Ampaire, a US company formed in 2016 to develop electric-powered aircraft, confirmed that it has received a firm order for five of its Eco Caravan aircraft. The order includes an option to purchase an additional twenty airplanes. The buyer is WingTips, a regional air mobility company currently operating in Arizona, California and Nevada.
According to both companies, they also plan to enter into further agreements for up to 175 additional aircraft as WingTips expands. In addition, the operator could place an order for half a hundred Eco Otters, a variant developed from the DHC-6 Twin Otter, in the near future. WingTips expects to use the Eco Caravans on routes between 100 miles (160 kilometres) and 400 miles (643 kilometres).
The Eco Caravan is the first commercial product developed by Ampaire. It is a hybrid-electric propulsion model developed from the popular Cessna Grand Caravan. The adaptation maintains the range and payload capacity of the original aircraft.
According to the developer, the Eco Caravan can seat up to nine passengers and has a range of up to 800 miles (1.287 kilometres). In addition, it can carry up to 2.500 pounds (1.133 kilograms) of payload.
Compared to the original Cessna Grand Caravan, the hybrid version uses up to 70% less fuel on short trips and up to 50% less on longer routes. Consequently, it enables a considerable reduction of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Operating with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) reduces emissions by up to 90%, according to Ampaire.
Moreover, the total reduction in operating costs ranges from 25% to 40% compared to the original model, depending on the route.
Ampaire completed the first engine tests of the Eco Caravan in April this year and expects to perform the first flight in the second half of 2022. Mike Azzarello, founder of WingTips, said the company maintains «the intention to put the aircraft into service as soon as possible after certification».
The new version of the turboprop became the first hybrid aircraft to enter the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) process. This is a less complex programme than certification of a completely new aircraft. For this reason, Ampaire expects to obtain all necessary approvals in 2024.
