Air taxis may soon be a permanent feature at Sydney Harbour, thanks
to a deal inked between Australian commuter airline, Sydney Seaplanes
and Embraer’s urban air mobility (UAM) unit, Eve.
The deal will see progressive delivery of 50 electric vertical
take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to Sydney Seaplanes that will
commence from 2026.
CEO of Sydney Seaplanes, Aaron Shaw, says the company expects to
operate the eVTOLs from its Rose Bay aviation terminal in Sydney
Harbour.
“Sydney needs a post-Covid lift and what better way to do that than
by developing high-tech and zero-carbon jobs that support transport,
tourism and the vibrancy of this wonderful city. Eve’s eVTOL technology
will integrate seamlessly with our electric amphibious fleet to deliver a
range of tourism and commuter journeys,” said Shaw.
Eve’s
EVTOLs look similar to a helicopter and is designed with eight vertical
lift propellers, two pusher propellers, and room for four passengers
plus a pilot. They are not just emission-free but also low noise, and
will contribute significantly towards Sydney’s goals for sustainable
tourism and commuter flights.
Andre Stein, president & CEO of Eve Urban Air Mobility says the
company will also contribute to air traffic management, safety
standards, training, and another suite of services for its aircraft. “We
are pleased to support Sydney Seaplanes as they seek to bring new
mobility solutions to Sydney,” he added.
Sydney Seaplanes operates a mixed fleet of amphibious aircraft,
comprising Cessna Caravans, as well as de Havilland DHC-2 Beavers. Last
year, it announced plans to develop an all-electric and zero-emissions
regional airline, Alt Air. To start as soon as 2022, the company hopes
to have its first all-electric flights as early as 2024.