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or an Instructor Rating, you can try, but our advice: research it thoroughly, discuss it with an accountant, tax advisor, or ask the tax authority.

Our advice

We don't make any promises or guarantees — the tax authority determines what is and isn't deductible.

Both are fine! We charge both aircraft and cars. You can park your aircraft on our E-Deck platform. Just make sure you pay your landing fees at the harbor master yourself.

Why upfront?

Paying in advance is much more pleasant for us, and actually for you too, than paying afterwards. All the less fun administrative work is already done before you go flying. We don't need to talk about money on your flying day. The instructor doesn't walk around with a payment terminal and no, no cash register and no change either. It's all about flying\! You can fully enjoy yourself.

No worries afterwards

Afterwards, you don't have to worry about invoices to pay either. And honestly, for us it's nice to know where we stand as well. It keeps things simple and transparent for everyone.

Flexibility

You determine the pace, whether you want a break or want to stop entirely. As long as there are unused lessons, you can schedule them. And if for any reason you decide to stop, we refund any unused lessons minus transaction costs.

Or: Can I claim the costs as study expenses?

PPL

With a PPL, you cannot perform commercial activities. Therefore, in most cases, you cannot list the training as business expenses. The tax authority website states: "The training or study is aimed at your profession or future profession."

CPL / Instructor Rating

If after your Private Pilot License you continue for a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or an Instructor Rating, you can try, but our advice: research it thoroughly, discuss it with an accountant, tax advisor, or ask the tax authority.

Our advice

We don't make any promises or guarantees — the tax authority determines what is and isn't deductible.

Unfortunately, we're not at all airfields in the country yet. But who knows 😉... Some people solve this by booking multiple flights per day. Some even 4 and a few manage 5 per day. You can also stay overnight nearby and fly a full day the next day too. Look, then it does move along and travel time isn't really the problem anymore. Once you have your license, you just take the plane.

In the aircraft cabinet next to the briefing computer

Try to disconnect the charger from the aircraft, or adapter, in the right order. If does not work, please try to open the charger with the key. It works as follows: you can turn around the switch with the key, situated in the upper drawer under OPS desk.

Check oil level? 10 minutes warm-up? Not needed. With four switches, the prop starts silently and you taxi to the runway. Then you have full power available immediately. And then you fly. Yes. Electric flying is slightly different. But not a world of difference either.

Yes. But certainly not silent.

Compare it to an electric car

When you drive very slowly, you hear nothing. The motor is silent. You only hear sound when you pick up speed. Air resistance and in the case of a car also tires on the road. With an aircraft, we also deal with air resistance and moreover with a propeller. You can definitely still hear that.

How much quieter?

Yet the aircraft is quieter than conventional aircraft of this size with a combustion engine. According to the manufacturer's website, the noise reduction is approximately 10 dB. Since decibels are logarithmic, this means the Velis is perceived as roughly half as loud. A significant difference, both for passengers and people on the ground.