Lockheed Martin-backed Electra.aero on Tuesday announced that it topped 2,000 preorder sales for its flagship eSTOL design, an order book the manufacturer values at over $8 billion once fully realized. The nine-seat aircraft is unique, even among electric designs, because of its ability to take off or land with just 150 feet of runway.

Electra reached the milestone after wrapping up three sizable agreements. In December, Finnish on-demand flying platform Lygg agreed to buy up to 300 eSTOLs in a deal valued at over $1 billion. Lygg operators, which mainly serve airports outside Nordic and European metropolises, will be able to purchase the aircraft through a hybrid-as-a-service model, which offers financing.

“Electra’s eSTOL capability allows us to rewrite the definition of direct connections for environmentally conscious business travelers using existing airfields closer to city centers, reducing valuable time spent in the air,” said Roope Kekäläinen, CEO of Lygg.

The company’s order book expanded again last week, when Indian private charter marketplace JetSetGo placed firm orders for 50 aircraft apiece from Electra, Overair, and Horizon Aircraft. Electra will work with the firm, which operates India’s largest on-demand fleet, to identify new routes that can leverage the eSTOL’s unique capabilities.

“India’s geography and demographics make it an ideal launch market for advanced air mobility (AAM),” said Kanika Tekriwal, co-founder and CEO of JetSetGo. “We want to lead the transformation of urban and regional connectivity and believe Electra is the right partner with the technology to make this vision a reality.”

The third agreement, with New York City-based helicopter tour operator Charm Aviation, had not been previously announced. Electra did not disclose the number of aircraft included in Charm’s order, but it said the operator will introduce the eSTOL to heliports and vertiports in bustling Manhattan.

“Electra’s aircraft has the range to transform New York City’s heliports from urban flight terminals into regional transport hubs with direct flights to cities and smaller communities along the East Coast,” said Marc Ausman, chief product officer of Electra.

The Aircraft

Electra says its eSTOL represents the first use of blown lift technology using distributed electric propulsion. Blown lift—which redirects slipstream flows over the aircraft’s wings into large flaps and ailerons—is what allows the design to take off from sites smaller than a soccer field.

Flaps and ailerons redirect the airflows downward to provide lift that would normally be achieved through high-speed takeoff. This, Electra says, allows the eSTOL to get airborne at “neighborhood driving speeds,” shortening the runway requirement and opening up operations out of remote or underutilized airfields.

The aircraft has a range of about 434 nm and a cruise speed of 175 knots, capable of carrying nine passengers or up to 2,500 pounds of cargo. Compared to vertical takeoff designs, it offers more than twice the payload, 10 times the range, and 70 percent lower operating costs, Electra claims.

Those benefits stem in part from distributed electric propulsion, wherein a small turbogenerator drives eight electric motors spread across the wing. Electra says this reduces emissions (by 30 percent) and noise (75 dBA at 300 feet, equivalent to a vacuum cleaner) below those of traditional airplanes or rotorcraft.

Since the aircraft uses hybrid power to fuel up—and to recharge its batteries during flight—airports won’t need electric charging infrastructure to accommodate it. That could be a crucial advantage for Electra when it comes time for the company to scale.

The eSTOL’s fixed-wing, rigid-propeller configuration—which eliminates hover and transition flight—gives it a path to be certified as a multiengine, Level 3, low-speed airplane under FAA Part 23. That means it could be flown with a standard pilot’s certificate in the airplane category.

In addition to passenger transport, on-demand urban air mobility services, and defense applications, Electra expects the eSTOL to handle cargo logistics, executive transport, humanitarian aid, disaster response, and a variety of other use cases. Its commercial launch is planned for 2028.

Topping the 2,000 preorder mark reflects the steady momentum Electra has enjoyed in recent months. That began in August with the announcement of fresh financing from climate tech fund Statkraft Ventures and the U.S. Air Force, the latter taking the form of an $85 million contract to develop and test a full-scale prototype. The following month, Electra completed the maiden voyage of its EL-2 Goldfinch demonstrator, marking the first flight for a hybrid eSTOL design.

December brought with it a major agreement with JSX, one of the world’s premier regional air carriers, which ordered as many as 330 hybrid-electric models. Those include 32 firm orders and 50 options for Electra’s nine-seater. The same month, customer Bristow Group placed a deposit for five early delivery slots for its 2021 order of up to 50 aircraft, representing one of Electra’s firmest commitments to date.

Bristow is expected to be Electra’s principal launch operational customer. The company at launch also has agreements to fly in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Australia, among other locations.

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Dallas-based JSX, the only regional air carrier with a five-star rating from the Airline Passenger Experience Association, signed letters of intent (LOIs) to acquire as many as 332 hybrid-electric models from manufacturers Electra.aero, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace. The charter jet service expects to receive its first delivery in 2028, with a hybrid-electric rollout that same year.

The semiprivate operator emphasized the new aircraft will be used to connect (or reconnect) small communities to major cities with sustainable, relatively affordable flights. Its commitments are part of a pledge to add more environmentally friendly air service options on the heels of the Joe Biden administration’s renewed efforts to decarbonize the aviation sector.

“As the network airlines order ever-larger aircraft, it is inevitable that more and more small markets will be abandoned,” said Alex Wilcox, CEO and co-founder of JSX. “Electra, Aura Aero, and Heart Aerospace are visionary organizations that share in JSX’s commitment to serving smaller communities, working together with us to weave sustainable regional air travel back into the fabric of American commerce and freedom of movement.”

JSX said it vetted dozens of “environmentally conscious airplane proposals” over the past few years before settling on Electra, Aura, and Heart, which it said are focused on the “natural first frontier” for scalable, low-emissions aviation: small, fixed-wing, regional aircraft. The company says it will be the first in its category to adopt hybrid-electric technology.

The New Additions

JSX signed LOIs for a total of 132 firm aircraft orders and 200 options, which the carrier intends to add to its fleet of 48 Embraer E145s, each reconfigured for 30 seats.

The air carrier placed 32 orders for Electra’s nine-seat, hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, with an option for 50 more. The low-emission design has a range of 500 nm and can carry up to 2,500 pounds of cargo. Compared to vertical takeoff alternatives, Electra claims the eSTOL offers more than twice the payload, 10 times the range, and 70 percent lower operating costs.

The eSTOL’s calling card is its ability to take off and land with just 150 feet of runway. Electra enables this through a unique blown-lift technology, which allows the aircraft to take off at speeds as slow as a car driving through a residential neighborhood. The model also deploys distributed electric propulsion, with batteries that recharge in flight, while a turbine-powered generator drives eight electric motors spread across the wing.

According to Electra, the company has a backlog of more than 1,700 preorders from more than 30 companies, including Houston-based helicopter provider Bristow Group.

“Our eSTOL aircraft is uniquely positioned to deliver on JSX’s commitment to provide sustainable access to small communities and large cities alike,” said JP Stewart, vice president and general manager of Electra.

From Aura, JSX agreed to purchase 50 Era aircraft—designed to carry 19 passengers or 1.9 tons of cargo for up to 900 nm—with the option for 100 more. Era uses all-electric propulsion during takeoff, which reduces the aircraft’s noise and environmental footprint. The design features a flexible seating configuration and pressurized cabin, and Aura has collected several hundred orders.

“Era, our low-carbon aircraft, provides the performance required for JSX to bring air connectivity to more local communities,” said Jeremy Caussade, president and co-founder of Aura. “This agreement marks a new step in our development in the USA.”

Finally, JSX signed an LOI for 50 firm orders and options apiece for Heart’s ES-30: a 30-passenger, regional hybrid-electric airplane. Designed for short-haul routes, the model has a maximum range of 432 nm, but it can also cover 216 nm in hybrid configuration or 108 nm in all-electric mode. Heart says the design lowers emissions, noise pollution, and operating costs.

As of September, the company had 250 firm ES-30 orders with options and purchase rights awarded for 120 more. Customers include United Airlines Ventures, Mesa Group, and Air Canada.

“The ES-30, with its competitive economics and green credentials, fits very well with JSX’s vision, and we see not only the opportunity to reconnect many regional routes lost over the years, but also open many more new ones,” said Simon Newitt, president and chief commercial officer of Heart.

Each of the three manufacturers brings unique design features to the table. But according to JSX, all three aircraft models will lower operating costs and emissions while fitting within existing infrastructure and regulatory parameters.

Regional Air Travel for All

JSX bills itself as a “hop-on” public charter jet service, with the mission of offering competitively priced flights between private terminals. In short, the goal is to provide regional air travel—which traditionally has been reserved for the ultra-wealthy—to all.

But that’s easier said than done. Commercial airlines only serve a few hundred U.S. airports, leaving providers such as JSX to fill in the gaps. At present, the company provides 120 public charter flights per day to 24 business and leisure destinations in eight U.S. states, Mexico, and the Bahamas. However, that still leaves thousands of airports without convenient travel options.

JSX says its Part 135- and Part 380-certified operations, combined with the performance of its new hybrid-electric aircraft, will open thousands of federally funded airports—which otherwise would be inaccessible to those who can’t own or charter an entire aircraft—to service.

The company claims the incoming models will introduce more favorable operating economics, allowing it to “dramatically” lower the cost of service. It expects to open new flight options for over 2,000 U.S. airports that don’t currently offer regular air service, without the need for government subsidies.

In recent months, JSX has steadily added routes to its coverage map while shifting its business away from larger airports. In September, it ditched Miami International Airport (KMIA) for nearby Miami-Opa-Locka Executive Airport (KOPF) and swapped San Diego International Airport (KSAN) for McClellan-Palomar Airport (KCLD). 

The Dallas-based company also cut flights from Dallas Love Field (KDAL) to Austin and shifted operations from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS) to Austin Executive Airport (KEDC). And last week, it announced plans to move its Arizona operations from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX) to a private terminal at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL).

However, federal regulators have recently taken aim at public air charters—including JSX.

While the company was not specifically named, the FAA in August released a notice of intent to develop a potential rule that would force public air charters to adhere to the same rules as commercial airlines. For example, carriers like JSX would only be able to employ co-pilots with 1,500 hours of training and be barred from flying out of private terminals. In other words, the rule would essentially eliminate the public air charter business model.

“The size, scope, frequency, and complexity of charter operations conducted as ‘on-demand’ operations under the part 135 operating rules has grown significantly over the past 10 years,” the agency said. “While the FAA has adjusted its oversight of these increased operations, the FAA is considering whether a regulatory change may be appropriate to ensure the management of the level of safety necessary for those operations.”

The FAA has received tens of thousands of comments on the proposal, many of them the result of an email campaign JSX targeted at its customers. The debate has divided the major commercial airlines: JetBlue and United Airlines, both JSX partners and investors, have decried the rule, while American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have backed it. In addition, several prominent industry groups have banded together in opposition, while airline industry unions have rallied in support.

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“Aviate is thrilled to partner with JSX, and we are confident they will be an invaluable asset to the program,” United’s managing director of Aviate and pilot strategy, Capt. Curtis Brunjes, said in a statement. “We applaud the vision of the JSX team and look forward to the mutual opportunity this partnership brings to JSX and United Airlines.”

The partnership is designed to give future and current Aviate students the opportunity to pursue careers at JSX. 

How it Works

The JSX track for pilot advancement will consist of a 2,000 flight-hour accrual while part of Aviate, a 24-month contract as a captain at JSX, followed by a direct transition to United’s fleet, if transition requirements are met. 

“Partnering with Aviate is global recognition of JSX’s unwavering commitment to excellence in pilot training,” JSX COO Randy McKinney said in a statement. “Joining United’s renowned program marks the beginning of an exciting partnership that will further our mutual training and hiring objectives for current and future pilots.”

JSX has been expanded rapidly in the past year, adding stops in Texas and a few on the East Coast. 

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JSX, a hop-on, jet service that operates under Part 135, announced its expansion to the East Coast on Tuesday. The company will offer flights to and from Westchester County Airport (KHPN) beginning next month.

Flights between Westchester County and Miami, Florida (KMIA) will start on November 18 at $749 one way. The company will also begin to offer flights between Miami and Dallas Love Field (KDAL) on the same day. They’ll start at $499 one way.

The new routes come shortly after the announcement of expansion into Texas last month.

“Since day one, our customers have asked JSX to serve the east coast and I am thrilled to say that our distinctive style of flying has finally arrived,” JSX CEO Alex Wilcox said in a statement. “It’s no secret that demand from New York and Dallas to Florida is at an all-time high, and we are delighted to bring our hop-on jet service to these vibrant markets ahead of the busy holiday season.”

Where JSX Flies

The company flies out of major international airports with airline service, but offering passengers the convenience of FBOs. This means passengers can arrive just 20 minutes before takeoff since they wouldn’t have to weave their way through busy main terminals and long security lines.

In addition to Miami, New York, and Dallas Love Field, JSX serves 13 other airports:

• Austin Bergstrom (KAUS)
• Hollywood Burbank (KBUR)
• Buchanan Field (KCCR)
• Destin-Executive (KDTS)
• Houston-Hobby (KHOU)
• McCarran International (KLAS)
• Los Angeles International (KLAX)
• Monterey Regional (KMRY)
• Oakland International (KOAK)
• John Wayne (KSNA)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International (KPHX)
• Reno-Tahoe International (KRNO)
• San Diego International (KSAN)
  

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