Electra Aero Secures Financial Deposit from Bristow “for Five Hybrid-Electric Aircraft”
Electra Aero announced this week, it had secured a financial deposit agreement with Bristow Group for early delivery positions of five of its hybrid-electric aircraft, reports a press release. Bristow had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021, to be the initial launch operational customer for the eSTOL aircraft, with a pre-order of up to 50 aircraft.
The release explains, “Bristow will use Electra’s aircraft to expand and diversify its portfolio of specialised passenger services to offer sustainable regional air transport on routes of 50 to 500 miles.
“The piloted Electra eSTOL aircraft has the unique capability to take off and land in locations as small as 300 ft x 100 ft, making it ideal for reaching a broader range of remote or underutilised airports as well as alternative landing areas.”
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Dave Stepanek, Bristow Executive VP and Chief Transformation Officer, commented, ”With this early delivery position, Bristow looks forward to being among the first Advanced Air Mobility companies to add the Electra eSTOL aircraft to our fleet and offer our customers the advantages of this new class of aircraft.”
John S. Langford, Chair and CEO of Electra, added, “This cash deposit is a real show of confidence in our eSTOL aircraft and a validation of our development roadmap.”
The release continues, “Electra’s proprietary blown lift technology uses eight motors to provide additional wing lift and enable ultra-short takeoffs and landings at slow speed, and hybrid-electric power that provides internal recharging capabilities for aircraft batteries and a greatly increased range.
“Compared to vertical takeoff alternatives, the aircraft can deliver over twice the payload over much longer distances, and at much lower operating costs. Electra has designed the eSTOL aircraft so that hydrogen or battery-electric propulsion systems can be used in the future when those technologies are commercially viable.”
Certification and commercial service, under FAA Part 23 regulations, is expected in 2028.
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