Bristow teams up with Electra

Bristow Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Electra in which both companies pursuit a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) as well as a Purchase Agreement under which the companies will cooperate on the technical development and certification, as well as marketing and future operations of Electra's hybrid-electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, with an expected volume of 50 aircraft.

Bristow, which today operates more than 240 helicopters worldwide on off-shore, search-and-rescue and other missions for civil customers and governments, is planning to use the electric short-and-landing (eSTOL) aircraft to diversify its operations.

Electra in June unveiled its first production eSTOL, which features eight electric engines and has a wingspan of 14,6 m. It will need just 30 meters to take-off and will be able to carry cargo or up to seven passengers and its single pilot over a maximum distance of 800 km. It will have take-off and landing speeds of only 48 km per hour and will have a cruise speed of 321 km per hour. The low take-off and landing speed is enabled by its so-called "blown lift" technology, where the electric motor-driven propellers blow air over the entire span of the wing and its flaps.

The Falls Church (VA) base company plans to have the first aircraft in commercial service by 2027.

Illustration by Electra.