OSM Aviation orders 60 all-electric aircraft
The Norwegian company OSM Aviation orders 60 all-electric aircraft. The company is led by Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s brother, Espen Høiby. “The purchase will lead to an 80 per cent drop in operating costs,” Høiby believes.
“The all-electric planes of the type eFlyer 2, are manufactured by the Colorado-based company Bye Aerospace,” according to the pilot training company.
“The order will be for Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2.” CEO of OSM, Espen Høiby, states.
“It’s important that the airline industry steps up to the challenge of developing more environment-friendly transport. At OSM Aviation, we’re committed to pursuing a socially responsible and sustainable business,” he continues.
Høiby claims that is the largest order for commercial electric planes to date.
“The aeroplanes will be used for training at OSM Aviation Academy’s flight training centres. Pilots flying the planes will earn the same licenses they would have earned from flying traditional planes. Using the all-electric planes will also cut flight costs,” Høiby tells Reuters.
The eFlyer 2, until a few days ago known as the Sun Flyer, uses a Siemens propulsion system: a 57 lb. SP70D motor with a 90kW peak rating and a continuous power setting of up to 70kW (94 hp). The eFlyer 2 successfully completed its first official flight test on February 8th, 2019.
“Each two-seater aircraft will cost $350,000 per plane, but while it costs $110 per hour to operate a conventional training plane, the all-electric planes will only cost $20 per hour,” Høiby explains.
“OSM currently uses about 20 planes for pilot training. Most of them are Cessna 172s, which will be phased out,” according to Reuters.
 |
|
|
|
|
Step forward for electric flight
It’s another step forward for electric flight. Pacific Northwest seaplane operator, Harbour Air, has recently informed that it will be converting all of its seaplanes to electric, to make it the first all-electric airline in the world.
The low-cost airliner, EasyJet, also informs that it will be testing a 9-seater electric plane this year.
“State-owned Avinor, which operates most of Norway’s civilian airports, made headlines last year when it piloted test flights with an electric plane,” former Norwegian Minister of Transport, Ketil Solvik-Olsen, observes. Olsen is currently working for OSM, responsible for the establishment of the company’s training centres.
“This made more people aware of the potential for green aviation. Now OSM shows that the business community is ready to take charge and move the industry further along this positive trend,” Solvik-Olsen concludes.
See Also
Norway’s first electric aircraft on the wing with Solvik-Olsen on board
Norwegian behind probably the world’s first electric seaplane
© #Norway Today
