The project brings together Bristow, Electra, Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority to test operations with a hybrid-electric aircraft capable of ultra-short takeoff and landing, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
Norway has taken another step in its strategy to establish itself as an international testing ground for low- and zero-emission aviation. Bristow Group, Electra, Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority announced the launch and contract signing of a second international project aimed at evaluating new operations with electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.
The project will focus on Electra’s Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft, capable of taking off and landing in areas as small as 50 meters. The proposal is to analyze how this type of technology can expand regional mobility, especially in hard-to-reach areas where geography makes ground travel slower and less efficient.
According to the companies and institutions involved, the tests aim to generate operational, regulatory and market knowledge to support the future introduction of low-emission aircraft in the country. The initiative also intends to demonstrate how this new operational concept can connect remote communities to regional centers, reducing travel times and creating alternatives to conventional transportation.
The demonstrations planned within the program will assess different use scenarios. These include integrating ultra-short operations into existing regional runways, using alternative access points — such as parking lots, fields and adapted structures — and feeding major airport hubs without increasing congestion in those areas.
The testing schedule will be divided into phases. The first stage is expected to take place at smaller airports in northern Norway. This will be followed by operations at new or adapted access points. The final phase will focus on integrating these operations with a major aviation hub in the country. The exact locations are yet to be defined during the preparation phase, with completion expected in about six months and operations beginning in mid-2027.
According to the project participants, the initiative expands the scope of Norway’s first international testing program, moving from more route-specific evaluations to a broader analysis of operational, regulatory and infrastructure aspects. The contract was signed at Trondheim Airport, in Værnes, one of the environments considered for future project activities.
The practical evaluation of operations will also take place within Norway’s so-called regulatory sandbox, a mechanism that allows new solutions to be tested in a supervised environment. The expectation is that this process will contribute to the development of rules, safety models and certification criteria for the gradual introduction of new technologies in regional aviation.
Source and images: Bristow Group. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
