Avinor selects five Norwegian locations for hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrations

Five locations in Norway have been selected to host demonstrations of Electra’s hybrid-electric EL2 aircraft in 2027, as part of the country’s international test programme for zero- and low-emission aviation.

Trondheim Airport, Oslo Airport, Mosjøen Airport, Horvnes quay near Sandnessjøen and Kongsbergporten Business Park will provide a range of operating environments, including conventional airports and locations without runways. The demonstrations will help assess how new aircraft types could operate within Norway’s aviation system.

The project brings together four partners: Bristow Group, Electra, Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. Electra’s EL2 demonstrator can take off and land in approximately 50 metres. It is powered by electric motors and combines batteries with a turbogenerator fuelled by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The aim is to develop operational, regulatory and commercial knowledge to support the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.

Testing across different operating environments
The five locations have been selected to test the aircraft in three different settings: at a short-runway airport, at new landing sites and in conjunction with major airports.

Horvnes quay near Sandnessjøen and Kongsbergporten Business Park will be used to demonstrate operations from new landing sites without established runways. Trondheim and Oslo airports will provide experience of integrating the aircraft with larger airports, while Mosjøen will serve as an example of a short-runway airport in northern Norway, where the aircraft’s capabilities and new approach procedures can be tested.

“The important thing is not any individual location in itself, but that we can test the technology under different conditions and in different parts of the aviation system. This will give us knowledge of what is required in terms of infrastructure, airspace, procedures and regulations when new aircraft types are ready to enter service in Norway,” said Karianne Helland Strand, Avinor’s Executive Vice President for Sustainability and Infrastructure.

The locations will also allow the partners to assess the aircraft’s operational flexibility and the potential requirements for future regional air mobility services.

“With the locations now in place, we can begin detailed planning for next year’s flight operations,” said Dave Stepanek, Bristow’s Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer.

Electra’s Vice President of Commercial Programs, Diana Siegel, said aircraft capable of operating from very short take-off and landing distances could create new opportunities for regional travel, connecting cities and major airports with communities and destinations that lack conventional runways.

She added that the demonstrations would help lay the foundations for a new ecosystem of more direct air services, requiring regulation, infrastructure and flight operations to work together to make such journeys a practical alternative.

The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority will also use the project to assess whether existing regulations are appropriate for emerging aircraft technologies and how aircraft with distinctive operating characteristics can be safely integrated into other aviation activities.

Demonstrations planned for 2027
The project is now moving into its next phase, with partners set to develop the detailed test programme, obtain the necessary approvals and prepare the selected locations.

The first demonstration flight is planned for the third quarter of 2027. The precise arrangements at each location will be determined through further operational, technical and regulatory assessments.

Norway’s international test programme
Norway’s international test programme for zero- and low-emission aviation is a government initiative led by Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, with financial support from the Norwegian government.

The programme aims to accelerate the introduction of zero- and low-emission technologies by enabling practical testing and the development of appropriate regulatory frameworks.