Maeve announced during the Farnborough Airshow that it has chosen Pratt & Whitney Canada as a partner to design its M80, an 80-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
The Maeve M80 aims to offer the performance of a jet and the cost-effectiveness of a turboprop, with a range of up to 1,200 NM. It also aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% compared to current regional jets, at comparable speeds and altitudes.
Maeve’s aircraft is expected to enter service by 2032, following an integrated product development plan based on the team’s experience and lessons learned from various aerospace industrial programs.
Maeve’s Chief Technology Officer, Martin Nuesseler, stated that «the performance and efficiency of the Maeve M80 will change the regional aviation market, as it combines advanced aerodynamics with revolutionary propulsion technology.»
«Collaboration with Pratt & Whitney Canada at this stage of the program allows us to validate and optimize the design of the aircraft and the hybrid-electric propulsion system, leveraging the full potential of this new and promising technology,» added Nuesseler.
The manufacturer expects the regional aviation market to grow over the next two decades, driven particularly by the need for aircraft with greater passenger capacity in the 70-90 seat range, as well as improved environmental performance.
Maeve’s strategy is to access this underserved market with a clean aircraft design that sets new standards for sustainability and economy.
Anthony Rossi, Vice President of Sales and Global Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada, noted that «achieving the ambitious goals of reducing emissions and making aviation more sustainable will depend on combined efforts to accelerate technological innovation and foster collaboration across our industry.»
«With this spirit, we will collaborate with Maeve, leveraging our growing experience in sustainable propulsion technologies, as well as our unmatched experience driving the regional aviation market for four decades,» added Rossi.
