43 Air School has chosen Pipistrel to become the provider of their new fleet and will incorporate a full distributorship and maintenance center for Pipistrel in the Republic of South Africa and Portugal
Pipistrel and 43 Air School are proud to announce the formation of a unique partnership which will revolutionize general aviation in South Africa & Portugal by bringing most innovative and highest quality products, which will prove themselves in the one most demanding training environments, effective immediately.
43 Air School will deploy Virus SW121 to its training fleet with an intention that this airplane becomes the core asset and foundation of Africa’s best flight school program. 43 Air School will update its entire current fleet of 70+ current airplanes with Pipistrel aircraft, whose efficiency, durability and dependability will allow 43 Air School to form its new basis outside of Africa as well.
43 Air School is a dedicated flying training organisation, catering for the private, general commercial, airline and military sectors. Its leading Approved Training Organisation (ATO) has branches in Port Alfred, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, and soon Europe. So far, more than 6000 pilots graduated, helped by 75 full-time instructors. Recently 43 Air School was voted the best Aviation Company and runner up Aviation Safety at the CAIA Awards by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
At Pipistrel we believe that there is no better partner in the South African region to serve as a distributor than 43 Air School. With a large Approved Maintenance Organization and aircraft engineering support to now assist the numerous already existing Pipistrel customers in South Africa and with 43’s established class-leading local parts stock and dispatchability, appointing 43 Air School as the sole distributor means a major upgrade in the quality of service to our current and future customers.
Attie Niemann, the CEO of 43 Aircraft Sales, says:
“In my 40 years in the aviation industry I have never seen anything as efficient as these aircraft. The technology in manufacturing gives these aircraft a major advantage in efficiency on all fronts. We are proud to partner with Pipistrel and 43 will be developing programs to integrate the aircraft into our training programs into the future.
The Virus SW121, selected for flight training by 43 is an aircraft fully EASA Type-certified for day and night VFR and intentional spins, running on automotive fuel, giving us the flexibility to use these aircraft also for our expansion plans into Europe and India in the near future.
The follow on for us to enter aircraft sales focused business, to our product range was inevitable and we believe we have chosen the best product to represent the future of flight training and general aviation.”
“At Pipistrel they really have the tools for the future in Aircraft training and affordable general aviation. They already have the world’s first fully electric trainer flying and soon they will have it EASA Type-Certified. I don’t think the aviation world has fully appreciated the impact this new technology will have on it and by partnering with Pipistrel to be a Distributor for Sub-Sahara Africa & Portugal, we will be at the forefront of developing programs and bring this technology and benefits to the market in our markets. 43 has an unmatched Aircraft Maintenance ability and this will benefit. any future owners of the Pipistrel Aircraft immensely.” – Attie Niemann, the 43 Air School CEO
Ivo Boscarol, the Founder, Owner and President of Pipistrel group, says:
“Dealing with 43 Air School immediately felt right. The more I learned about their tradition, values, immense size of operation and attention to detail and environment, human touch, quality, safety and efficiency, the more I was convinced that forming this partnership is the winning factor for Pipistrel’s long term presence in Africa. I look forward to introducing exciting novelties and opportunities to Pipistrel enthusiasts in the region.”
In addition to the above we are announcing that 43 Air School intends to become the first flight school in Africa to offer pilot training on electric aircraft, with the first Pipistrel’s Alpha Electro electric trainers already on the way.
For more info please contact: sales@43airschool.com and info@pipistrel.si
About 43 Air School:
43 Air School, the Africa’s leading ATO, has branches in Port Alfred, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and soon Europe, and provides the industry’s most advanced and respected Airline Pilot Training models with unmatched facilities and abilities to deliver these courses.
Delivering a unique value-adding practice and carefully designed and managed Airline Training Programs from selection to Airliner Type rating, 43 is still the only Pilot Training Organization accredited by SACAA to offer the integrated Airline Pilot Program. Recently 43 Air School was voted as the “Best Aviation Company” and runner up “Aviation Safety” at the CAIA Awards by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
To read more about 43 Air School and view the courses we offer, visit the website https://www.43airschool.com.
About Pipistrel:
Pipistrel is a world leading small aircraft designer and producer. With 30 years of experience Pipistrel has gained significant international reputation and delivered unique, innovative products to passionate customers on all continents. First-to-fly an electric two-seater in 2007 and an electric four-seater in 2011, Pipistrel won the NASA challenge for the »best small aircraft in the world« three times and the “European Business Award” for Innovation in 2010.
Pipistrel has produced more than 1,500 aircraft to-date. The Pipistrel Vertical Solutions team has designed eight different electric aircraft since 2007 and has developed aircraft propulsion systems for NASA and Siemens’s aircraft. The company holds an EASA Design, Production and Maintenance Organisation Approvals and has the capability of bringing a new aircraft design concept from a basic idea into a certified design, ready for production. Pipistrel won a tender of Indian Armed Forces to supply 194 aircraft to the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and National Cadet Corps. Because of all these achievements, the president of the Republic of Slovenia decorated the Pipistrel team with the highest civil award in the country: the Golden Order for services to the Republic of Slovenia.
About Virus SW 121:
Pipistrel Virus SW21 is the most advanced trainer in its category. It is EASA-certified for day and night VFR and intentional spins, featuring full autopilot, dual screen glass cockpit, ballistic parachute rescue system and dedicated VR immersive flight simulator.
More info: www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/aircraft/cruising/virus-sw-121
43 Air School testimonial: https://www.43airschool.com/43-pipistrel-announcement
