California Dreaming

Ampaire, the California-based electric aviation concern, has secured a firm order for five of its low-emission, nine-seat Eco Caravan aircraft, plus an option for an additional 20.

The order comes from fellow California company, WingTips, an on-demand, regional air-carrier with a unique and innovative business model. Both companies anticipate another 175 orders for the Eco Caravan as WingTips expands nationwide. In addition to the handsome Eco Caravan buy, WingTips plans to purchase fifty of Ampaire’s upcoming, 19-seat, Eco Otter aircraft—a hybrid-electric take on de Havilland’s DHC-6 Twin Otter.

WingTips plans to use the new aircraft on regional routes of one-hundred to four-hundred statute-miles, operating mainly from general aviation airports. The company uses artificial intelligence to offer individual seats to on-demand charter passengers, and advanced floating fleet algorithms to optimize fleet usage. The company also plans to offer scheduled service on higher volume routes.

WingTips founder and CEO Mike Azzarello said of the acquisition: “The Eco Caravan will redefine operating cost through its extreme efficiency. Our objective is to close the gap with the cost of driving while cutting travel time up to 75-percent. Working with Ampaire, we’ll be able to achieve this in a sustainable way. The Eco-Caravan operates within existing airport infrastructure, putting us years ahead of competitors that need major infrastructure investment in order to operate.”

Ampaire CEO Kevin Noertker remarked: “Ampaire and WingTips share a vision of reducing the cost and increasing the convenience of regional air travel while addressing a major source of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The starting point for moving toward zero emissions is with low-emission hybrid-electric aircraft such as the Eco Caravan.”

The Eco Caravan is Ampaire’s first commercial product. It is—in essence—a Cessna Grand Caravan re-engined with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The Eco Caravan can carry up to nine passengers or 2,500 pounds of cargo.

Ampaire claims its Eco Caravan uses 70-percent less fuel on short trips and 50-percent less on longer trips with corresponding emissions reductions. When using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), emissions are allegedly reduced to nearly one-hundred-percent. Total operating cost reduction—according to Ampaire—ranges from 25 to 40-percent, depending on route structure.

Ampaire conducted the first Eco Caravan engine runs with a preliminary drivetrain configuration in April 2022, and plans to fly the aircraft before the end of the year. The company is working with the FAA, and hopes to see the Eco Caravan receive supplemental type certification in 2024.

WingTips has been refining its model in the busy California and Southwestern air-charter markets. The company’s most popular flights are from cities such as San Diego, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, and steer clear of large terminal airports, thereby sparing passengers hassle, delays, and landing fees.

FMI: www.ampaire.com