Jekta has provided a glimpse of what it will be like to travel in its electric PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft by unveiling cabin interior designs. This week, the Swiss start-up published drawings showing its economy class 19-seat Traveller configuration and the more spacious Corporate model.
The full name of Jekta’s in-development seaplane is the Passenger Hydro Aircraft – Zero Emission 100. It will be powered by electric motors using either battery power or hydrogen fuel cells, operating on flights of up to around one hour with a 30-minute energy reserve. The company is targeting a reduction in operating cost per passenger per hour of more than 70% compared with current seaplanes.
Among Jekta’s provisional launch customers, Gayo Aviation, a flight broker based in Sweden and Dubai, is due to receive the first example of the Corporate cabin. Mehair in India is due to be the first operator of aircraft with the higher-density Traveller model.
Supported by the MBVision industrial design studio, Jekta has developed the interiors to be suitable for operations from both water and land. Engineers and designers simulated how passengers, flight crew, operations personnel, and maintenance technicians will interact with the aircraft.
The plan is that the non-pressurized PHA-ZE 100 cabins can be adapted to support multiple anticipated applications. In addition to regional airline services and corporate transportation, these could include emergency medical support, cargo deliveries, and search-and-rescue work.
Some of the features revealed this week include modular, lightweight seats and an aft lavatory, with materials selected to focus on recycling. According to the company, the designs reflect aspects of the marine sector, such as wooden-style flooring, galley refreshment and bar areas, and large panoramic windows through which passengers can enjoy views on low-altitude flights.
“We believe these interiors express our ambition of creating a disruptive, original style of travel within a new mode of transport,” said Max Pinucci, Jekta’s head of industrial design. “We have created an elegant cabin for airlines flying multiple legs daily alongside a stylish cabin that adheres to the principles of a zero-emissions airframe that supports many applications.”