Despite the ongoing challenges within the aviation industry in terms of passenger demand and sustainability. There are some companies and airlines within the aviation market that are looking towards the future. A recent example can be seen with Norwegian airline, Widerøe, UK engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, and Italian aircraft manufactuer, Tecnam who have all committed to delivering an all-electric passenger aircraft by 2026.
Norway terrain is predominantly mountainous and the country’s geography is traversed along by the Scandinavian Alps, which are over 2,000 meters in altitude. The country also has a number of small regional airports, due to poor road networks and this characteristic makes aviation for regional connectivity a vital resource. Even with its challenging typography, Norway is keen to have all domestic flights to be zero-emissions by 2040.
Since 2019, Widerøe has been collaborating with Rolls-Royce on a joint research programme which was aimed at evaluating and developing “electrical aircraft concepts that would fulfil the Norwegian ambition of having the first electrified aircraft in ordinary domestic scheduled flights by 2030.” With an ambitious target already set, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, Widerøe is now looking to become the “launch operator” of the all-electric passenger aircraft being produced by Rolls-Royce and Tecnam and is due to enter revenue service in 2026.
In a statement seen by AeroNewsX, the Chief Executive of Widerøe, Stein Nilsen said, “Norway’s extensive network of short take-off and landing airports is ideal for zero-emissions technologies. This aircraft shows how quickly new technology can and will be developed, and that we are on track with our ambition of flying with zero emissions around 2025.”
The new aircraft will be designed based on the structure of an earlier design, the Tecnam P-Volt, which the Italian company, Tecnam unveiled in November 2020. The aircraft which was designed as part of a strategic partnership with Rolls-Royce will have 11 seats in total and the commercial version will be able to accommodate a total of 9 passengers. It will also be configured as a cargo aircraft, for medical evacuation and special missions.
The battery technology mounted on the P-Volt will ensure full energy availability by enabling fast times between landing and takeoff. In addition, operators of the new aircraft will be able to benefit from reduced aircraft operating costs and reduced noise emissions from the new propulsion system.
In terms of future sustainability goals, the responsibility lies with everyone, from aircraft manufacturers to airlines. Governments must encourage this type of initiative and should perhaps introduce economic benefits, similar to electric cars, for aircraft operators who use electric aircraft in their fleet.
However, it is not just about the aircraft, but also the infrastructure needed to support electrification within the aviation industry. New “charging infrastructure” will also be needed at all airports to support operators to purchase electric aircraft. In any case, seeing companies committed to this sustainable cause is great news for the environment and for the future of aviation.
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Source: https://aeronewsx.com/wideroe-teams-up-with-rolls-royce-and-tecnam-in-pursuit-of-an-all-electric-passenger-aircraft/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wideroe-teams-up-with-rolls-royce-and-tecnam-in-pursuit-of-an-all-electric-passenger-aircraft
