The means of air transport are rethinking to adapt to the new trends of society, which seeks to make its trips and routes as sustainable as possible in order to take care of the planet and also reduce costs. In this sense, the Swiss 'start-up' Jekta has embarked on an adventure and has not only revived a very popular type of aircraft several decades ago but which had fallen into disuse, but has also electrified it.
The new all-electric seaplane has been named Passenger Hydro Aircraft Zero Emission 100, or PHA-ZE 100 for short, and aims to revolutionize luxury travel, making it more enjoyable and affordable. And, of course, emission-free.
Designed in collaboration with Swiss Aeropole S.A., the PHA-ZE 100 will be capable of taking off and landing on water, which means you won't need to be near an airport for passengers to disembark, and you won't need to have a crew on the ground either. land.
The company ensures that the seaplane will have a range on a single charge of 160 km flying at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters. It will be powered by a 180 kW battery electric system, which will fully charge in just 45 minutes. The solar charging option is also being worked on.
It will be a good alternative to planes with wheels, especially for short trips between islands or tourist visits to dream places or diving excursions. Jekta does not claim that this means of transportation is only within the reach of a privileged few with the economic capacity to purchase a PHA-ZE 100 for their own use and fly directly to their private island.
Its corporate strategy involves having several models available, one of them designed to act as a "commuter" plane and transport islanders who are forced to travel by boat to their workplace on a daily basis. The electric-powered seaplane would reduce the cost per passenger as much as possible, according to the company.
Among the seven configurations of the PHA-ZE 100, there is one with 19 seats for commercial flights, a luxury model for exclusive use equipped with a lounge and sofas, a version adapted to function as an air ambulance and a cargo version for places that are difficult to access. All will be built with an emphasis on safety, sustainability and comfort.
“The use of this new electric seaplane will create a segment of sustainable transport mobility for the population living in cities and small municipalities located on the coast, it will also connect islands and preserve the nature of wildlife sanctuaries that have become attractive tourist”, they declare from Jekta.
Although it is a young company, both its engineering team and those in charge of manufacturing the aircraft have extensive experience in the design and operation of amphibious and solar-powered aircraft. The first deliveries of the PHA-ZE 100 are expected to begin in 2028, with the goal of reaching production of more than 400 seaplanes by 2030. In the video that accompanies this article, you can learn more about this innovative project.
