The DA42-VI signifies a commitment to eco-friendly aviation training, burning up to 50 percent less jet-A than traditional avgas counterparts. Its introduction aligns with Lufthansa Aviation Training’s dedication to resource efficiency, modernity, and safety in pilot education.

• READ MORE: Diamond DA42 Twin Makes First SAF Flight

Raymund Obst, head of pilot school European Flight Academy, emphasized the role of these new aircraft in shaping future pilots.

“We are preparing future pilots for their cockpit careers in a resource-efficient, state-of-the-art, and safe manner,” Obst said.

Jane Wang, sales director at Diamond Aircraft Austria, highlighted the global popularity of the DA42-VI among leading flight schools, emphasizing its economic advantages and exceptional low-noise performance. The three DA42-VI trainers will be stationed in Grenchen, Switzerland.

Equipped with advanced features such as efficient jet fuel Austro engines, Garmin G1000 NXi, and optional electrically driven air conditioning, the DA42-VI represents a versatile choice for multiengine training. Its all-composite design reflects Diamond Aircraft’s commitment to providing modern and technologically advanced solutions for flight training.

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The company said the airplane, which is part of the training fleet of European Flight Academy—an operation under Lufthansa Aviation Training—flew circuits around the airport after a period of testing and preparation involving Diamond, LAT, and the engine manufacturer Austro Engine.

Bremen Airport was chosen for the demonstration flight in part because it is among the first airports in Germany to stock SAF provided by World Fuel Services. The fuel is refined from oil waste, aquatic plants, and soil-based plants in Ghent, Belgium. The process includes hydrogenating the oils and fats prior to refining them in a manner similar to fossil fuels, Diamond said.

• READ MORE: Neste Makes Deal to Boost SAF Availability in Southern California

The joint event marked the beginning of extensive testing with blended SAF aimed at making flight training for Lufthansa pilots more sustainable. Results of the current testing will help determine whether SAF can eventually become the sole fuel for the European Flight Academy, the companies said.

 “I am very pleased that we are all standing here together today and are able to witness this test flight of one of our European Flight Academy training aircraft, fueled for the first time with SAF,” said Birgit Bubelach, head of training services at Lufthansa Aviation Training. “This has been made possible by our long-standing good partnership with the airport operator as well as the fuel supplier here at Bremen Airport, who, at our request and without hesitation, were available to our training aircraft manufacturer Diamond and its engine manufacturer Austro Engine for the testing of SAF for their engines.”

• READ MORE: Aviate Academy Orders Diamond DA42-VI Twin-Engine Trainers

Diamond Aircraft and Austro Engine said they anticipate increasing the availability of SAF blends as a “drop-in” fuel for general aviation and releasing the entire fleet to use the blended fuel by the end of 2025. “Significant market penetration of SAFs is expected by 2030 and availability of 100 percent pure SAFs without blending for 2050,” the companies said.

The post Diamond DA42 Twin Makes First SAF Flight appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The academy, which is a brand of Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT), recently took delivery of two new Austro Engine jet-fuel-powered DA40 NG aircraft at Rostock-Laage Airport (ETNL) in Germany. The delivery increases the training fleet at the company’s flight school to 12 aircraft of both types, DA40 and DA42. 

“With the new deliveries, we expand our fleet of state-of-the-art training aircraft, and improve training quality even more,” said Matthias Lehmann, managing director of LAT Pilot Academy, in a statement. 

The new DA40 NG aircraft are powered by an Austro AE300, a 168 hp, turbocharged four-cylinder, two-liter piston engine that can run on either jet A-1 or diesel fuel. The DA40 comes with a fully integrated Garmin G1000 NXi flight deck that includes the GFC700 Automatic Flight Control System and provides avionics support that includes traffic advisories, Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology, and satellite weather.

“We are proud to support the growth of European Flight Academy,” said Jane Wang, sales director, Diamond Aircraft Austria, in a released statement. “The cooperation with the academy has been a great pleasure and we’re looking forward to continuing to support them with the industry’s safest and most efficient training platforms.”

Safety Record, Fuel Efficiency Attractive to Flight Schools

Diamond boasts an “industry-leading safety record,” which makes its aircraft particularly desirable for flight schools.

• READ MORE: Diamond’s DA40 NG Just Might Be What the General Aviation Market is Clamoring For

With headquarters in Austria, Diamond attributes the low accident rate of the DA40 to the airplane’s active and passive safety features, including the superb visibility of its cockpit design. 

The fuel-efficiency of the aircraft is also an attractive feature for flight schools. The DA40 consumes 5.1 gph operating at 60 percent max power. Soon, flight schools may have an even more fuel-efficient option: electric aircraft. 

Seizing on the push across general aviation to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, Diamond is developing an all-electric aircraft—targeted specifically for flight training purposes. Dubbed the eDA40, Diamond expects the electric trainer to be certified by early 2024.

• READ MORE: Diamond Announces Plans To Create All-Electric Trainer

Other aircraft manufacturers are also developing electric aircraft tailored for flight training. Pipistrel’s Velis Electro S-LSA is already on the market in the U.S. and it was recently certificated to operate in the U.K. 

A Global Training Solution

LAT combines the flight schools of Lufthansa Group—including its ab initio training program for Lufthansa Airlines—under the brand European Flight Academy (EFA). EFA has been the flight school of the Lufthansa Group since 2017 and has training facilities located across Germany and Switzerland. 

EFA students also spend time training in the U.S. The academy partners with United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, Arizona, where its students are trained to fly single-engine aircraft and receive upset prevention and recovery training. Taking advantage of Goodyear’s average 290-plus days of sunshine a year, the students spend approximately five months flying Cirrus SR20 aircraft, according to EFA.

EFA boasts on its website of having the largest simulator fleet in Europe, representing all major aircraft types, and 450 flight instructors.

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