Initial launch class 2024 with the Pico Youth & Family Center.

We had a successful launch of our Eco-Aviation Private Pilot Ground School program last night!

PYFC and the Eco-Aviation Foundation have developed a scholarship-based, private pilot ground school program intended to bring training and employment opportunities to underserved communities. Our focus is to empower underserved students and young adults that would like to explore careers in aviation and aerospace.

This first-of-its-kind scholarship program is based on the FAA Private Pilot Ground School curriculum, along with the new electric aircraft and eco airport technologies just now becoming commercially available. We are committed to developing an inclusive, diverse aviation workforce that can meet the urgent need in the airline industry for pilots, mechanics, technicians, line crew, engineers, quality control specialists and others, but will also be prepared to pivot with the industry to clean and quiet, sustainable aviation.

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September 24, 2024 – Pipistrel, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that the Eco-Aviation Foundation International, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting clean and quiet aviation worldwide, has taken delivery of the first Velis Electro to be used for flight training purposes under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness exemption. The purchase makes the Velis Electro the first FAA-exempt light sport electric aircraft at the Santa Monica Airport in California.

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is quiet, producing noise levels of only 60 decibels, low cost and user- friendly, making it an ideal solution for flight training with zero carbon emissions. The Foundation is expecting the arrival of its second Velis Electro in November.

In addition to facilitating the purchase of the Velis Electro, the Eco-Aviation Foundation is launching an Eco Flight Ground School, as well as an associated scholarship initiative in collaboration with local youth-focused community centers. These scholarships will fully fund Private Pilot ground school courses, including the complete FAA-approved curriculum and training on electric aircraft technologies. Additionally, scholarship recipients will have the cost of their FAA written test at a local testing center covered.

The Velis Electro aligns with the Foundation’s mission to promote electric aviation and to provide eco-friendly flight training, with a focus on young adults in underserved communities. The Eco Flight Ground School scholarships, in partnership with community youth organizations, open up a wide array of career opportunities in aviation and aerospace for students.

“This aircraft is not just a symbol of innovation and the future of clean aviation, but a functional tool to empower the next generation of aviation professionals,” said Scott Burgess, President of Eco-Aviation Foundation International. “While we’re proud to launch these efforts in Santa Monica, we anticipate that flight schools everywhere will embrace this opportunity to engage in similar efforts. The Foundation plans to help facilitate many of these initiatives.”

In addition to the Eco Flight Ground School and flight training, “discovery flights” in the Velis Electro will provide hands-on, educational experiences for students and others in the community. These flights are designed to inspire and educate community members about the possibilities within the aviation sector, particularly those who may not have previously considered it as a viable career path.

“We are proud to see the Pipistrel Velis Electro being used to train students, preparing them for the future of aviation,” said Tricia Steel, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Textron eAviation Inc. “This Eco-Aviation Foundation International’s initiative not only equips future aviators with experience on next-generation power systems, but also plays a crucial role in creating cleaner and quieter communities. This purchase underscores another step forward in the continued adoption of sustainable solutions worldwide.”

Earlier this year, the FAA granted a light-sport aircraft (LSA) airworthiness exemption for the Pipistrel Velis Electro, enabling flight training in an electric aircraft within the United States.

For more information, visit: www.pipistrel-aircraft.com.

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About Pipistrel

For interviews, images or further information, please contact:

Rachel Douglass rdouglass@e-aviation.com 316.285.3141

In 2020, Pipistrel’s Velis Electro became the world’s first, and currently only, electric aircraft to receive full type-certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and most recently received a light-sport aircraft airworthiness exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This achievement followed a series of electric aircraft introductions since the company began research and development of electric propulsion in 2000. Pipistrel’s pioneering work has been recognized through awards from NASA, IDC, and other

organizations. The company, which offers a family of gliders and light aircraft with both electric and combustion engines, has delivered more than 2,500 light aircraft worldwide since its founding in 1989 and additionally has both hybrid and electric propulsion models under development. Pipistrel is part of the Textron eAviation segment of Textron Inc. For more information, visit: www.pipistrel-aircraft.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

About Eco-Aviation Foundation International

The Eco-Aviation Foundation International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting all aspects of clean and quiet aviation, including electric aircraft, sustainable airports, educational opportunities and careers in aviation and aerospace. The Foundation promotes a future of community-friendly, clean and quiet urban airports, as well as sustainable aircraft that will revolutionize how we travel. The Foundation is based in Santa Monica, California, and its scope is worldwide. For more information, visit: www.eco-aviation.org.

Forward Looking Information Statement

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These

statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation or deferral.

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Ben Marcus, co -chair of Up Partners, an SMO based innovative venture capital company with a stated mission of transforming the moving world, was instrumental in bringing a number of important partners and participants to the event.  He told us why this event was so personally meaningful.

“I was born and raised in Santa Monica. I live in Sunset Park and am raising my family here.  My cofounder Cyrus Sigari and I met and became childhood friends as cadets in the Civil Air Patrol at Santa Monica Airport.  We are deeply passionate about this community and the work we’re doing to help make transportation cleaner, faster, safer and more economical for people around the world.  We love bringing our neighbors intoour world, helping them see that the future is promising and that they will benefit from it.”

Created to showcase the past, present and future of aviation among the activities at the event were displays on cutting edge aviation technologies, electric aircraft, urban air mobility, offers for aviation scholarships and job training and a display of numerous aircraft.  The family friendly day included a blimp fly by, historic bus tours and food trucks with a variety of cuisines, a DJ and a live band.

Mark Smith, co-president of the Santa Monica Airport Association, explains why this event was designed to engage the community in the airport’s future.  “Electric aviation is now a reality that is clean and quiet, and will ensure that this airport remains a vital asset for future generations.”

Ben Marcus adds: “Green and quiet aircraft are flying now and will soon be certified. Electrification is coming to virtually all modalities of transport. This will help create sustainable value for travelers, community members, and the businesses that operate transportation services. Although current technology aircraft produce a relatively small percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, every sector of the economy needs to do its part to reduce the impacts of climate change.”

Vanessa Gibson, the event co-producer and SMAA Board member with fellow Co-producer and Events Committee Chairman, Dylan Lukes, explained the vision for the event.

 “We created the First Around the World Day so that our local community could celebrate and connect to experience SMO’s history and future of innovation with our neighbors in partnership with the City of Santa Monica. Our Open House showcased family-friendly fun, STEM education, career development information and historic tours while highlighting emerging electric mobility advancements.  Our team of enthusiastic volunteers are committed to providing important resources to the community.”

Ben Marcus, his company Up Partners, and the other organizations and individuals who contributed to this event believe this is the right time to educate his Santa Monica neighbors on the impact that changing transportation technologies will bring to their community. 

“I think we have an incredible opportunity ahead to change the airport for the better. I’d like to see this land become the Pride of Santa Monica, a place where the community comes to learn, play, work, create, and travel about the region in new ways. Our community has an opportunity to imagine and create the transportation infrastructure of the future, to be on the leading edge of innovation in how people and goods move around the world. The Santa Monica Airport visioning process serves as a catalyst to reignite our city’s flame of innovation and to give us purpose.”

Among the many compelling reasons for keeping local general aviation airports open is the exciting future of “green aviation” which will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of transportation and bring a long list of other benefits to the community.

Along with fast-moving global efforts to transform all modes of transportation, electric airplanes are already flying in Europe while awaiting certification in the US. Innovations in urban air mobility are multiplying quickly, and in various stages of development and approvals.  Clean and quiet aviation is on its way, with the development of hybrid aircraft, sustainable fuels and eco airports also in development.

Note: Eco-Aviation Foundation can provide guidance to local airports in crafting plans to assist them and their aviation stakeholders in building community friendly operations. We are also available to provide talks on the development of the electric aviation industry to interested groups.  For more information contact us at:  info@eco-aviation.org.

More information on Up Partners at: https://up.partners

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THE WORLD’S LEADING TRADE SHOW FOR GENERAL AVIATION

What was launched over 45 years ago with a handful of gliders and motor gliders as a small aviation exhibition in the context of a regional automotive exhibition has developed into one of the world’s most important industry meetings with an impressive line-up of all kind of aircraft types.

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Volatus Infrastructure aims to provide low-cost vertiport structures that can be built quickly and easily. The company’s vertiports will feature vehicle-agnostic charging stations for eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Volatus Infrastructure)

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Delta Airlines will invest $60 million in Joby Aviation, a leading electric air taxi startup, to create a “home-to-airport” service using the startup’s five-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the companies announced Tuesday. Delta said its investment in Joby could go as high as $200 million if the company hits certain milestones…

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