Elfly, a Norwegian sustainable aviation group revealed the design of its NoEmi seaplane. The aircraft will fly on 100% electricity, with a range of 170 km, and a seating capacity of nine passengers.
The company is planning to obtain its Air Operator Certificate and aim at opening new routes providing affordable air fares to passengers.
By building and operating the aircraft in-house, Elfly believes it can unlock new potential in the value chain.
Speaking about the new aircraft, Eric Lithun, Group CEO, Elfly said: “We are going to have an AOC - we're not selling the planes. We need to take the whole value chain of aviation, where nobody makes money, and turn that on its head.”
To start with the company will operate 15 aircraft on routes connecting the fjords of Norway. Given the remote nature of Norwegian towns, these zero emission flights could reduce travelling time significantly.
Once the aircraft proves its capability in Norway, Elfly believes that it will be in demand all over the world, especially in hilly and remote areas of Maldives, Caribbean and the Greek islands.
The seaplane will run on battery power, driving two electric motors to provide the propulsion. The provider of the electric motor is not yet revealed but an announcement is expected at the Paris Air Show.