Swiss amphibious aircraft manufacturer, Jekta, has agreed an order for 50 of its PHA-ZE 100 aircraft for Indian seaplane operator, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (MEHAIR).
While MEHAIR has been operating seaplanes since 2011, the acquisition of the electric aircraft will enable the operator to update its fleet with a more sustainable option. The deal includes deposits agreed for 10 firm orders and options for 40 more.
With a 7,400km stretch of coastline and a plethora of rivers, lakes, backwaters and dams, India is an ideal destination for the amphibious aircraft revolution, with Siddharth Verma, Director of MEHAIR saying, “We are one of the fastest-growing aviation sectors and the world’s largest untapped seaplane geography.”
Initial deliveries will start in 2029 with the first 10 aircraft to be delivered in baseline configuration for 19 passengers to support regional connectivity. Verma added: “We know the Jekta team’s heritage for producing efficient amphibious aircraft and made a strategic decision to acquire these aircraft early. We want to be one of the first aviation companies in the world to operate a zero-emission aircraft to support regional flights between land and water infrastructure.”
He also expressed his confidence that Jekta’s “affordable airframe will transform the way India travels.”
Meanwhile, George Alafinov, CEO Jekta Switzerland said: “MEHAIR’s proposed operations and future vision exemplify the potential of our airframe to align with the needs of a growing population seeking to travel regionally, whether from water or land. We aim to drastically reduce per-passenger-per-hour flight costs compared… We know that the Indian government has defined multiple water routes across India and is launching some 100 seaplane routes.We are delighted to work with MEHAIR to cater to this new and exciting market’s dynamic demands.”
Certified to EASA CS-23 and US FAA FAR-23 standards for fixed-wing passenger aircraft, the PHA-ZE 100 amphibious flying boat will be optimised to serve coastal and island communities, regional routes currently limited by operational costs and to support new low-fare sustainable services between cities without the need to install expensive land infrastructure.
