The aircraft by US-based start-up XTI Aircraft Company will use the batteries for vertical take-offs and landings
It seems that the severe airport infrastructure shortage in India is not coming in way of country's regional connectivity growth.
Just months after leading low-cost carrier Spicejet proposed to connect scores of unconnected parts of the country using amphibian planes (can land on water as well as on land), a US-based aviation start-up wants to sell a hybrid battery powered plane in India for use in the central government's regional connectivity scheme (RCS).
The aircraft, which uses the batteries for vertical take-offs and landings, has been designed for operations using a helipad, unlike a long runway needed for a conventional aircraft. During the cruise, the plane flies on conventional fuel. The batteries even get charged while the plane is in cruise mode, the company officials said. This is similar to the hybrid car, wherein the batter gets charged whenever the driver applies the brakes.
The company will be making a presentation on its prototype at an industry event organised by aviation consultancy firm CAPA on Wednesday.
Saleem Sameer, VP (sales & marketing), XTI Aircraft Company, told DNA Money that the concept is still in a prototype stage and will take some time to get materialise. He said the plane will help in reducing the pollution and has the capability to travel in the range from, say, Mumbai to Delhi. The aircraft can travel at a speed of up to 345 miles an hour.
According to the company website, XTI Aircraft Company is a privately-owned aviation business based near Denver, founded in 2013.
The website counts the owner of a prominent law firm among its first Indian investors.
SpiceJet had in October last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's Setouchi Holdings for starting amphibian plane services in India. The airline management claims the project could become sustainable only if it is scaled up to over 100 planes.
VERTICAL TAKE-OFF
- The aircraft by US-based start-up XTI Aircraft Company will use the batteries for vertical take-offs and landings
- It has been designed for operations using a helipad, unlike a long runway needed for a conventional aircraft
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