Oslo – October 19, 2026 -- Bristow Group, Electra, Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA Norway) will fly Electra's hybrid-electric EL2 technology demonstrator at five Norwegian locations, with the first demonstration flight planned for the third quarter of 2027.
The EL2 can take off and land in roughly 50 meters. It pairs electric propulsion with a turbogenerator running on sustainable aviation fuel. The partners say the project is meant to generate operational, regulatory and market knowledge for introducing electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.
Five sites cover three operating environments
Horvnes quay near Sandnessjøen and Kongsbergporten Business Park will serve as novel landing sites, where no established runways exist today. Trondheim and Oslo airports will test integration into larger airport environments. Mosjøen Airport in Northern Norway was chosen as the short-runway example, where the aircraft's capabilities and new approach procedures will be assessed.
Regulators plan to test whether current rules fit the aircraft
CAA Norway's Director of Innovation, Research and Sustainability, Jan Petter Steinland, said testing across varied scenarios will show whether the existing regulatory framework is fit for purpose. The authority also wants to learn how an aircraft with these specific characteristics can be safely integrated with other air traffic.
Avinor's Executive Vice President Sustainability and Infrastructure, Karianne Helland Strand, said the results will clarify what infrastructure, airspace, procedures and regulations are needed when new aircraft types enter service in Norway.
Bristow moves to detailed planning for 2027 flights
Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Dave Stepanek said the operator can now begin detailed planning for next year's flights. He said the sites will show the operational flexibility of Electra's ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft and what is required to integrate such technologies safely.
Electra's Vice President of Commercial Programs, Diana Siegel, said the series lays groundwork for a "Direct Aviation" ecosystem combining regulations, policy, infrastructure and aircraft operations.
Project enters test-program and approvals phase
The partners will now develop the detailed test program, obtain the necessary approvals and prepare the locations. The demonstrations fall under Norway's international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation, a government initiative led by Avinor and CAA Norway with financial support from the Norwegian Government.