Hopscotch Air, a Part 135 certified provider of light aircraft air taxi services in the northeast and mid-Atlantic US and Canada, has signed a letter of intent to purchase four eFlyers from Bye Aerospace. The order includes one eFlyer 2 trainer and three eFlyer 4 aircraft.

Bye Aerospace says its eFlyer series of aircraft is set to cut operating costs by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional aircraft like the Cessna 172 due to its battery-electric propulsion system. This clean tech not only cuts CO2 emissions but is significantly quieter than conventional aircraft, nearly undetectable at pattern altitudes.

“The clean, quiet eFlyer with its significantly reduced operating costs is incredibly important to our customers and increasing future business opportunities,” says Hopscotch Air CEO Andrew Schmertz. “We believe Bye Aerospace has a clear path to FAA Part 23 certification, a disrupting technology for short haul charter operations.”

Bye Aerospace CEO Rod Zastrow adds: “The eFlyer 4 is perfect for regional mobility. Its spacious cabin comfortably seats a pilot and three passengers, with ample luggage space. We see it reaching speeds upwards of 200 knots with a range of over 300 miles based on industry aviation battery energy density projections.”

The eFlyer 4 meets all of Hopscotch Air’s criteria for regional air mobility. For instance, the popular 191 mile White Plains to Nantucket route takes less than an hour by eFlyer 4, compared to more than seven hours of driving.

Hopscotch has also signed an MoU for the Electron 5 from Electron Aerospace. The aircraft will feature a 750km range with today’s batteries. The company is poised for launch in 2028.