Airflow and Tailwind Air will work together to develop an electric-powered amphibious seaplane to offer a clean, safe and efficient alternative for the regional market.
Airflow is a company founded in 2019 to bring eSTOL capabilities – electric short takeoff and landing vehicles – to the passenger and logistics market. Tailwind Air, in turn, operates a fleet of Cessna Caravan amphibious seaplanes on scheduled and charter services throughout the northeastern United States.
By signing a Letter of Intent (LOI), the companies agreed to collaborate in promoting the introduction of all-electric aircraft to the regional and intercity market, with the objective of providing innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of airline operations.
As agreed, Tailwind Air will be the launch customer for Airflow’s Model 200 seaplane for the Mid-Atlantic and New England region and could purchase up to twenty M200 production aircraft.
Marc Ausman, CEO, and co-founder of Airflow said, «The flexibility provided by our aircraft is a proven way for existing operators, such as Tailwind Air, to gain a competitive advantage, reduce emissions and offer new services. They will now be at the vanguard of sustainable flight, and we will be able to continue to refine our aircraft design for today’s and tomorrow’s operations. In the last year, we have seen robust demand for our aircraft, especially for an amphibious seaplane version. Our design does lend itself well to the addition of floats and a partner like Tailwind bringing this to market is a win for the entire regional air mobility sector.»
Alan Ram, CEO of Tailwind Air, said the company actively looked for «a partner that could accelerate the timeline of electric aviation’s impact on our particular market segment. Combining distributed electric propulsion with a modern airframe that still uses traditional construction, flight controls, etc., the Airflow aircraft has both a definable development timeline and a clear path to certification. There are many exciting innovations in aviation, but not all of them will have a meaningful impact in the next decade; we believe this one will.»
The eSTOL Airflow M200 will be able to carry up to 9 passengers and more than 900 kg of cargo with a range of about 800 kilometers. It is also 100% carbon neutral in operation and has a robust and flexible design that allows it to operate on the existing infrastructure.
Airflow estimates that the M200 offers a 70% reduction in operating costs compared to traditional models, and is expected to enter service in 2025.
