2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Could solid-state batteries be the holy grail for electric airplanes?

Electric Aircraft Developers Prep for Battery Breakthroughs

Air Tindi's old Dash 7 is ready for its electric engine retrofit

NASA, MagniX Unveil Electric Power Flight Demonstrator

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

The new batteries will work with multiple electric propulsion systems for aircraft 

MagniX Enters Energy Storage Race with Samson Batteries

Just days after Harbour Air signed a letter of intent (LOI) to purchase 50 Magni650 electric engines from electric propulsion developer MagniX, the company revealed that the engine has completed its first phase of testing at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) facility in Sandusky, Ohio.
The testing is part of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program, for which MagniX was awarded a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-10-01/ge-magnix-win-nasa-grants-test-electric-propulsion">$74.3 million contract</a> in 2021 as an EPFD partner. NASA aims to accelerate entry into service of electric aviation, and under the contract, MagniX is retrofitting a de Havilland Dash 7 with its electric propulsion system.
MagniX completed the preliminary design review, which established the baseline design for the Dash 7 retrofit, in February. During the NEAT testing, the Magni650 propulsion unit was subjected to 800 volts to simulate high-voltage operations, and its thermal performance was evaluated at environmental conditions up to 27,500 feet.
In June, testing will expand the operating envelope for altitude, power, and temperature, according to MagniX. “It will further the understanding of the industry-leading performance and reliability of MagniX’s electric powertrain in all conditions it would encounter in flight.”
For Vancouver-based regional airline Harbour Air’s certification work to convert de Havilland DHC-2 Beavers to electric propulsion, MagniX is helping with the FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) program and will also support Transport Canada validation. Harbour Air first <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-12-10/harbour-airs-electric-beaver-achieves-first-flight">flew a MagniX-powered Beaver</a> in December 2019, and the company aims to achieve certification and service entry in 2026. So far, the prototype has flown 78 times.
The LOI includes an option for MagniX to support the development of other electric propulsion STCs. Harbour Air plans to convert other aircraft in its fleet and offer electric propulsion conversions to third parties as part of plans to develop a West Coast sustainable aviation hub.
“We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future,” said Harbour Air CEO&nbsp;Bert van der Stege. “The agreement with MagniX underscores our commitment to revolutionize commercial aviation with electric propulsion and to pave the way for cleaner, quieter, and more efficient air travel.”
“Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet and future customers with MagniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight,” said MagniX&nbsp;chief technology officer Riona Armesmith. “The many flights that the eBeaver has now completed with MagniX’s technology are a signal that the electric age of aviation is here and bringing it to the marketplace is growing rapidly closer.”

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Harbour Air Plans to Electrify Fleet with MagniX Engines

Mark Huber

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

MagniX electric propulsion units already tested on Robinson R44

MagniX Eyes Medium Bells for Next Electrification Project

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Electric motor developer MagniX has doubled down on its efforts to make aviation more sustainable by entering the hydrogen fuel cell market. 

MagniX Makes Leap from Electric Motors to Hydrogen Fuel Cells

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Tier 1 Engineering plans to build fleet of all-electric R-44s for organ transport using MagniX propulsion.

R44 Makes First Flight with MagniX Electric Propulsion

MagniX has plans to convert several aircraft, including the Grand Caravan and the DHC-2 Beaver to electric propulsion.

MagniX Steps Up Electric Caravan Plans with New Leader

Canadian regional airline Air Tindi is to participate in a joint MagniX/NASA program to evaluate plans to convert DeHavilland Canada Dash 7 twin-turboprop aircraft to electric propulsion. It will provide one of its aircraft for flight trials due to begin in 2025, and the project is also now being supported by AeroTec, which will help MagniX to integrate its electric motor with the airframe.
NASA’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-28/nasa-invests-further-rd-more-efficient-airliner-engines">Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration</a> (EPFD) project started in 2021, when the U.S. government agency awarded Washington state-based MagniX $74.3 million in funding. It is part of a multi-year program to demonstrate the potential for electric propulsion in the air transportation sector.
Air Tindi, which operates scheduled and charter flights to remote communities across northern Canada from its base in Yellowknife in the country’s Northwest Territories, will provide one of its 50-seat Dash 7 aircraft to be retrofitted and available for flight testing. This will be powered by its existing Pratt &amp; Whitney PT6 engines as well as a pair of MagniX’s Magni650 electric propulsion units.
MagniX is already working on plans to convert the smaller Beaver and Caravan aircraft to electric propulsion in partnership with operators such as Vancouver-based Harbour Air. It is also providing electric motors for its sister company Eviation’s new nine-passenger Alice aircraft.
“The EPFD project provides an exciting collaboration with industry partners to advance aircraft propulsion in order to expedite the use of hybrid electric systems for commercial air travel,” said Lee Noble, director of NASA's integrated aviation systems program. “Introducing these innovative electric propulsion technologies for existing and next-generation aircraft will help meet the aviation community’s future sustainability goals.”
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Managing Editor

MagniX Teams with Air Tindi and AeroTec for NASA's Electric Powertrain Project

Electric-propulsion specialist MagniX is to support Brazilian start-up&nbsp;Desaer with its plans to develop a hybrid-electric variant of the ATL-100 light regional aircraft.&nbsp;Established in 2017 by former Embraer employees, Dasaer has been developing a high-wing, unpressurized, utility transport powered by twin 1,000-shp turboprop engines. The model is targeted for military and commercial markets in the category of aircraft such as the LET L-410, Viking Twin Otter, and Dornier Do 228.
Under a&nbsp;partnership announced on February 8, MagniX is set to&nbsp;collaborate on an ATL-100H hybrid variant that would be powered by two of its magni350 electric-propulsion units and a pair of turboprop engines.&nbsp;The hybrid iteration would save between 25 and 40 percent on fuel, depending on the range and operation, magniX estimated, as well as have reduced carbon emissions and a quieter footprint.
“The implications of creating the hybrid electric ATL-100H are far-reaching and will have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and the aircraft's operational flexibility in the Brazil region," said Simon Roads, head of sales at magniX. "MagniX is leading the way in electrifying the skies, and our partnership with Desaer will transform regional travel for passengers and cargo alike."
The ATL-100 version is expected to reach the market first—&nbsp;within the next five years, once it has completed Part 23 type certification. The standard version of the aircraft would have 19 passengers and a range of around 1,000 miles. The company has not released projected performance data for the hybrid version.
Desaer originally resided at Incubaero, an incubator for start-ups and new aerospace projects at the Fundação Casimiro Montenegro Filho, one of the technology development institutes within the DCTA facility (a Brazilian national military research center for aerospace projects and activities). The company is preparing to break ground shortly on a manufacturing plant on a 277,000-sq-m (2.98 million-sq-ft) site at Araxá (AAX) airport with support from Brazil’s Minas Gerais State.
"The ATL-100H and future versions of the aircraft will enable customers and operators to achieve carbon emission reduction targets while maintaining the low operating costs offered by Desaer's ATL family of aircraft," said Desaer CEO Evandro Fileno.&nbsp;"The ATL-100H will enable operators to connect more remote communities via aviation, opening up greater economic opportunities across Brazil."

MagniX

News

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Harbour Air Plans to Electrify Fleet with MagniX Engines

MagniX Eyes Medium Bells for Next Electrification Project

MagniX Makes Leap from Electric Motors to Hydrogen Fuel Cells

R44 Makes First Flight with MagniX Electric Propulsion

MagniX Steps Up Electric Caravan Plans with New Leader

MagniX Teams with Air Tindi and AeroTec for NASA's Electric Powertrain Project

MagniX Teams with Brazil's Desaer on Hybrid-electric Regional Airliner

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