Electric, Hybrid Powerplants Proving Popular Among Caravan Operators

Auric Air of Tanzania signed on to operate some of Surf Air's electric Cessna Caravans, continuing the latter's spree of partnerships in Africa.

Auric Air is a regional operator offering scheduled passenger and charter flights across East Africa. They plan to convert a dozen Cessna C-208 Caravans to Surff Air's alternative powerplants. It's fertile ground there, with a plethora of Caravan operators and small-time air taxi networks, perfect to find a series of new friends in electric flight. 

Surf Air's conversion will provide operators with their choice of a full battery-powered C-208 or one with a more flexible hybrid version. With their offering, still in development, they've managed to snag "approximately 13% of the Cessna Caravan market in Africa". Overall, they believe they can deliver reductions of about 50% in direct operating costs, noting that those will be accompanied by "100% reductions in carbon emissions” too. Local African operators probably don't care much about the latter, but the former is enough to pique interest everywhere a Caravan touches down.

“It’s exciting to have Auric Air share our mission of reducing emissions through electrified aircraft,” said Stan Little, CEO of Surf Air Mobility. “Auric Air’s commitment secures their preferred delivery positions to upgrade their aircraft to our electrified powertrains once the technology is certified.”

Surf has put out a goal to achieve supplemental type certification in 2026, a pretty quick turnaround for an all-new, novel propulsion system but unlike all the competition they have Textron in their corner. The company entered into an exclusive relationship with the manufacturer that will one day see them be the sole provider of “certain battery electric and hybrid electric technology for the Cessna Grand Caravan.”

FMI: www.surfair.com