Electric propulsion company MagniX is set to supply 50 of its magni650 electric propulsion units to Harbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline.
MagniX’s electric propulsion units (EPUs) will be used to electrify Harbour Air’s fleet, beginning with the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in 2026. The magni650s will also be used for third-party conversions.
Canada-based MagniX and Harbour Air have been working together for several years. In December 2019, the companies flew the eBeaver, a Harbour Air De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver retrofitted with a magniX EPU for the first time.
To date, the prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft.
Harbour Air carryies around 450,000 passengers per year on short routes using a fleet of 44 aircraft. The company’s busiest route is between Vancouver on the coast of Canada to Victoria on the island by the same name. No Harbour Air route involves more than an hour’s flying time.
The airline has signed a Letter of Intent to buy 50 magni650s. Riona Armesmith, chief technology officer of MagniX said, “Electrifying Harbour Air’s fleet with MagniX’s engines sets us on a course to define the future of regional flight.
“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.”
Bert van der Stege, CEO of Harbour Air said, “We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future.
“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.”
As well as Harbour Air, MagniX has provided electric powertrains for us in aircraft including Eviation’s all-electric commuter airplane, Alice, and the world’s largest hydrogen-electric aircraft, Universal Hydrogen’s retrofitted De Havilland Dash 8.
