US company Ampaire has flown its hybrid-electric Cessna 337 centreline twin aircraft in Scotland, crossing the Pentland Firth from Kirkwall Airport (KOI) on the Orkney Isles to regional airport Wick John O’Groats Airport (WIC) in the north of mainland Scotland.
The trials, the first to operate on a viable regional airline route, are part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) project, which is being led by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL).
Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, SATE is based at Kirkwall Airport in Orkney, which is also home to the UK’s first operationally based low-carbon aviation test centre.
SATE forms part of the UKRI’s Future Flight Challenge, created to test low-carbon aviation technologies, as well as investigate the airport infrastructure necessary to support sustainable aviation.
Ampaire’s Electric ‘EEL’ technology demonstrator, a modified six-seat Cessna 337, runs on battery power and a conventional combustion engine. The company is developing a line of hybrid electric powertrain upgrades that will reduce emissions and operating costs by as much as 25 percent initially, allowing regional airlines to better serve lifeline routes in Scotland and around the world.
Ampaire test pilot Justin Gillen said, “Today’s flight to Wick went without a hitch, flying at 3500 feet and 120 miles per hour. The Electric EEL is easy to fly, flying a total of 5 hours here.
“This EEL model, Ampaire’s second aircraft, has been flying for over a year, demonstrating the reliability and economy, as well as the potential to transform regional aviation. Its flight characteristics are quite conventional, except for new power management indications in the cockpit.”
Ampaire founder and CEO Kevin Noertker added, “This is an important first step to decarbonizing Scottish regional aviation, while lowering the cost of air service.
“It’s a model for what Ampaire will be able to offer regional carriers everywhere.”
With a little help from the Wick Airport fire brigade, we’ve reassembled the hybrid electric EEL aircraft. Flight demonstrations are planned for this month in Scotland, highlighting the low-emission profile & low operating cost of hybrid electric planes on regional airline routes pic.twitter.com/ltD6mIKLSi
— Ampaire (@AmpaireInc) August 5, 2021
The company sees its hybrid electric upgrades as a catalyst to zero-emission, all-electric aircraft, as battery technology advances and airport charging infrastructure matures.
“With CO2 emissions rising 70 percent faster than predicted. transition to zero emission technology is critical,” sa di Noerthker. “We’re pleased to be taking a big step in that direction here in Scotland.”
Lorna Jack, chair of HIAL, said, “The SATE project is a very important collaboration for HIAL. Our involvement means we can support innovative projects from our partners to achieve a shared goal, decarbonize our operations and deliver environmentally sustainable aviation.
“Ampaire is leading the way in delivering electric-powered aircraft that could provide a viable alternative power source for the aviation sector.
“It is very exciting to see this technology being tested for the first time in Scotland and we are proud that Kirkwall airport is the hub for this and future SATE projects.”
With the completion of flight trials through the SATE project, the Ampaire aircraft will travel on to south-west England where it will perform further demonstration flights between Exeter and Cornwall as part of the Ampaire-led 2ZERO (Towards Zero Emissions in Regional Aircraft Operations) project.
