EVIO and specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord have announced that EVIO has joined the TrueNoord New Technology Hub, a collaborative initiative supporting the introduction of next-generation regional aircraft technologies intended to significantly reduce emissions. Through the collaboration, the two companies will explore operating economics such as maintenance, financing, leasing and infrastructure while sharing technical and market insights; TrueNoord contributes regional aircraft market expertise and benchmarking data, while EVIO brings evolving aircraft specifications and operating-cost modelling for its EVIO 810 aircraft. “The EVIO 810 is being designed to provide a more responsible and economically viable path forward for regional aviation,” said Michael Derman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EVIO. “TrueNoord shares our focus on what it will take for next-generation aircraft to succeed in the real operating environment while delivering meaningful reductions in emissions. Bringing together our aircraft development perspective with their regional leasing and market expertise will help deepen industry understanding of the commercial and operational considerations that need to be addressed as new low-emissions aircraft technologies are introduced to regional aviation.”

The TrueNoord New Technology Hub brings together aircraft developers and other industry stakeholders to address the commercial and operational considerations associated with next-generation aircraft; future collaboration may also involve airlines, technology providers and other aviation stakeholders. “We are pleased to welcome EVIO as the latest member of the TrueNoord New Technology Hub and look forward to working with their team. As the aviation industry explores the developments that will shape the next generation of regional aircraft, the commercial and operational realities need to be considered alongside innovation. Through the Hub, we can contribute our experience as a regional aircraft lessor while gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges hybrid-electric aircraft could present for airlines and lessors. Ultimately, the aim is to help make the economics of these aircraft attractive enough for customers to take the next step,” added Anne-Bart Tieleman, TrueNoord CEO.

EVIO is developing a family of hybrid-electric regional aircraft intended to restore route profitability, reduce noise and emissions, and improve the passenger experience; its dual-class, 76-seat EVIO 810 is optimised for all-electric operation on short flights and hybrid operation on longer missions. TrueNoord owns a fleet of more than 100 turboprop, regional jet and crossover aircraft leased to more than 30 operators across 25 countries, and is backed by lead investor Arcus Infrastructure Partners together with Freshstream.