Benefits of going electric plane to see

TAKING FLIGHT: Rex Airlines deputy chair John Sharp expects electric plane trials to start in 2024. Picture: supplied.

Aidan Curtis

Rex Airlines is preparing to start trials on electric planes as it aims to reduce carbon emissions generated by flying, which could benefit towns like Mount Gambier on the side.

The trial, in partnership with Dovetail Electric Aviation, will see small planes retrofitted with battery-powered electric motors to replace of fossil fuels.

While there will be environmental benefits in terms of emission reductions if the trial is successful, Rex deputy chair John Sharp said regional centres like Mount Gambier will find a number of positives too.

“There’s not much that can go wrong in the electric motor, so they’re much less expensive to maintain,” he said.

“Those lower operating costs can be translated into more sustainable regional aviation into places like Mount Gambier.

“We can translate that into lower costs for the passengers and lower ticket prices as a result.”

According to Mr Sharp, the projected reduction in running costs has potential to expand commercial regional flight routes to places that would otherwise not be serviced.

“There’s a chance that when we do have this innovation in place, it will be viable to operate a service to places that previously it wasn’t viable to,” he said.

“There’s a considerable advantage for communities that don’t have a regional airline service.”

Mr Sharp said the trials will start on 10-seater planes before moving on to the Saab 340s that are currently used by Rex for regional flights.

“If the trials are successful, which we expect them to be, then we’ll go to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and seek to have the aircraft modifications certified as safe,” he said.

The trials are slated to get underway in 2024.