EASA Looking to the Future with Green Regional Aircraft

Aura Aero's Electric Regional Aircraft program issued an update in its quest to create an affordable, sustainable 19-seat commuter plane under the EASA CS-23 category, stating that they have launched a call for first work packages under it.

The ERA, as they shorten its title, "brings a new approach, with a hybrid-electric propulsion solution which largely contributes to decarbonizing regional routes" around the world. Since initially kicking the process off in 2021, Aura Aero says that they've seen even more demand for such an aircraft, with domestic markets now needing 15% more than the company's previous market research indicated. Better still, Aura Aero found that most aircraft in service with regional carriers are "in great majority old generation planes, both in terms of avionics and in terms of propulsion." Those old engines are another point in the ERA's favor, since it could slash costs with an appropriately green power plant. Evidently, the design has merit, since 500 ERAs have already been ordered by customers around the globe.

Aura Aero is now issuing the first calls for tender for packages under Fuselage Design, Airframe Engineering Services, Turbogenerator, and Primary Flight Control System Actuators/Inceptors. Under the current schedule, the first parts of the flight test aircraft should be manufactured as soon as early 2025. This tender will allow Aura Aero to choose suppliers for the program, though it might seem a bit late in the game if they're expecting things to come together for an airworthy prototype in 2025.

Wilfried Dufaud, Co-founder and Executive Director of Aura Aero marked the occasion with an attaboy for the team, saying “For all the AURA AERO team and for our industrial and financial partners, this agreement with EASA is a major milestone in the ERA program and can be considered as the groundbreaking of the ERA certification process”.

The EASA is excited to see some forward-thinking designs take on the world. Luc Tytgat, High Representative to the EASA Executive Director, said “Aura Aero is the first company to cooperate with EASA in the field of electric commuter aircraft. We at EASA are convinced that General Aviation and mid-tier companies are good incubators for developing innovative solutions and that the lessons learned from this PAC will contribute to the decarbonization of air transport and the future employment of green technologies in aviation. This should enable us to efficiently support the safe and timely introduction of these disruptive technologies into the aviation world, with the expected benefits for the environment”.

FMI: www.aura-aero.com