FBO group Atlantic Aviation has launched a partnership with hybrid-electric aircraft developer Electra to explore vertiport use at new and existing sites in the New York City area. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Thursday, the Vertiports by Atlantic spinoff will assess infrastructure provision for Electra’s Direct Aviation concept to make flights available closer to where passengers live and work.
The initiative builds on Electra’s recent flights with its EL2 technology demonstrator at the Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan. The company is developing the larger EL9 Ultra Short as a nine-passenger version of the Blown Lift design that it says could enter commercial service from 2030.
According to the Direct Aviation Market Outlook published by Electra earlier this year, aircraft that can use landing areas as short as 150 feet could be deployed for trips of between 50 and 500 miles that are currently taken by about 35 million people in the U.S. each day. The company estimated that, compared with driving, it could save 1 hours 45 minutes in travel time for connections between New York City and Boston; 3 hours 30 minutes from New York to Washington, D.C.; and 45 minutes from New York to Philadelphia.
“The demand already exists for regional travel that is faster and more convenient, and Direct Aviation is about to meet that demand,” Electra vice president of commercial programs Diana Siegel said.
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