Saab, Air Canada invest in Swedish e-plane maker Heart Aerospace
Aerospace and defence firm Saab and Swedish electric aircraft company Heart Aerospace have entered a partnership looking at the supply of subsystems and the potential for further areas of collaboration, including certification and manufacturing.
Saab has said the partnership is in line with its ambition to support the transition to sustainable aviation.
“This underlines our commitment to innovative technology and solutions for sustainable aviation. Heart is a pioneer within commercial electric aviation and we look forward to contributing to the future of aviation with our experience of developing solutions at the forefront of technology,” said Micael Johansson, Saab’s President and CEO.
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Heart said that Saab and Canadian flag carrier Air Canada had each invested $5 million with both companies becoming minority shareholders.
The electric aircraft maker also unveiled the latest design updates to its first plane. A regional electric aeroplane with a capacity of 30 passengers, the ES-30 replaces the company’s earlier 19-seat design, the ES-19. It is driven by electric motors powered by batteries, which allows it to operate with zero emissions and low noise.
The aircraft will also include a reserve-hybrid configuration, consisting of two turbo generators powered by sustainable aviation fuel. The reserve-hybrid system is installed to secure reserve energy requirements without cannibalising battery range, and it can also be used during cruise on longer flights to complement the electrical power provided by the batteries.
Heart says the ES-30 has a fully electric range of 200km, an extended range of 400km, with 30 passengers, and flexibility to fly up to 800km with 25 passengers, all-inclusive of typical airline reserves.
“We are thrilled to have two such strong partners as Saab and Air Canada join our mission to electrify regional air travel. Growing up in Sweden, Saab is synonymous with aerospace, and our partnership will not only support our programme but help us to become a part of the proud Swedish aerospace heritage,” said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace.
“Air Canada is a strategically important partner with one of the world’s largest networks operated by regional turboprops, and as a progressive, future-leaning company.”
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In addition to its investment, Air Canada has also placed a purchase order for 30 ES-30 aircraft.
“Air Canada is very pleased to partner with Heart Aerospace on the development of this revolutionary aircraft. We have been working hard with much success to reduce our footprint, but we know that meeting our net-zero emissions goals will require new technology such as the ES-30,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.
“We have every confidence that the team at Heart Aerospace has the expertise to deliver on the ES-30’s promise of a cleaner and greener aviation future.”
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