Honeywell and Heart Aerospace agree to collaborate on flight controls for ES-30 electric aeroplane

The new collaboration will help usher in a more sustainable future of aviation.

Electric aeroplane maker Heart Aerospace and Honeywell, a leader in aerospace technology, have announced a collaboration to integrate Honeywell's next-generation flight control system into the new ES-30 regional electric aeropAeropuertoeywell was selected by Heart Aerospace for the Joint Definition Phase of Heart's ES-30 aeroplane the goal, once the phase has been completed successfully, is to fully integrate Honeywell's compact Fly-by-Wire system into development for production.

"We are thrilled to welcome Honeywell to the ES-30 program. With its long track record in flight controls, they are an ideal collaboration partner for Heart Aerospace as we strive to decarbonize air travel before the end of this decade," said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace.

Honeywell's next-generation compact Fly-by-Wire system is in an advanced stage of development on multiple aircraft, and its functions are adaptable to the ES-30, allowing Heart to bring its aeroplane to market quickly and cost-effectively.

"Honeywell's flight controls provide the ideal solution for Heart's mission to revitalize and electrify the regional transport market," said Vipul Gupta, President, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace. "Honeywell's all-electric compact Fly-by-Wire is a ready-now solution based on decades of flight control experience in all aircraft types, and that reduces development time and risk for Heart."

The ES-30 is a regional electric aeroplane with a 30-passenger standard seating capacity and is driven by electric motors powered by batteries. It will have a fully electric zero-emissions range of 200 kilometres, an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers, and the flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometres with 25 passengers, all with typical airline reserves.

Heart Aerospace has 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes.

BAE Systems and Heart Aerospace to Collaborate on Battery for Electric Airplane

BAE Systems, a leading aerospace and defence company, and Heart Aerospace, a Swedish electric aeroplane maker, announced a collaboration to define the battery system for Heart’s ES-30 regional electric aeroplane.

The battery will be the first of its kind to be integrated into an electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) regional aircraft, allowing it to efficiently operate with zero emissions and low noise.

“Our industry-leading solution builds on decades of expertise delivering technologies and systems needed to progress sustainable transportation,” said Ehtisham Siddiqui, vice president and general manager of Controls and Avionics Solutions at BAE Systems. “We are delighted to collaborate with Heart Aerospace on the innovative battery system for its electric aeroplane.”

The program will leverage more than 25 years of BAE Systems’ expertise in electrifying large, heavy-duty industrial vehicles. Today, the company has over 15,000 power and propulsion systems operating in service across the globe. Work on the program will be conducted at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Endicott, New York.

Air Canada to acquire 30 ES-30 electric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace

 

Air Canada announced a purchase agreement for 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace of Sweden. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

                                                            Air Canada announced a purchase agreement for 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aerospace of Sweden. The revolutionary regional aircraft, expected to enter service in 2028, will generate zero emissions flying on battery power and yield significant operational savings and benefits. Under the agreement, Air Canada has also acquired a US$5 million equity stake in Heart Aerospace.

"Air Canada has taken a leadership position in the industry to address climate change. The introduction into our fleet of the ES-30 electric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace will be a step forward to our goal of net zero emissions by 2050," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. "Already, Air Canada is supporting the development of new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and carbon capture, to address climate change. We are now reinforcing our commitment by investing in revolutionary electric aircraft technology, both as a customer for the ES-30 and as an equity partner in Heart Aerospace."

The future of SAS regional fleet could be electric....

The Scandinavian airline, SAS has signed a Letter of Support with Heart Aerospace for the option to add their new electric aircraft, ES-30 to the SAS regional aircraft fleet. This has the potential of being a significant step on SAS’ sustainability journey, enabling zero-emission flights on routes within Scandinavia. 

The electric aircraft will be certified for commercial flights by 2028.

Together with the entire industry, we have the responsibility to make air travel more sustainable. SAS is dedicated to transforming aviation so that coming generations can continue connecting the world and enjoy the benefits of travel – but with a more sustainable footprint. The letter of support with Heart Aerospace is an important step in that direction, says SAS President & CEO Anko van der Werff.

The ES-30 has a fully electric range of 200 kilometres. A reserve-hybrid system is installed to secure reserve energy requirements without cannibalizing battery range, and it can also be used during cruises on longer flights to complement the electrical power provided by the batteries. This gives the ES-30 an extended range of 400 kilometres with 30 passengers, and the flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometres with 25 passengers, all inclusive of typical airline reserves.

SAS joined forces with Heart Aerospace already back in 2019 to drive the development of electric aircraft.

The electric aircraft will be a great complement to our existing fleet serving shorter and thinner routes in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, in a more sustainable way. The innovation and new technology this represents will take us towards our future goal of becoming a zero-emission industry, he concludes.

SAS will also be part of Heart Aerospace’s new Industry Advisory Board and will assist in defining the requirements for the ES-30 aircraft. The partnership between SAS and Heart Aerospace is the next step toward securing more sustainable air travel for generations to come.