Australian seaplane operator Sydney Seaplanes is working with magniX and Dante Aeronautical to initiate the world's first electric Cessna Caravan STC programme. Powered by magniX's propulsion system, Sydney Seaplanes and Dante Aeronautical will work towards an STC by converting the Cessna Caravan to be the first all-electric aircraft certified by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

“After more than a decade of flying thousands of passengers over stunning views around the Sydney Harbour, we're delighted to take our next step into the future of flight,” says Sydney Seaplanes CEO Aaron Shaw. “As the only company that's already powered and flown two all-electric magnified commercial aircraft, magniX is the ideal partner to help us not only electrify our planes but build toward an electric future that benefits our travellers and the environment. This trilateral partnership means Sydney Seaplanes will play an integral role in certifying, adopting and distributing nil emission aviation services and technology.”

The STC is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023, at which point Sydney Seaplanes will be able to offer the STC as a service to other Caravan operators in the region. The partnership will position Sydney Seaplanes as the prime leader in electric aircraft operation and magnification, with Dante as the technology integrator of reference in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific region.

“This is another terrific milestone for the electric aviation revolution and one that we are thrilled to be a part of as the industry continues to innovate,” says magniX CEO Roei Ganzarski. “Expanding with STC partners globally on more and more aircraft platforms means more sustainable air travel brought to market and to the masses. And for operators, the all-electric aircraft provides the benefits of clean, cost-effective aviation.”

This partnership comes on the heels of momentum in the electric aviation industry within the last year. In December 2019, magniX flew the world's first commercial all-electric aircraft, the eBeaver, a six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver with North American seaplane operator Harbour Air. In May, magniX successfully flew the largest all-electric commercial aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and in September Universal Hydrogen announced its selection of magniX as the propulsion provider for their Hydrogen-based Dash-8 conversion programme. magniX is also the provider of propulsion for Eviation's Alice, the world's first by design all-electric commuter aircraft.