Green Flight Academy trains pilots for an aviation industry in transition

By incorporating sustainable practices into its daily flight operations, Green Flight Academy in Skellefteå has established itself as one of the country’s largest and most sought-after flight training programs.
“Our role is to show that it’s possible. Many people talk about sustainable aviation and upcoming technologies. We’re already using the most sustainable aviation technology available on the market today,” says Cecilia Holmlund, CEO of Green Flight Academy.

These conditions are closely linked to developments at Skellefteå Airport. As early as 2020, one of the world’s first and most powerful charging stations for electric aircraft was inaugurated, the same year that Green Flight Academy established its operations at the airport.

Electric aircraft are used in a significant portion of the training, and in January 2025, a clear milestone was reached with 5,000 takeoffs and landings completed using electric aircraft. This makes Skellefteå Airport one of the airports in the world where electric aircraft are used most frequently in regular training operations.

“Our role is to show that it’s possible. Many people talk about sustainable aviation and upcoming technologies. We’re already using the most sustainable aviation technology available on the market today,” says Cecilia.

The training program combines traditional pilot training with sustainable practices, with approximately 30 percent of the initial flight hours taking place in electric aircraft. Afterward, students transition to other aircraft types, having established a solid foundation in fuel-efficient flight and operational procedures.

“For our students, this is completely natural. They don’t know any different. They enjoy flying electric aircraft and see it as a natural part of their training,” she says.

Another key part of Green Flight Academy’s appeal is its location. Skellefteå offers real-world conditions that can’t be fully simulated.

“Winter flying is difficult to train for in a simulator. Here, our students get to fly in real winter conditions, which adds a quality to the training that many airlines value,” says Cecilia.

The school currently has students from about ten different countries and has garnered significant international attention. At the same time, the proportion of Swedish students is growing as the program becomes established as a vocational college.
Green Flight Academy also collaborates with Luleå University of Technology on project-based initiatives, where measurements and tests are conducted on electric aircraft and the airport’s energy systems.

“It’s about investigating and testing in real-world conditions. When working with sustainability, it’s crucial to understand the systems in depth,” says Cecilia.

When it comes to commercial electric flight on a larger scale, she is realistic.

“There’s a lot of talk about hybrid solutions and smaller aircraft, but the really big breakthroughs are still a few years away. On the other hand, electric aircraft are excellent for pilot training. That’s an area where we can already make a big difference today.”

At Society Expo 2026, the Green Flight Academy is highlighted as a concrete example of how the mobility of the future can be built step by step—through education, technology, and practical application.

“Our ambition is to inspire and show that the transition doesn’t have to be so abstract. It starts here, in how we train the next generation of pilots,” she says.