Bristow Helicopters is leading Project SEAN, a Scottish Electric Aviation Network initiative backed by £1.5 million from the UK Department for Transport to trial electric regional flights across the Highlands and Islands. The programme will use BETA Technologies’ ALIA CX300 for demonstration flights from a hub at Inverness Airport, linking selected regional airports from 2027.
The consortium also includes BETA Technologies, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, Skyports Infrastructure, Electric Aviation Maven and Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership. The project is designed to test route viability, aircraft utilisation, demand, charging infrastructure and airport readiness in a real operating environment.
Alongside the flight trials, EA Maven will carry out market and network analysis to assess passenger, cargo and medical-service opportunities. The work is intended to produce operational evidence on how electric aircraft could support remote communities and strengthen short-haul connectivity in Scotland’s island and mainland regional network.