Jekta, the Switzerland-based manufacturer of the electrically powered Passenger Hydro Aircraft Zero Emission 100 (PHA-ZE 100) flying boat and Gayo Aviation have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the acquisition by Gayo of 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 optimise 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.
“We are delighted to be the first customer to sign an LOI with Jekta for this impressive, versatile and comfortable airframe. We want to be among the first to provide our customers with a truly sustainable option to transport their passengers. With the potential to reduce per-passenger-per-hour costs by more than 70% compared to current seaplanes we can satisfy that need,” says Gisle Dueland, CEO of Gayo Aviation. “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. This opens up more opportunities to supply sustainable tourism options and Gayo is committed to supporting this expansion. We anticipate that interest in travel on these airframes will be high,” Dueland adds.
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 optimised 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.
