Australia Sydney Seaplanes’ plans for electrification By Tony Harrington

Australian amphibious operator Sydney Seaplanes will join two international partners in a groundbreaking initiative to introduce an electrically-powered Cessna Caravan by early 2023, the first such aircraft in the country.

Together with US-based magniX, which is already testing an electrically-powered Caravan, and Spanish company Dante Aeronautic, which is leveraging electrification to help progress sustainable aviation, Sydney Seaplanes is seeking a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to convert one of the airline’s Cessna Caravans to zero-emission electric propulsion.

If successful, Sydney Seaplanes hopes to transform to all-electric flights by 2025, expanding its current fleet of five De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver and Cessna Caravan Amphibious planes with up to four more aircraft.

Once a Supplementary Type Certificate is secured, hopefully by the end of Q1 2023, the company will be able to support other operators in Australia and the South Pacific to transition to electric operations.

Electric propulsion is widely and increasingly viewed globally as a real option for short haul aircraft operations, particularly to secondary markets or in specialised roles.

As well as short tourist flights such as those performed by Sydney Seaplanes, electric propulsion is also viewed as a sustainable option for operations such as passenger flights on short, low-capacity regional routes, air charter services, parcel freight flights, and emergency services such as air ambulance, police and fire spotting or firefighting.

Aaron Shaw, Managing Director of Sydney Seaplanes, says electric propulsion will play a significant role in the global move to decarbonise aviation, and believes the short scenic flights and day tours which his company operates from Rose Bay, on Sydney Harbour, will provide a perfect platform for the technology.

CEO of magniX, Roei Ganzarski, says the Sydney Seaplanes collaboration, and expansion with other STC partners across a range of aircraft types and markets, will increase sustainable air travel and deliver real benefits to short haul, low-capacity markets.

Through the Sydney Seaplanes / magniX collaboration, Dante is also modifying existing aircraft to electric power to help advance sustainable flight operations.

Tony Harrington is a senior communications executive with extensive international experience in the air transport industry. Based in Brisbane, Australia, he transitioned from a career in daily journalism to become a communications leader in the aviation industry, with international carriers including Qantas, Air New Zealand, LATAM, Hawaiian Airlines and most recently Etihad Airways. He has supported a range of Australian domestic, regional and charter airlines, and aircraft manufacturers and suppliers including ATR Regional Aircraft and BAE Systems.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 17th December 2020 | Issue #586

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