BEHA
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Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft
Low Costs
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Reduced operational costs versus existing aircraft
Low Noise
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Propulsion via quiet electric motors & ducted fans
Low Emissions
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Certified turbine generator reducing fuel burn (JetA/SAF) & emissions
Our Vision
At Faradair, we believe that daily regional flight should be an affordable, quiet and sustainable option for all.
There are thousands of regional airfields around the world that are not being utilised enough as a modern regional transport option and connector.
The way we unlock these airfields is through new aircraft that are economically viable and environmentally friendly, we have designed such an aircraft.
If you would like to hear what the future of regional air transport could be? Listen to our Founder and CEO - Neil Cloughley, discussing our vision for hybrid-electric regional flight with BBC journalist Theo Leggett for the Business Daily podcast series.
About Us
Faradair was formed in 2014 as a next generation airplane manufacturer and over the last 10 years it's pioneering vision for hybrid-electric flight has been widely recognised as the most viable near term market opportunity for sustainable aviation.
The founding team of Faradair have decades of commercial aviation experience, seeing at first hand, the difficulty of running regional air transport operations economically viably with existing air assets.
It was recognised that the three core problems hindering regional air transport growth were:
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Cost of operations
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Noise
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Emissions
Over 25,000 commercial aircraft in service today, account for 2.3% of global emissions, by 2040, the number of aircraft expected to be in service is 41,000.
'Offsetting' is no longer considered viable to change the "black listed" aviation industry, yet it has committed along with Governments to become net zero by 2050.
Batteries and hydrogen are not quite ready for certifiable commercial operations at the size and scale required for regional air transport. Therefore the first step on the sustainable aviation journey will be via smaller, regional aircraft using ‘hybrid-electric’ propulsion.
UBS forecasts that hybrid-electric aircraft market will be worth in excess of $178Billion by 2040.
Due to its experience and understanding of the commercial aviation market, PwC listed Faradair is 'one to watch' in its NetZero Future Fifty report.
Faradair was honoured to win the inaugural 'Sir Michael Marshall Award for Sustainability in Aviation' for our pioneering vision for 'hybrid-electric' regional flight.
Design Evolution
Commercial aircraft development programmes take between 5 to 15 years to reach certified commercial air service.
The company has evolved its innovative hybrid-electric, clean-sheet design aircraft concept, that utilises a unique and proven wing configuration for Electric Short Take-Off and Landing (E-STOL) from runways of less than 300m (984ft).
Initial analysis
Initial wing configuration and layout analysed and compared to alternative options
Asset scale-up
Initial concept scaled up from 8 seat to a 19 seat utility aircraft for passenger and cargo (3x LD3 containers) operations
Design studied
Design taken to Swansea University, studied and optimised, core concept proven
Model and Propulsion Test
Revised design models created and studied. Electric motors selected (magniX) and begin flight testing. Turbogenerator selected (Honeywell) and ground rig testing begins
Initial scale model
Initial design concept model's created and analysed and industry partners selected
Final design freeze
The aircraft is now entering the final design iteration following future customer and operator feedback and changing non-civilian mission requirements
Partners are currently testing and evolving the components of the hybrid electric propulsion system. The core power source is based on a proven and type certified APU turbogenerator flying in Airbus aircraft today.
This modular power capability will ensure the aircraft is able to operate from any regional airfield today, using either JetA fuel or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) when available.
In the future, the turbine generator could be replaced by full NetZero power source options such as batteries or hydrogen fuel cells under an STC modification, once these technologies become commercially viable.
The BEHA will be certified under existing Part23/CS23 regulations for commuter category aircraft.
