• Locations represent three distinct operating environments: short-runway airports, larger aviation hubs, and novel landing sites.
• First demonstration flight planned for the third quarter of 2027.
• Results will help inform future infrastructure, operational, and regulatory requirements for hybrid-electric aviation.

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bristow Group Inc., together with Electra, Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA Norway), will conduct demonstration flights with Electra’s hybrid-electric EL2 technology demonstrator at five locations across Norway. Capable of taking off and landing in approximately 50 meters, the aircraft combines electric propulsion with a turbogenerator powered by sustainable aviation fuel. The project aims to generate operational, regulatory, and market knowledge to support the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.

Three distinct operating environments

Horvnes quay near Sandnessjøen and Kongsbergporten Business Park will be used to demonstrate operations at novel landing sites where no established runways exist today. Trondheim and Oslo airports will provide experience with integrating operations into larger airport environments. Mosjøen Airport has been selected as an example of a short-runway airport in Northern Norway where the aircraft’s capabilities and new approach procedures can be assessed.

“What matters is not the individual location itself, but that we are able to test the technology under different conditions and in different parts of the aviation system. This will give us insight into what is required in terms of infrastructure, airspace, procedures and regulations when new types of aircraft are ready to enter service in Norway,” says Karianne Helland Strand, Executive Vice President Sustainability and Infrastructure at Avinor.

“These locations will allow us to demonstrate the capabilities and operational flexibility of Electra’s ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft across a range of operating environments while helping us better understand what will be required to safely integrate these technologies into future operations,” said Dave Stepanek, Bristow Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer. “With the locations now selected, we can begin detailed planning for next year’s flight demonstrations.”

“Electra is showing how Ultra Short aircraft can expand regional travel, connecting cities and major airport hubs, with communities and destinations without traditional runways,” said Diana Siegel, Vice President of Commercial Programs at Electra. “This series of demonstrations lays the groundwork for a Direct Aviation ecosystem, bringing together regulations, policy, infrastructure, and aircraft operations to make more direct travel a practical option for more people.”

“When we test new aircraft technologies in such a range of different scenarios, we will be able to assess whether the existing regulatory framework is fit for purpose. It is also valuable for us to build knowledge about how a new type of aircraft with specific characteristics can be safely integrated with other air traffic,” says Jan Petter Steinland, Director of Innovation, Research and Sustainability at CAA Norway.

Preparing for testing in 2027

The project is now entering its next phase. The partners will develop the detailed test program, obtain the necessary approvals, and prepare the locations. The first demonstration flight is planned for the third quarter of 2027.

About Norway’s International Test Arena

Norway’s international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation is a government initiative led by Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, with financial support from the Norwegian Government. The test arena is intended to contribute to the faster and more predictable introduction of new zero- and low-emission technologies through practical testing and the development of regulatory frameworks.

About the Partners

Bristow Group Inc. is a leading global provider of mission-critical aviation services for government entities, offshore energy companies, and other customers around the world. Our business is comprised of three operating segments: Offshore Energy Services (OES), Government Services and Other Services. Through the use of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and highly skilled personnel, we provide aviation services such as personnel transportation, offshore energy logistics, search and rescue (SAR), special missions, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, medevac, unmanned systems, on-demand cargo logistics (ODC) and other specialized aviation solutions. We are also involved in various advanced air mobility (AAM) initiatives and emerging next-generation aviation technologies.

Electra

Electra.aero, Inc. (Electra) is an advanced air mobility (AAM) company building hybrid-electric Ultra Short airplanes that deliver unprecedented performance advantages to fly people and cargo seamlessly without airports, emissions, or noise. With the EL9 Ultra Short, Electra is pioneering Direct Aviation, the next level of connectivity that brings air travel closer to where we live, work, and play. Electra’s Ultra Short technology delivers 2.5x the payload and 10x longer range with 70% lower operating costs than helicopters and eVTOLs with significantly greater safety and far less certification risk.

Electra’s team includes some of the most respected and successful entrepreneurs and engineers in novel aircraft design, with over 40 prior aircraft successfully developed and/or certified. Lockheed Martin Ventures, HoneywellAerospace, and Safran are among Electra’s strategic investors along with Prysm Capital, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and other private investors. Electra’s contracted customers include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and NASA along with over 2,200 letters of intent from 60+ commercial customers, including both airlines and helicopter operators. 

Avinor

Avinor is a wholly state-owned company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, responsible for 43 airports and Norway’s air navigation services, enabling safe, efficient and more sustainable aviation.

Civil Aviation Authority Norway (Luftfartstilsynet)

The CAA’s primary task is to ensure and improve safety in Norwegian aviation. CAA Norway has the responsibility to oversee and regulate all aspects of civil aviation in Norway, implementing and customising national and international legislation and regulations. We are also committed to working towards more sustainable and societally beneficial aviation.

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SOURCE Bristow Group