An artist’s conception shows Eviation’s Alice airplane flying over Australia. (Eviation Illustration)
It’s only fitting that 20 of Eviation’s all-electric Alice commuter airplanes are destined to be based in Alice Springs. That’s the upshot of the Arlington, Wash.-based company’s deal with Northern Territory Air Services, a scheduled airline and charter aircraft operator that’s headquartered in the town known as the capital of the Australian Outback.
“Australia is recognized around the world for its breathtaking scenery, and adopting carbon-free technologies is fundamental to preserving the environment for future generations,” Ian Scheyer, the CEO of NTAS, said today in a news release announcing a letter of intent to acquire the planes. “Eviation’s all-electric Alice aircraft provides us with the opportunity to chart a sustainable path forward in connecting communities across the country.”
Alice is designed to take on flights ranging from 150 to 250 miles — which fits the parameters for many of NTAS’ flights. Scheyer said electric aviation will make it possible for his company to provide “cost-effective and convenient passenger and cargo flights across the Outback.”
Financial terms of the transaction were not announced.
It will be a while before NTAS gets its planes. Eviation conducted its first flight test of an Alice prototype in September in Moses Lake, Wash., and the company isn’t expected to begin deliveries until 2027 or so. Several other aircraft operators — including DHL Express, Cape Air, GlobalX and Germany’s Evia Aero — have previously put in orders.