Bristow-led group gets £1.5M to test electric flights in Scotland

A consortium led by Bristow Helicopters Ltd. has launched Project SEAN, a Scottish Electric Aviation Network initiative backed by £1.5 million in UK Department for Transport funding, with demonstration flights planned to begin in 2027 across Scotland's Highlands and Islands.

The consortium includes aircraft manufacturer Beta Technologies Inc., Electric Aviation Maven, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, and Skyports Infrastructure. The group will conduct a three-month flight program using Beta Technologies' all-electric ALIA CTOL (CX300) aircraft on passenger, cargo and medical service routes.

Flights will operate from a hub at Inverness Airport and connect with selected regional airports, including Wick John O'Groats Airport. The program aims to collect operational data on aircraft performance, charging infrastructure and airport readiness.

Simon Meakins, Project SEAN consortium lead for Bristow, said the funding allows the group to "move from planning to executing real-world demonstration flights and generating practical insights that will help inform the future of electric aviation in Scotland and beyond."

The project intends to produce evidence-based recommendations to support future commercial deployment of electric aircraft in the region. Bristow Group Inc. is publicly traded and has filed reports with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

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