Air New Zealand's first electric aircraft has taken to the skies in a bid to test the "next generation" of lower-emissions fleet.
The BETA ALIA CX300 – the first of its kind to carry the Air NZ logo – will undertake a series of flights across the country over the next four months as part of the airline's Next Generation Aircraft technical demonstrator programme in partnership with US aerospace company BETA Technologies.
The battery-electric aircraft, manufactured by BETA, seats two crew and up to 5.6 cubic metres of cargo on missions for up to approximately 398km.
The ALIA CX300 first took off in New Zealand on October 17, flying from Tauranga to Hamilton after a sunrise blessing ceremony.
"Sixty per cent of regional flights in New Zealand are less than 350km, and around 85% of our electricity is renewable – the perfect laboratory for next generation aircraft. While new propulsion technologies are still developing, BETA is leading the way and we’re witnessing a true technology step-change," Air NZ chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said in a statement.
The aircraft will undergo an intensive proving programme in Hamilton before travelling south to Wellington via Taupō, Napier, and Palmerston North. From the capital, the aircraft will prepare for Cook Strait crossings to Blenheim by the end of January.
Air NZ pilots Andrew Mercer and James Owen will work alongside BETA’s flight operations and engineering team to undertake flights in a range of conditions, flight manoeuvres and routes. The flights are expected to provide valuable insights not just for New Zealand but around the globe.
The aircraft’s arrival and initial flights follow months of preparation between Air New Zealand, BETA, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and airport partners to safely operate and monitor the aircraft in New Zealand conditions.
"This programme represents the next step in validating and preparing our technology for rigorous, real-world environments," BETA Technologies' head of global sales Simon Newitt said.
"This collaboration between airline, regulator, and infrastructure partners sets an example for how the aviation industry can continue to progress and innovate while safely bringing lower-emission, lower-cost, next-generation aircraft into service."
Civil Aviation Authority director and chief executive Kane Patena said the programme will allow the regulator to better understand emerging aircraft systems and inform the regulatory frameworks needed to support their safe integration into New Zealand’s aviation network.
"Emerging aviation technologies don’t always fit into existing rules, so it's our job to facilitate a clear pathway that helps operators safely bring these technologies into New Zealand’s unique aviation system."
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