On the financial and commercial fronts, hybrid-electric aviation pioneer Ampaire is shifting gears following its recent parting of ways with prospective investor/launch customer Surf Air Mobility, but the company says it is full steam ahead with plans to bring a converted Textron Cessna Grand Caravan utility aircraft to market in 2024. The California-based start-up is preparing to launch a Series B funding round to boost its plans to achieve what co-founder and CEO Kevin Noertker says is the fastest route to getting electric aircraft flying revenue-earning trips.
Neither party will say why a February 2021 agreement for flight marketplace Surf Air to acquire Ampaire and order significant numbers of its Eco Caravan aircraft fell apart last month. “There are many more customers out there beyond Surf Air Mobility,” Noertker told FutureFlight, making a point of mentioning that the decision to split had been initiated by Ampaire. “We’ve decided to move forward as a standalone company, and have immediately raised funds from existing investors, who are confident that what we’re doing at Ampaire is one of the most meaningful ways to cut carbon emissions from aviation.”
