Electra and VertiPorts by Atlantic have signed a memorandum of understanding to assess whether new and existing sites in New York City could accommodate the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The study will consider infrastructure such as barges, piers and elevated surfaces. No operating locations, construction plans or service timeline have been set; the agreement is exploratory and could inform work in other regions.
The assessment follows a demonstration by Electra’s EL2 technology demonstrator at Downtown Skyport in Lower Manhattan. Electra described it as apparently the first landing at the heliport by a fixed-wing aircraft without vertical-takeoff capability.
The EL9 is being developed to carry nine passengers and take off and land in as little as 150 feet. Electra’s proposed “Direct Aviation” model would use smaller, distributed access points for regional journeys, rather than relying solely on conventional airports. Whether the sites under consideration can support the aircraft’s operations remains to be assessed.
VertiPorts by Atlantic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Aviation, which operates 108 fixed-base operator locations across North America. Electra has selected Springfield, Ohio, for its first planned EL9 production facility. The companies have not disclosed when the aircraft might enter service or whether any particular New York site will be developed.