CAE's electric Archer stalls at the design stage

The Montréal-based company wanted to retrofit its existing Piper Archer training aircraft fleet, replacing their piston engines with electric propulsion, while reducing noise and emissions, and eventually converting a large share of the aircraft it uses to train new pilots.

Now, the electric Archer has reached a much less certain stage. CAE has completed the initial design work but has not committed to the more difficult development and certification phases that would follow. Separately, CAE announced new partnerships in defense training, simulation, and unmanned aircraft.

CAE declined AOPA's request for an interview but provided a statement on the status of the program.

"CAE has completed the initial phase of its electric aircraft program, including the design of an electric training aircraft based on the Piper Archer. We are currently evaluating the best path forward for its next phase. This next stage involves more advanced development and certification considerations that require specialized expertise. As CAE sharpens its focus on its core training and simulation business, we are working closely with industry stakeholders and specialized partners to assess the options for taking the project forward. Those discussions are ongoing," Samantha Golinski, CAE senior vice president of communications, wrote in an email.

On September 8, CAE and Polish defense company WB Electronics announced an agreement to explore training and mission-readiness systems for unmanned and autonomous aircraft. The companies said they plan to combine CAE's simulation and training experience with WB Electronics' unmanned aircraft and mission systems. The partnership could serve customers in Canada, Poland, and other allied countries.

"Autonomous and unmanned capabilities are becoming a defining element of modern defense forces," Thibaut Trancart, vice president and general manager of CAE Defense and Security in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said when announcing the agreement.

The agreement comes as Canada is rapidly increasing defense investment. Canada's new Defence Industrial Strategy is intended not only to buy military equipment but also to develop Canadian defense companies. CAE already has an extensive defense and security simulation business covering mission readiness, mission rehearsal, and training for remotely piloted aircraft.

In 2022, CAE originally planned to pursue a supplemental type certificate for an electric conversion of the PA–28-181 Archer. Safran was to provide its 150-kilowatt ENGINeUS 100 electric smart motor, with H55 supplying the battery and power management system. At the time CAE intended to convert two-thirds of its Archer fleet.

For flight schools, the Archer seemed like a good way to test electric propulsion. Training aircraft usually fly short trips, stay close to their home airport, and spend much of their time practicing takeoffs and landings, making them ideal candidates for electric propulsion. Quieter aircraft could also mean less noise for nearby communities. Still, major challenges remain. Batteries add weight and limit flight time, charging can reduce how often an aircraft can be used, and certification becomes more complex as a project moves closer to production.