As industries begin to shift away from fossil fuels, Ampaire is banking on its line of hybrid-electric airplanes to revolutionize air travel. The company recently announced its historic first flight of an existing airline route in Hawaii.

Kevin Noertker, Ampaire CEO, said not only would the environment reap the biggest benefits from a reduction of emissions, but the airline industry could also soar to new heights.

"For the airlines, the biggest impact is reduced cost of operation. Airlines care about the total cost of ownership and operation for their planes. By switching to a hybrid plane, you could reduce that fuel burn by up to 50 percent," Noertker told Cheddar.

The CEO also noted that a fully electric plane would reduce emissions by more than 90 percent.

After launching in 2016 and constructing an aircraft for the last two years, paid flights for the company are on the horizon. "We're looking at about a three-year timeline before we get certification to deploy these planes in that commercial operation," Noertker said.

While the company gears up for commercial flights, it has already been conducting demonstrations under the FAA's experimental market survey, which allows passengers and potential Ampaire customers to fly.

Last month, the company became the first to ever demonstrate a hybrid-electric flight in Maui, which went from Kahului to Hana in about 20 minutes. Like other industries, Ampaire's ability to continue developing and moving forward with test flights, particularly in Hawaii, was impacted by pandemic-related restrictions.

The hybrid-electric planes, according to Noertker, while capable of long-distance flights, are optimal for relatively short-distances. Over the next five to 10 years, however, there are plans to produce an aircraft that can hold up to 20 passengers and will fly "routes between 50 and 500 miles."

"The reality is most routes that airlines like to fly are about 100 miles," Noertker said.

Share:
More In Business
Mortgage Rates Turn Lower While Rates Slip
New real estate data shows that mortgage applications are slipping but home listings are increasing 9 percent from a week ago. It comes as sellers worry they might miss out on the hot housing market before it's too late. Skylar Olsen, Senior Director, Principal Economist, at Tomo joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
How To Save Money At The Gas Pump
Gas prices are at record highs just as many Americans are getting ready to hit the road for memorial day weekend. The average price for a gallon of gas is now $4.59, with all 50 states above $4 per gallon. Dan Eberhart, CEO of Canary, has tips on how to save money and ease some of the pain at the pump.
Canopy Growth on Future Cannabis Opportunities After Wider-Than-Expected Losses
Canopy Growth reported a wider-than-expected loss in its fourth quarter and fiscal year results. However, the cannabis company plans to expand its portfolio and make new investments to achieve profitability and drive growth. CEO David Klein provides insight into the earnings report and how the company plans to reach profitability. “The premium strategy coupled with our mainstream brands in Canada is the key to achieving profitability here," he said.
Load More