Pioneering electric aircraft developer Ampaire and Black & Veatch – a global leader in sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy and transportation electrification – will collaborate on developing airport electrification that supports tomorrow’s electric aviation needs.

Against the backdrop of a reimagined aviation sector – and the evolution of air mobility in a world increasingly looking to decarbonise – Black & Veatch and Ampaire have announced they will work to identify and evaluate opportunities to plan, engineer and construct infrastructure for electric air mobility at airports, working with early adopters in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two transportation decarbonisation leaders, the global collaboration will focus on creating reliable, clean-energy-powered charging and sustainable aviation fuelling supply – at a growing number of airports – leveraging solar, energy storage and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain development. The initiative seeks to include a broad range of air and ground-side stakeholders who will benefit from shared infrastructure, and Black & Veatch’s deep knowledge of power and communications infrastructure applied to this innovative industry sector.

“Making zero-emission possible for meaningful service range”

"Ampaire is committed to putting zero-emissions aircraft into widespread service by mid-decade. These hybrid-electric aircraft will benefit from the build-out of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electric charging infrastructure, making zero emission possible for meaningful service range. That’s why we consider this teaming arrangement so important,” said Susan Ying, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships for Los Angeles-based Ampaire. “Aircraft companies must be involved in defining airport fuelling and charging infrastructure. We are therefore very pleased to work with Black & Veatch on this common objective.”

Paul Stith, Black & Veatch’s Associate VP of Global Transportation Initiatives, observed that: “Governments, companies and communities around the world are making lowering their carbon footprints a priority, and the transportation sector is helping accelerate positive change.” Mr Stith went on to note that decarbonisation of aviation is challenging and requires technology and collaboration. “Tackling emissions with concurrent SAF and electrification strategies offers a shining example of what’s possible in doing things cleaner and greener, and we’re excited about working with Ampaire to reshape tomorrow’s air mobility through infrastructure and innovation.”

At the forefront of modern air mobility

Ampaire has been at the forefront of modern air mobility, having flown 481 miles nonstop from Perth, Scotland, to Exeter in southwest England in August 2021 with its ‘Electric EEL’ aircraft – a six-seat Cessna, modified with hybrid-electric propulsion. This is, to date, the longest flight by a commercial-sized, hybrid-electric aircraft.

The promise of electrified air mobility continues to grow, given the environmental benefits, the reduced fuel requirements and maintenance costs of such aircraft, and the sector’s lesser reliance on traditional fuels prone to price and supply fluctuations. While electrification carries vast potential in unleashing a new mobility market, expanding the industry rests significantly on deploying more charging and servicing infrastructure.


With a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure, employee-owned EPCC leader Black & Veatch generated revenues in excess of US$3.3 billion last year. For more information about Black & Veatch’s expertise in electrification, visit: www.bv.com/industries/transportation/electrification 

Formed in 2016 with a mission to become the world’s most-trusted developer of practical, compelling electric aircraft, Ampaire has scored a series of industry firsts since the 2019 maiden flight of its Electric EEL technology testbed aircraft. In May 2022, it began ground power runs of its Eco Caravan hybrid-electric upgrade of the Cessna Grand Caravan, slated for certification and service introduction in mid-2024. More details here: www.ampaire.com