Electric aircraft for Sounds Air?

Private airline Sounds Air which links Picton and Wellington intends buying small electric aircraft.

It has signed a letter of intent to buy them from Swedish company Heart Aerospace which says its 19 seat ES-19 electric aircraft will be ready for commercial flights in 2026, Sounds Air director and chairman Rhyan Wardman tells Radio NZ.

The ES-19 has 400km range and Sounds Air also plans a Wanaka to Christchurch service starting November 2.

Heart Aerospace says aviation contributes to 2% of CO2 emissions and that new rules are in the works to limit aviation emissions.

Through the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the aviation industry is aiming for carbon neutral growth from 2020.

The Swedish government has introduced an aviation tax to curb emissions, and Norwegian authorities plan for all domestic flights to be 100% electric by 2040, the company says.

Meanwhile, ElectricAir will celebrate the launch of New Zealand’s first electric plane, a Slovenian Pipistrel two-seat trainer, at a Christchurch invitation event on October 30.

Speakers include ElectricAir founder Gary Freedman, Christchurch mayor and EV supporter Lianne Dalziel, Christchurch International Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns and Meridian Energy chief customer officer Lisa Hannifin.