Auric Air, a Tanzania-based regional air operator flying both scheduled and charter services across East Africa, is to upgrade up to 12 of its Cessna Grand Caravan fleet with Surf Air’s proprietary electrified powertrain technology, once certified.

“It is exciting to have Auric Air share our mission of reducing emissions through electrified aircraft,” says Stan Little, CEO of Surf Air Mobility. “Auric Air’s commitment secures its preferred delivery positions to upgrade its aircraft to our electrified powertrains once the technology is certified.”

Surf Air recently announced similar electrified powertrain agreements with other large Cessna Caravan air operators including Safarilink, Yellow Wings and Z.Boskovic in East Africa, and Azul Connecta in Brazil.

Surf Air is developing STCs for both hybrid and fully-electric variants of the Cessna Grand Caravan and now has approximately 13 per cent of the Cessna Caravan market in Africa under agreement.