European start-up Heart Aerospace is planning to certify its battery-powered, full electric ES-19 regional aircraft under a higher weight category than originally planned. This change allows it “to optimize the product, reduce regulatory risk, and increase the accessible market”, Heart says in a media statement on June 16. Heart Aerospace de-risks ES-19 certification.
Heart is developing the 19-seater ES-19 since 2018, targeting in particular markets in the Nordic countries in Europe to comply with sustainability regulations. For example, Norway has introduced a mandate for electric short-haul flights from 2040. Heart has received commitments from Finnair and SAS, but its plans received a boost in July last year when United Airlines and regional operator Mesa Airlines said they want to buy a combined 200 electric aircraft. Using lithium-ion batteries, the aircraft will have a range of 400 kilometers.
The Gothenburg (Sweden) company originally planned to certify the ES-19 under EASA Certification Specification CS-23 and the US counterpart, the FAA’s CFR Part 23. They cover normal, utility, aerobatic, and commuter aircraft. The ES-19 would fall under the two-engine, propeller-driven commuter aircraft of up to nineteen seats and a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 8.618 kilograms/19.000 pounds.
According to the technical specifications, the ES-19 would stay slightly below this weight limit, but there would be a risk of exceeding it as the design is finalized. This would require an exemption to CS-23/Part 23 from EASA and the FAA which could have made certification a bit more complicated. That’s why the Swedish start-up now says it will certify the aircraft under EASA Certification Specification CS-25/FAA Part 25 for larger aircraft over 8.618 kilograms.
“The change of certification basis will increase flexibility to adapt the design requirements for the global market. A new aircraft certified under 14 CFR Part 25 will, for example, be allowed to operate scheduled commercial operations in the United States, as opposed to a new aircraft certified under 14 CFR Part 23, which cannot”, Heart says in a media statement. Heart will share more details about the design changes and the ES-19 during a Hangar Day, which is scheduled for mid-September in Gothenburg.
The design of the ES-19 is progressing well, the company says. Heart announced an industrial partnership with Spanish company Aernnova in November to co-design the structure of the aircraft. Aernnova is a major supplier to Embraer, Airbus, and Boeing. The ES-19 should enter commercial service in 2026.
Richard Schuurman
Active as journalist since 1987, starting with regional newspaper Zwolse Courant. Grand Prix reporter in 1997 at Dutch monthly Formule 1, general reporter Lelystad/Flevoland at De Stentor/Dagblad Flevoland, from 2002 until June 2021 radio/tv reporter/presentor with Omroep Flevoland.
Since mid-2016 freelance aviation journalist, since June 2021 fully dedicated to aviation. Reporter/editor AirInsight since December 2018. Contributor to Airliner World, Piloot & Vliegtuig. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
