Australian helicopter operator Nautilus Aviation intends to add 10 of Eve Urban Air Mobility’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its fleet in 2026. In a December 4 announcement, the company said the all-electric model will be used for tourist sightseeing flights over the Great Barrier Reef.
Nautilus, which is part of the Morris Group of tourism, hospitality, and renewable energy companies, currently operates 36 helicopters, including a mix of Airbus, Bell, and Robinson aircraft. As well as sightseeing, it provides emergency medical support and search and rescue flights, with bases at Cairns, Port Douglas, Horn Island and Townsville in Queensland, and at Darwin in Northern Territory.
The switch to electric aviation is part of the Morris Group’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions for all its businesses by 2030. Nautilus has not said whether or not it intends to replace all of its turbine- and piston-powered helicopters as part of this process.
While Nautilus has held an Advanced Ecotourism Certification from the Australian government for the past eight years, CEO Aaron Finn acknowledged that emissions from burning fossil fuels in its aircraft have been hard to avoid. “This will allow us to provide emission-free and quiet tours over the Great Barrier Reef, providing an unmatched eco-experience to our customers,” he commented.
The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland is widely acknowledged to be under threat from climate change. In recent years, there has been growing pressure to avoid the additional negative impact of tourism on the world’s largest coral reef, with net-zero aerial tours seen as a potentially progressive alternative to boat trips and diving expeditions.
Eve, which is a subsidiary of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, is working to complete the type certification of its eVTOL aircraft by 2026. The company has announced numerous other partnerships with prospective aircraft operators and infrastructure providers as part of its ongoing efforts to develop what it calls an urban air mobility ecosystem.
