Three electric aircraft manufacturers reported this Tuesday (19) that the American company JetSuiteX (JSX), a premium regional airline with a fleet composed exclusively of dozens of Embraer ERJ-135, ERJ-140, and ERJ-145 aircraft, has signed letters of intent to acquire up to 332 hybrid-electric aircraft to position itself in the environmentally sustainable future of regional air services.
Launched in 2016, JSX is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and offers up to 120 daily public charter flights to 24 business and leisure destinations covering Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Texas in the U.S., in addition to Mexico and the Bahamas.
The order comes following last week’s call from the Biden administration for the aviation industry to reduce carbon emissions and create more well-paid jobs in the U.S.
Electra
The American company Electra confirmed that JSX plans to acquire its short takeoff and landing electric aircraft (eSTOL), having signed a letter of intent for up to 82 nine-seater aircraft, with 32 firm orders and 50 options.
JSX expects to receive its first Electra hybrid-electric aircraft in 2028, leading the next chapter of regional aviation as the first in its category to adopt this advanced and impactful renewable energy technology.
The Electra eSTOL is a low-emission aircraft designed to transport 9 passengers or 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg) of cargo with a range of up to 500 nautical miles (926 km). It has the unique ability to take off and land in less than 150 feet (46 meters) at very low speeds, with batteries that recharge in flight, eliminating the need for new ground infrastructure.
It uses distributed electric propulsion and blown lift (airflow from the propellers on the wing helps generate lift), with a small turbine generator to power the eight electric motors distributed along the wing, providing high lift at low speed and low drag at high speed.
This allows the aircraft to operate cleanly and quietly closer to where people and cargo need to go, providing air connectivity where it does not exist today, including for small towns and regional airports.
Aura Aero
JSX signed a letter of intent with the French company Aura Aero for the ERA, its 19-seat hybrid-electric regional transport aircraft, with 50 firm orders and over 100 purchase options.
According to the manufacturer, the ERA is a new ecologically responsible aircraft, with innovations in avionics, aerodynamics, and propulsion for the decarbonization of regional aviation.
It is capable of transporting 19 passengers or 1.9 tons of cargo, as well as being configured for executive aviation. Equipped with a pressurized cabin and unparalleled passenger comfort in this aircraft category, it can travel up to 1,600 km (900 nautical miles) and land at major airports, as well as on short and unprepared runways.
This order from JSX, along with AURA AERO‘s plan to put the ERA into service in 2028, will provide an extensive point-to-point flight network, while confirming the aircraft’s development maturity, including operational economics and environmental and operational performance.
Heart Aerospace
The letter of intent between JSX and the Swedish Heart Aerospace includes the purchase of 50 of its hybrid-electric regional ES-30 aircraft, with an option for another 50 units.
The ES-30 is a regional hybrid-electric aircraft with standard capacity for 30
passengers, offering low emissions, low noise pollution, and lower operational costs on short-haul routes.
It will have a fully electric zero-emission range of 200 kilometers, an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers, and the flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, all including typical airline reserves.
