Development of “Green” Self-Charging Electric Plane with Range of 500 Miles Gets Boost as Bristow Group Joins Forces with Electra.aero
Future joint turn-key transport service to focus on middle mile logistics for retail distribution and passenger service
- Electra.aero to develop hybrid-electric aircraft that takes off in 300×100 ft and carries 5-7 passengers or 1,800 pounds of cargo up to 500 nautical miles in all-weather conditions
- Bristow will lend its 70+ years of transport expertise to Electra’s development of the eSTOL aircraft’s operations, design, and safety features to meet customer as well as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada certification requirements
- Companies will explore new markets for Bristow operations using the Electra eSTOL aircraft, with focus on middle mile logistics for large retail distribution chains and other specialized customers
- Electra expects to deliver 50 low-emission aircraft to Bristow to provide services in these new markets
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: VTOL), the world’s leading global provider of vertical flight solutions to government and civil organizations, and Electra.aero, Inc. a pioneering developer of clean and efficient aviation technology solutions, today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) and Purchase Agreement under which the two firms will cooperate on the technical development and certification, as well as marketing and future operations of Electra’s hybrid-electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, with an expected volume of 50 aircraft.
Future Electric Air Transport Service to Focus on Middle Mile Logistics for Retail Distribution
The two companies will collaborate on developing a full range of safety and operational features to ensure the new eSTOL aircraft’s final configuration, specifications and design features meet customer as well as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada certification and timeline requirements. The companies will also explore new markets for Bristow operations utilizing the Electra eSTOL aircraft, with a focus on “middle mile” logistics for retail distribution, expanding Bristow’s service to their existing customer base and specialized passenger services. Today, Bristow operates a fleet of approximately 240 of the industry’s most modern aircraft for air mobility transport uses including oil and gas customers, search and rescue (SAR), and government and civil organizations, with annual revenues of over $1.2 billion.
Bristow President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Bradshaw, said:Just as Bristow pioneered the vertical transportation market some 70+ years ago, this MOU sets the stage for early collaboration and development between Bristow and Electra for a new class of aircraft that will allow us to take advantage of the unique capabilities of electric and hybrid power generation technologies to substantially lower carbon emissions and operating costs. This will allow us to expand our expertise providing sustainable, innovative and efficient vertical lift and aerial transport solutions into new potential end markets like moving time-sensitive cargo and passengers regionally. As today's global leader in vertical lift, Bristow can leverage our operational expertise to help Electra design and build the next generation of aircraft that fully utilizes the eSTOL concept in existing and new end markets.
Electra’s eSTOL aircraft can operate from runways as small as 300×100 feet using a proprietary proven blown lift technology where eight engines provide additional wing lift, and hybrid-electric power that provides internal recharging capabilities for aircraft batteries, eliminating the need for new ground infrastructure. The quieter and more environmentally friendly aircraft is currently being designed to transport up to 1,800 pounds of cargo or move 5 to 7 passengers about 400 to 500 miles. Electra’s aircraft can operate in a variety of environments ranging from busy urban areas to remote landing strips, and fly missions ranging from on-demand intracity flights to medical missions, cargo transportation, scheduled passenger service, and more. With greater payload capabilities, longer range, and lower operating costs than competitors, Electra’s eSTOL represents the next generation of novel aircraft. For more information, visit www.electra.aero.
John S. Langford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Electra.aero, said:Bristow's deep experience operating aircraft across a variety of missions is an excellent complement to the Electra team's extensive experience in designing and building innovative aircraft. This collaboration will lead to a more rigorous aircraft capable of addressing operators' needs across a variety of use cases and will help Electra develop and certify an eSTOL aircraft in as short a period of time as possible. As our principal launch operational customer, Bristow will benefit from early access to Electra's aircraft, which will deliver more than twice the payload, fly longer ranges, and have substantially lower operating costs than vertical take-off alternatives — with much less certification risk. We expect to deliver 50 or more aircraft to Bristow to provide low-emission transport services in exciting new markets.
This article was originally published by Electra Aero, Inc..
