World’s first commercial zero-emission flights taking off soon in Australia

Posted by David Henning on 15 December 2021

Sydney Seaplanes is set to become the worlds first all-electric, zero-emission airways as it partners with aircraft engine-maker, magniX, with the aim to make electric flight commercially viable.

The Cessna Caravan that Sydney Seaplanes plan to electrify. Picture: Sydney Seaplanes.

On 14 December 2021, Sydney Seaplanes conducted a trial flight from Sydney harbour to Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, with the intention of launching a twice-daily return flight to Canberra from September 2022.

‘The environmental benefits are clear, with nil-emissions travel already technically possible on shorter journeys, and with the exponential improvement in battery technologies, range will continue to increase,’ said Aaron Shaw, chief executive of Sydney Seaplanes. ‘Combined with our commitment to use solar technology in our charging facilities, this puts us in a very strong position to become the world’s first fully-electric nil-emissions airline.’

The airline services much shorter routes than larger commercial airlines, such as a 10-minute flight from its base at Rose Bay north to Palm Beach, giving them the opportunity to trial commercial electric flights. The company, which operates five seaplanes mostly from Sydney Harbour, said it plans to expand its fleet by as many as four more aircraft.

On top of the environmental benefits, passengers will also enjoy a 75% reduction in noise compared to compared with the existing aviation-fuel powered planes,

There are still many hurdles to cross, where the aircraft engine maker, magniX, plans to spend upwards of $5 million over the next two years, and the regulatory processes in Australia could be lengthy in securing approval to convert the first of its planes, a 12-seat Cessna Caravan.

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