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Electric Propulsion
Harbour Air signs letter of intent for 50 magni650 electric engines
April 22, 2024 By Wings Staff
The prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft. (Photo: Harbour Air, magniX) magniX and Harbour Air ratified a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 50 magni650 electric engines to be used for Harbour Air’s fleet, beginning with the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in 2026, and for third- party conversions.
In December 2019, magniX and Harbour Air made claimed a world-first when the eBeaver, a Harbour Air De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver retrofitted with a magniX electric engine, made its first flight. To date, the prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft.
magniX has also powered Eviation’s all-electric commuter airplane, Alice, and the world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft, and Universal Hydrogen’s retrofitted De Havilland Dash 8.
“Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet with magniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight,” said Riona Armesmith, Chief Technology Officer of magniX. “The many flights that the eBeaver has now completed with magniX’s technology demonstrate that the electric age of aviation is here and bringing it to the marketplace is growing rapidly closer.”
Headquartered in Everett, Washington, magniX has developed what it describes as a family of electric propulsion units (EPUs) and energy storage systems (ESS) for commercial aviation. magniX is a subsidiary of the Clermont Group, an international conglomerate headquartered in Singapore.
“We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future”, says Bert van der Stege, CEO of Harbour Air. “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.”
Harbour Air is described as North America’s largest seaplane airline. Founded in 1982 with two seaplanes, Harbour Air now holds a fleet of 45 aircraft, 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages, and private flights. With 12 scheduled destinations connecting downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle (WA), Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Vancouver Airport/Richmond, Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Powell River and Comox, B.C. Harbour Air transports around 500,000 passengers every year.
