VIVAERO

SY30J Pangea hybrid-electric plane promises 90% savings compared to turboprops

The regional aviation market may gain another manufacturer by the end of the decade, the startup The Aircraft Company, from the USA. The company intends to launch a family of hybrid-electric aircraft named “Pangea”, which is expected to enter service from 2029.

With capacity for up to 30 passengers, the first model was baptized as SY30J and will be equipped with four electric motors. Behind the project is experienced Canadian engineer Mario Asselin, who served 14 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force before working on projects such as Bombardier's Global 7500 and 8000 executive jets.

Headquartered in Wichita, the 'mecca' of general aviation, The Aircraft Company is betting on a model of short and medium-haul regional flights, where the SY30J can be up to 90% cheaper to operate than turboprops.

In an interview with AirInsight, Asselin pointed out that turboprop aircraft burn a lot of fuel in phases such as the taxi, where they often remain stationary for 20 minutes or more.

“All the energy expenditure that you don't have to account for during taxiing or during descent would possibly get you a very efficient plane”, said the CEO of the new company.

Hybrid option with 800 km of range...According to information on the website of The Aircraft Company, the SY30J will be able to fly up to 400 km with zero emissions (pure electric mode) or 800 km or more with low emission.

The reason is that the primary propulsion will be electric, but optionally use an on-demand hybrid system, which can include SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) or hydrogen.

Asselin also aims to make the plane capable of operating with a single pilot, already waiting for changes in legislation. Another goal of the project is to use airports with small runways, around 1,000 meters long.

In addition, the SY30J will utilize an all-weather operating system called Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) to allow flights to airports without IFR equipment.

Versions with up to 70 seats ... The company, however, did not disclose details such as the dimensions of the aircraft, which has a low-wing configuration with winglets and a T-tail.

But Asselin guaranteed that the fuselage will have generous space, capable of accommodating 30 passengers in rows of three seats measuring 53.3 cm wide. The distance between the rows will be 91.4 cm. far above the market average.

The CEO of The Aircraft Company also envisages offering versions of Pangea with 48 and 70 seats and said that the project is at an advanced stage and already includes a flight simulator.

The startup is now looking for funding, with negotiations with governments that can support the project – the executive did not mention which countries are being probed.

Asked about the demand for an aircraft of this size, Mario Asselin cited a report by Embraer, released in its Energia program, a potential competitor in the future.

According to the Brazilian company, the forecast is that the market will demand around 20,000 aircraft of this type. “No manufacturer makes that many planes these days,” he said hopefully.