Jekta, the Payerne, Switzerland-based manufacturer of the electrically powered Passenger Hydro Aircraft Zero Emission 100 (PHA-ZE 100) flying boat and Gayo Aviation have announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the acquisition by Gayo for ten electrically powered amphibious aircraft. With main offices in Sweden and Dubai, Gayo Aviation is a global provider of private and specialist aviation services and will optimize the aircraft to support existing and new market opportunities.
The airframe will be delivered in a baseline configuration for 19 passengers, with the deal including ground support equipment for charging and replacing the PHA-ZE 100’s batteries; tools and component support for the first year of operation; training for two pilots and two technicians; and a three-year airframe warranty. Gayo Aviation plans to make the aircraft available for environmental and experiential tourism and charter operators wishing to bolster their sustainable transport options. Gayo will also offer the aircraft on lease for scheduled affordable regional services in underserved communities.
“The trend for the top end of the tourism community is towards sustainable and experiential travel, so we wanted to be ahead of the curve and first in line to serve this evolving sector. With the potential to reduce per-passenger-per-hour costs by more than 70% compared to current seaplanes, we anticipate that interest in travel on these airframes will be high,” says Gisle Dueland, CEO of Gayo Aviation.
Dueland is a strong proponent of sustainable aviation, and the deal demonstrates industry faith in the PHA-ZE 100 as Jekta CEO George Alafinov continues negotiations with a second potential customer located in the Gulf. “Sustainability does not have to mean a compromise in comfort or capability and the PHA-ZE 100 has been designed to meet these needs. It also satisfies the increasing demand and opportunity to use water as infrastructure, the expansion of seaplane routes, and provides a sustainable, optimized solution to replace aging seaplanes.”
The PHA-ZE 100 flying boat will be certified to EASA CS-23 and US FAA FAR-23 standards for fixed-wing passenger aircraft. It is optimized to serve coastal and island communities, regional routes currently limited by operational costs, and to support new low-cost, sustainable services between cities without the need for the installation of expensive land infrastructure. It also boasts a configuration to suit the particular needs of experiential vacations being large enough to carry kayaks, scuba equipment, and other gear required to support adventure sports. Flexible configurations, including 19-seat, mixed economy/freight, VIP, and ambulance options, make the most of the PHA-ZE 100’s spacious, stand-up cabin. Low maintenance and fuel costs, much-reduced noise, no pollution impact, and minimal aviation infrastructure requirements combine to make the PHA-ZE 100 an optimal platform for sustainable and new operations.
