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Siemens Sends Do-Not-Fly Order For Pipistrel's All-Electric Channel Crossing

Posted by timothy on from the in-the-event-of-a-water-landing dept.

An anonymous reader links to Flyer's coverage of a squabble that seems to feature the aircraft giant Airbus aiming bad sportsmanship in the form of corporate pull against much smaller light aircraft maker Pipistrel, thereby "squashing the ambitions of light aircraft maker Pipistrel to be the first to fly an electric aircraft across the English Channel." Though Pipistrel acquired the flight permissions it anticipated needing in connection with its announced ambition to cross the channel, they've been grounded by allegedly underhanded means: Siemens, which supplies the electric motor used in the craft which was to make the journey, contacted Pipistrel to prohibit over-water flight with that motor (partly German). U.S. Pipistrel dealer Michael Coates believes he knows why (as quoted by Flyer): "Airbus managed to flex their muscle with Siemens who are supplying motors to Pipistrel and have the Pipistrel motor agreement immediately terminated," he said. "The Airbus E-Fan project does not use Siemens motors but it does have Siemens stickers over the side of their aircraft.

4 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. What's the big accomplishment here? by Sowelu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Uh, wasn't there someone flying around the world in a solar plane or something? Going across the Channel seems like really tiny potatoes.

  2. streisand etc. by Hagaric · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Siemens claims they don't want their reputation risked by using the motor this way, and threaten to go to the press over it.
    Both UK & French authorities have signed off that they find the safety aspect acceptable.

    I can't see how this can do anything but harm Siemens' reputation, and the sudden day-of-departure withdrawal of consent stinks a long way.

    Some say Siemens is a very risk-averse & conservative company, and it is this that is driving their "better safe than sorry" attitude..

    I don't buy it, and neither should you.

  3. Re:Pipistrel did not buy the motors? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It is a difference of semantics. In Europe we call it corruption, in the US you call it corporate lobbying.

  4. Deliver the engine to the other country via air by Hotawa+Hawk-eye · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Okay, Pipistrel is going to have to deliver the engine back to Siemens. What if the way they choose to do that is by flying it from France across the Channel to a Siemens facility in England?