Washington-based aviation company MagniX wanted to become the ¡°Tesla of aviation¡±. It looks like the firm has now found a partner for its journey, a Canadian airline called Harbour Air.
The announcement for the collaboration of the two aviation firms came on Tuesday. Harbour Air, currently operates 12 routes between points including Seattle and Vancouver and even offers scenic tours and adventure trips. The aviation company has a history of pursuing technological innovations for air travel, having become a fully carbon-neutral airline by as early as 2007. Greg McDougall, founder and CEO of Harbour Air Seaplanes now says that firms is on its way to have the ¡°first aircraft to be powered by electric propulsion.¡±
MagniX will be involved in the partnership for its 750 horsepower all-electric motor called magni500. The propulsion system, claiming a range of around 100 miles (160 kms), will first be used in Harbour Air¡¯s six-passenger aircraft, De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver.
(Representative Image: Harbour Air)
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As expected, the aircraft will produce no emissions whatsoever, an idea that aims to promote a cleaner air travel. Globally, the aviation industry is responsible for 4.9% of carbon emissions. As and when the electric aircrafts come into the picture, this percentage is only going to decline thereon.
There is still time though. While the firm affirms that the first flight tests of the all-electric aircrafts will be conducted in late 2019, the first passenger flights will only be seen by 2021. For such a major shift in an industry that empowers the global transportation, this seems to be a necessary time frame.
(Representative Image: Harbour Air)
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Harbour Air is not the only airlines pursuing the idea though. Several others, many of them startups, are in the process. The simple reason that adds to the environmental benefits of such all-electric aircrafts, is the ease of maintenance and reduced operating cost. MagniX CEO had confirmed that the savings for an airline was as huge as 80 percent.
So will we see all-electric planes in the near future? For sure, as long as the aviation companies are considering it as the next, and a crucial innovation in the space.