Bristow and Electra Test Ultra Short Aircraft in Norway

Bristow Group, Electra, Avinor, and Norway's civil aviation authority signed a contract to test Electra’s hybrid-electric EL9 Ultra Short aircraft in Norway, in a project set to begin in mid-2027. The nine-passenger aircraft can take off and land in as little as 50 meters (164 feet) and is designed for regional travel in the 80- to 800-kilometer range (about 44 to 432 nm).

Flight testing is planned in phases, starting with operations at smaller airports in northern Norway, then progressing to operations from novel or adapted access points such as parking lots or fields, and finally to operations feeding into a major Norwegian hub. The preparation phase will take approximately six months.

“This project marks a new step in the further development of Norway’s international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation,” said Norwegian transport minister Jon-Ivar Nygård at the April 21 contract signing at Trondheim Airport in the north of the country. The project represents Norway’s second international test initiative for zero- and low-emission aviation.

Dave Stepanek, Bristow executive v-p and chief transformation officer, said the aircraft’s ultra-short takeoff and landing capability creates possibilities that Bristow will help validate in real-world conditions.

According to Diana Siegel, v-p of commercial programs at Electra, the hybrid-electric aircraft opens opportunities for new connectivity beyond traditional aircraft limits. She said partnering with Bristow, Avinor, and the Norwegian civil aviation authority brings together operations, infrastructure, and regulation to demonstrate operations at existing airfields and new access points.

Lars Kobberstad, civil aviation authority director general, said the agency will obtain necessary approvals for trials to be conducted within Norway’s established regulatory sandbox. The project, which was announced on April 21, will test new parts of the regulatory framework and allow the authority to develop competence for introducing new technologies.

In January, Electra and Bristow signed a pre-delivery payment deposit agreement securing delivery slots for five EL9 aircraft with options for 45 more, with deliveries expected to begin in 2029.