Aviation News – Bristow Group has secured the earliest delivery positions for Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft through a binding pre-delivery payment agreement.
The move positions Bristow to lead early commercial operations of a new aircraft class designed to transform regional and point-to-point aviation.
Electra and Bristow signed the PDP deposit agreement under commercial aviation industry standards, subject to aircraft certification, converting a long-standing partnership into firm commitments. The agreement follows five years of collaboration that began with a pre-order in 2021 and now confirms five EL9 delivery slots scheduled for the aircraft’s first year of production.
The EL9 is designed to carry nine passengers with baggage or up to 3,000 pounds of cargo over 330 nautical miles, with a maximum ferry range of 1,100 nautical miles including IFR reserves. Its ultra-short takeoff capability and hybrid-electric propulsion enable operations from compact airfields, supporting new regional routes with lower emissions and a bolt-on transition for operators seeking flexible infrastructure.
