Five Norwegian Sites Selected to Host Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Demonstrations in 2027

Bristow Group (VTOL) and its partners have selected five Norwegian locations for hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrations planned to begin in 2027.

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Rhea-AI Summary

Bristow Group (VTOL) and its partners have selected five Norwegian locations for hybrid-electric aircraft demonstrations planned to begin in 2027.

Bristow, Electra, Avinor and CAA Norway plan the first flight with Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator for the third quarter of 2027. Horvnes quay near Sandnessjøen and Kongsbergporten Business Park represent sites without established runways; Trondheim and Oslo airports represent larger hubs; Mosjøen represents a short-runway airport. The project aims to inform infrastructure, operational and regulatory requirements. The partners will next develop the detailed test program, obtain necessary approvals and prepare the locations.

Key Figures

Demonstration sites: Five locations First demonstration flight: Third quarter of 2027 Takeoff and landing distance: Approximately 50 meters

Demonstration sites: Five locations; Across Norway
First demonstration flight: Third quarter of 2027; Planned timing
Takeoff and landing distance: Approximately 50 meters; Aircraft capability stated in the article

Key Terms

sustainable aviation fuel, turbogenerator, unmanned aerial systems (uas)

3 terms

sustainable aviation fuel technical

"a turbogenerator powered by sustainable aviation fuel"

Sustainable aviation fuel is a low‑carbon replacement for conventional jet fuel made from renewable sources (like plant residues, waste oils, or captured carbon) but refined to meet the same safety and performance rules as regular jet fuel. Investors care because SAF can lower airlines’ carbon footprints and exposure to tightening regulations, create new supply and cost dynamics in the fuel market, and drive long‑term demand shifts — like using cleaner fuel in the same airplane.

turbogenerator technical

"a turbogenerator powered by sustainable aviation fuel"

A turbogenerator is a single machine that combines a turbine and an electrical generator to turn flowing steam, gas, or water into electricity; the turbine provides the spinning motion and the generator converts that motion into an electrical current. For investors, it is a core industrial asset whose size, efficiency, reliability, and maintenance needs affect a power producer’s output, operating costs, capital expenditure needs, and potential revenue, much like the engine is central to a car’s performance.

unmanned aerial systems (uas) technical

"fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and highly skilled personnel"

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are drones plus the ground controllers, communications links, sensors and software that let them fly and perform tasks without a pilot onboard — think of a radio‑controlled aircraft teamed with a mobile command center. They matter to investors because UAS open new markets and revenue streams across delivery, agriculture, mapping, inspection and defense, while their value and risks hinge on regulation, safety, and technological reliability.

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10/19/2026 - 08:00 AM EDT

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.

Artist rendering of Electra's EL9 hybrid-electric ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft. Demonstration flights in Norway will utilize Electra's EL2 technology demonstrator.

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.