Electric seaplane start-up Noemi Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philippine seaplane operator Horizon Sun Charters (HSC) for three amphibious aircraft, with options for two additional aircraft.
The agreement marks the airframers entry into the Philippines, which as an archipelago is a natural environment for amphibious aviation.
"The geography of the Philippines makes a very strong case for seaplanes," said Eric Lithun, Founder and CEO of Noemi Aerospace. "With more than 7,600 islands, short distances and a strong ambition to develop its tourism industry.”
“This agreement strengthens our position in Southeast Asia and provides further confirmation of the commercial potential for electric amphibious aviation in the region."
Under the MoU, Noemi and HSC will explore the technical, financial and regulatory requirements for introducing the aircraft in the Philippines, as well as potential routes and operational integration. HSC intends to acquire three aircraft, with options for a further two.
Raymond Schwab, Founder and Captain of Horizon Sun Charters said; “With the hybrid version, we see the flexibility to operate a wide range of missions and serve the entire market".
The Norwegian company is still in the development phase of producing an entirely new aircraft. However, a successful public demonstration of a scale model of the firm’s proposed airframe was conducted at Sandefjord last year.
