With new contracts, partnerships and flight tests spanning multiple countries and companies, efforts are advancing to develop electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) and electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) applications. On Dec. 13, Eviation announced that it has signed a letter of intent to provide Air New Zealand with up to 23 of its electric aircraft, the Alice. The agreement is part of the Air New Zealand's Mission NextGen Aircraft program, which aims to replace the airline's fleet of Bombardier Q300s with more sustainable aircraft and fly a commercial demonstrator in 2026. According to Eviation, the airline is the first national flag carrier to sign a letter of intent with the Arlington, Washington-based electric aircraft developer. Eviation announced on Jan. 17 that it has received a letter of intent to purchase 30 Alice aircraft from Aerus, an emerging regional airline in Mexico. In a press release, Eviation said that Aerus intends to launch commercial operations in 2023 with Monterrey Airport serving as its regional hub. The nine-seat Alice made its maiden flight in September (see "Electric CTOL/ STOL News," Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2022), but has apparently not flown since. Nonetheless, the company expects Alice to become commercially available later in the decade.
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