Leading Edge Aviation’s Commitment to Sustainable Training
Leading Edge Aviation (LEA), a top European flight school, ordered five Elixir Aircraft for pilot training. A third business, Green Aerolease, an environmentally conscious French aircraft leasing company, also signed the contract. By the end of 2024, the first planes will arrive at LEA’s favorable flying conditions base in Murcia, Spain. These aircraft fit the highest avionics equipment standards.
Advantages of the Elixir Aircraft in Flight Training
Andy McFarlane, the CEO of LEA, said, “We are thrilled to be adding Elixir Aircraft to our fleet, marking a significant step in advancing our training capabilities. After extensive market research, we found that the Elixir offers unparalleled safety, economy, and environmental credentials, making it the ideal choice for our single-engine aircraft needs.” He continued,” As the safest aircraft in its class, specifically designed for flight training, it aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing the best possible training environment. With its exceptional green credentials, including paying a net-zero levy for every hour flown, we are proud to offer a sustainable solution to our students at our Alhama base in Murcia. This is just the beginning, with a further five aircraft on order and options for more, ensuring we continue to lead in aviation training excellence.”
Fuel consumption figures are 10 liters/hour for circuit training, 15 for eco-cruise, and 17-18 for high-speed cruise, costing 40 euros/hour. These consumptions make it a cost-effective solution for LEA’s single-engine needs because the direct operation only costs 40 euros/hour. Thanks to the aircraft’s ‘one-shot’ carbon fiber construction, which has fewer moving parts and lower maintenance requirements. This order generated Elixir Aircraft’s order book for the EASA-certified plane to 300, including orders, pre-orders, and letters of intent. Of the aircraft, 27 are currently in operation.
The Role of Green Aerolease in Supporting Innovation
The European Sales Manager of Elixir Aircraft, Emmanuel Gill, also had some thoughts to mention: ‘When we met the Leading Edge team, we immediately agreed on common objectives. They wanted to offer a new aircraft to their students, guaranteeing them great performance while maximizing operational efficiency and ensuring the highest levels of safety. We are delighted to have Leading Edge as part of the Elixir Aircraft family.”
Green Aerolease’s involvement in financing the Elixir planes further supports the goal of sustainable aviation. The partnership represents how leasing arrangements can make cutting-edge, eco-conscious aircraft more accessible to flight schools. This approach bridges the gap between innovative technology and practical application.
This new offer facilitated a deal with Leading Edge Aviation, the launch customer for the product. It allows professional schools to rent Elixir aircraft through an “all-inclusive” service covering insurance and maintenance.
