Electra's EL2 Prototype Flies Instrument Procedures Across Virginia Airports Under Smart Airspace and FAA eIPP
Why It MattersInstrument procedures built for helicopters now being flown by a fixed-wing ultra-short take-off aircraft suggests regulators may open low-visibility access at smaller airfields to a new class of novel aircraft.
Last month, Electra demonstrated that its fixed-wing EL2 prototype can fly the kinds of instrument procedures typically limited to helicopters. The company tested specially developed routes and approaches across multiple airports in Virginia.
The flights were conducted under Virginia's Smart Airspace program and the Federal Aviation Administration's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), and further validated the capabilities of Electra's ultra-short take-off and landing design. The campaign also forms part of an ongoing effort to show how instrument procedures can be adapted for novel aircraft.
