Electra has submitted an application to the FAA for Part 23 type certification of its nine-passenger EL9 hybrid-electric ultra short aircraft. Part 23 establishes the FAA's airworthiness standards for aircraft with 19 passengers or fewer and is the regulatory pathway for certifying small aircraft for commercial passenger and cargo operations. The filing marks a significant step in transitioning the EL9 from technology development into the formal certification process.

Electra's submission includes FAA Form 8110-12, the Project Specific Certification Plan (PSCP) and the EL9 Aircraft Specification, outlining the company's proposed certification basis and approach to regulatory compliance. The filing reflects several years of coordinated engagement between Electra and the FAA through the Emerging Technology Section of Policy and Standards.

“This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” says Electra CEO Marc Allen. “The EL9 combines blown-lift with distributed electric propulsion to unlock air travel that takes people directly from where they are to where they want to go. We will continue to engage with the FAA to demonstrate that the EL9 is a reliable fixed-wing aircraft that will serve passengers, move cargo and connect communities for many years to come.”

The EL9 combines a hybrid-electric propulsion architecture with Electra's blown-lift wing design, which channels airflow over the wing to generate exceptional lift. Electra's ultra short technology enables reliable, quiet takeoffs and landings in as little as 150 feet, opening thousands of potential ultra short access points, namely small airfields, helipads, docks, parking areas, industrial facilities or remote clearings while maintaining the speed, safety, cost-effectiveness and comfort of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Electra designed the EL9 to enable 'direct aviation', a model of quiet, point-to-point mobility that bypasses clogged airport hubs. The aircraft's ultra short capability, fixed-wing payload and range, and hybrid-electric efficiency allow operators to offer reliable regional service directly between communities, employment centres, logistics hubs and remote locations.

Electra will continue its ongoing collaboration with the FAA as the EL9 progresses through the certification process, including collaboration toward acceptance of the PSCP, including compliance and conformity plans, and detailing the test implementation phase of the type certification process.