Sat, Jan 20, 2024
Kenya's Largest Caravan Operator Joins the Electric Aircraft Game
Surf Air Mobility just keeps adding on to its friends abroad, offering an electric, battery powered modification to the Cessna 208 Caravan.
Its most recent business partner is Kenya's 'largest Caravan operator', Z.Boskovic Air Charters. The operator boasts a baker's dozen of Cessna Caravans, with another pair on the way by year's end. The partnership will see Surf Air Mobility convert the aircraft into their own proprietary electrified powertrain tech.
Surf offers operators their choice of hybrid or electric power, which can reduce direct emissions by 100% in the latter, and 50% in the former. The mod is an appealing option to cash-strapped African operators, though it all remains to be seen just how feasible the electric aircraft infrastructure will be in practice. Surf says it will make the swap "a simple process for operators to upgrade at a cost similar to regular engine overhauls", while further increasing the TBO time for the converted aircraft.
“We at Z.Boskovic Air Charters Ltd are very excited to partner with Surf Air Mobility in their development of both hybrid and fully-electric variants of the Cessna Grand Caravan and consequently to implement electric powertrains, when certified, for all our current and future Cessna Caravan aircraft,” said Jimmy Kibati, CEO of Z. Boskovic Air Charters. “Over the last sixty years, ZBAC has been a highly reputed pioneer in the air charter business and the introduction of Cessna Caravan fleet in Kenya and Africa. Introduction of this new technology is anchored in our strategic plan, and we are keen to work with Surf Air Mobility both technically and commercially to make this a reality in Kenya and within the Africa Region.”
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