Ampaire Flies First Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft
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Ampaire’s Eco Caravan, a nine-seat regional aircraft, successfully made its first flight on November 18 on a fully-integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system, taking off from Camarillo Airport, California.
Ampaire expects the Eco Caravan to be the first electrified regional aircraft to enter commercial service (certification in 2024) and the first in a series of larger Ampaire hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead a transition to sustainable aviation.
The Eco Caravan upgrades the standard Cessna Grand Caravan with Ampaire’s integrated propulsion system of a compression ignition engine and an electric engine. A battery pack in a body fairing preserves passenger and cargo capacity for the aircraft.
The first flight was 33 minutes in duration to make initial checks of the propulsion system. With test pilot Elliot Seguin at the controls, the Eco Caravan took off from Camarillo Airport north of Los Angeles at 07.49 am Pacific Time. It climbed to 3,500 ft at full power, combining power from the combustion engine and electric engine. Seguin then throttled back to a cruise setting, reducing the load on both power sources. He spent roughly 20 minutes testing various power settings while studying temperatures and other readings before making a descent and final approach to Camarillo at a low power setting. “The Eco Caravan propulsion system performed just as expected,” said Seguin. “It was smooth and quiet. All temperature and power output readings were normal.”
The Eco Caravan reduces fuel consumption and emissions by up to 70 percent. Emissions are near zero when using sustainable aviation fuel. The cost of operation is reduced by 25 to 40 percent depending on the airline route structure. The cost per available seat mile is near that of driving.
The hybrid-electric aircraft preserves the range/payload capability of the Grand Caravan, and can fly farther than the Grand Caravan with eight passengers. The maximum range is beyond 1,000 miles. The Eco Caravan’s range and load-hauling capability are in marked contrast to proposed all-electric, hydrogen-electric and even other hybrid-electric designs.
The Eco Caravan can recharge its batteries in flight or at charging stations on the ground. Because charging infrastructure will be limited for some years, the ability to operate independently of ground charging is critical for preserving the full utility of the Eco Caravan.
The Eco Caravan’s propulsion technology is scalable to larger regional aircraft and ultimately to single-aisle airliners. Ampaire plans to rapidly roll out more powerful propulsion systems for larger aircraft, following a building blocks approach that will dramatically improve the sustainability of airline operations.
Ampaire is already working with the FAA to certify the Eco Caravan in 2024 under a supplemental type certificate, an STC. The Ampaire approach differs from others in that it does not require a full aircraft certification program, which can be time-consuming and very expensive. The Grand Caravan is already FAA-certified. Ampaire will certify it to fly with a new propulsion system.