Surf Air Mobility and Electra Enter Agreement to Bring eSTOL Aircraft to Regional Travel market

 On February 15, 2024, in Los Angeles, Surf Air Mobility Inc. A green regional air mobility company, and the innovative aerospace company Electra. Aero Inc. announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to revolutionize regional air travel by making it more affordable, sustainable, and accessible using Electra’s cutting-edge hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft. This initiative will be supported by Surf Air’s tech-driven air mobility platform and its Aircraft-as-a-Service offering.

Surf Air has secured positions for the delivery of 90 Electra eSTOL aircraft to enhance its national flight network, including partnerships with Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines. This move aims to bolster the deployment, development, and fine-tuning of new electric aircraft within its operations. With the unique capability of the Electra eSTOL aircraft to take off and land in spaces as short as 150 feet, Surf Air intends to extend direct-to-destination flights to a broader audience, reaching beyond major airports to include smaller regional hubs and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructures, thereby broadening the scope of regional air transportation far beyond the current limits of private aviation. 

By securing preferred delivery positions for 90 Electra eSTOL aircraft, Surf Air is positioning itself at the forefront of the green aviation movement. These aircraft, known for their hybrid-electric capabilities, promise to dramatically reduce carbon emissions compared to traditional aircraft, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The agreement between Surf Air and Electra highlights several key points of collaboration:

• Surf Air secures preferred delivery positions on 90 eSTOL aircraft from Electra
• Surf Air and Electra will collaborate on the development of route networks to be served by Surf Air’s air mobility network leveraging the Electra eSTOL aircraft
• Surf Air is the preferred lessor and provider of Electra eSTOL aircraft to Surf Air customers under its Aircraft-as-a-Service leasing program
• Surf Air, its data services partner(s), and Electra will collaborate on the development of predictive analytics systems to reduce overall operating costs and streamline operations. 

Electra’s blown lift technology: Blown lift technology is an advanced aerodynamic technique designed to significantly enhance the lift generated by an aircraft, allowing for safe takeoffs and landings at remarkably slow speeds of only 35 mph. It takes very little distance to accelerate to this speed. This innovative technology enables Electra’s eSTOL (electric Short TakeOff and Landing) aircraft to operate from tiny spaces, even smaller than a soccer field. Electra’s aircraft can achieve efficient, low-speed flight capabilities by utilizing blown lift, a pivotal technology for urban air mobility, and other applications requiring short runways or constrained spaces.

Access any small regional airport.

Blown lift is a special aerodynamic technique

The simplicity of Fixed Wing Design: Unlike eVTOL aircraft that require complex mechanisms for tilting wings or rotors during transition phases between vertical takeoff/hover and forward flight, Electra’s aircraft maintain a fixed-wing throughout the flight. This eliminates the need for hover and transition phases, enabling the aircraft to rely on its wings from takeoff to landing, simplifying the design and potentially increasing reliability and safety.

Streamlined Certification and Operations: Electra’s aircraft are designed to comply with established certification standards for fixed-wing aircraft, such as the FAA’s FAR Part 23 and EASA’s CS-23. This clear certification pathway facilitates a more straightforward and quicker approval process compared to the novel and complex certification requirements often associated with eVTOL designs. Electra’s aircraft can also be piloted with a standard fixed-wing pilot’s license, simplifying the operational requirements and expanding the pool of potential pilots without needing specialized eVTOL training.

Electra’s eSTOL specifications:

• Range: 500 miles + 45 mins reserve
• Passengers: 9 passengers + 50 lbs bag each
• Cruise speed: 200 MPH
• Takeoff and landing area: 300FT X 100FT
• Quiet takeoff and landing: 75 dBA @ 300 FT

Electra’s eSTOL aircraft will join Surf Air’s proprietary electric Grand Caravan and Regent’s electric seaglider as the third green vehicle in the Surf Air platform. This fleet diversification with environmentally friendly vehicles underscores Surf Air’s commitment to leading the charge in green regional air mobility. Each aircraft brings unique capabilities and benefits, collectively contributing to a more sustainable and efficient air travel ecosystem. 

The collaboration extends beyond aircraft acquisition. Surf Air and Electra will jointly develop a leasing partnership to enable new air operators to access these innovative aircraft, expanding regional transportation access. This approach is designed to lower the barriers to entry for regional air operators, democratizing the skies and fostering a more connected world.

Moreover, the partnership will focus on developing fleet-wide data analytics services. These services provide real-time aircraft information to Surf Air’s network, optimizing operational efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience. By harnessing data analytics, Surf Air and Electra are improving the mechanics of air travel and its intelligence and responsiveness to operator and passenger needs.