Month: October 2021

On October 19, Xiaopeng Huitian announced that it has raised over US$500 million in Series A financing, with a pre-investment valuation of more than US$1 billion. This round of financing was led by IDG Capital, Wuyuan Capital and Xiaopeng Auto, followed by well-known institutions such as Sequoia China, Zhongding Capital, GGV Jiyuan Capital, Hillhouse Ventures, and Yunfeng Fund. Public information shows that this is by far the largest single financing obtained by an enterprise in the field of low-altitude manned aircraft in Asia.

Photo Credit // Xiaopeng Huitian

Xpeng Heitech is a flying car startup subsidiary of electric vehicle maker Xpeng, and now employs approximately 400 people with plans to expand its workforce to 700 by the end of this year, according to the company’s founder Deli Zhao Deli.

Zhao also recently claimed that Xpeng Heitech’s new model will be able to drive on current road infrastructure, and will have a driving range of over 600 kilometers (370 miles) with single charge. However, the vehicle’s range in the flight configuration has not yet been published. Other key features enabling its dual-capabilities include a lightweight design and a rotor that folds away when on the ground. The vehicle will also have a number of safety features including parachutes.

Related: XPeng’s Voyager X2 Demonstrates High Altitude Capabilities

“The Series A financing will provide us with sufficient resources to advance our research and development, acquire top-tier talent, and to continue to gain airworthiness provision and certification,” said Mr. Deli Zhao, Founder and President of HT Aero. “Our next-generation model will be a fully integrated flying vehicle and automobile, designed for both low-altitude air travel and road driving. We are planning for an official roll-out in 2024,” Mr. Zhao added.

Why it’s important: Xiaopeng Huitian is a participant in the formulation of China’s new aircraft design regulations. It has already flew more than 15,000 safe manned flights and won the highest industrial design award “German Red Dot Award”, German IF Award, American IDEA Design Award, etc. The milestones that the XPeng-backed startup has already achieved demonstrate that there is high likelihood of meeting its 2024 delivery goal, so long as the establishment of regulations can match the flying car’s development and manufacturing rate.

Skyports, a drone delivery operator, announced on October 21st that it has created a joint venture with Irelandia to bring drone deliveries to Colombia and wider Latin America (LATAM). The joint venture will bring an innovative, fast, frequent and reliable logistics service to Colombia, providing a cost-effective solution to connecting Colombia’s rural communities.

Skyports has also conducted trial COVID-19 response flights for the National Health Service in Scotland via partnerships with Wingcopter for drone delivery and Thales for airspace management. Photo // Skyports

The joint venture will be led by Skyports’ Bogota-based Colombia General Manager, Daniel Salamanca, who brings years of drone delivery experience and expertise to the project. Salamanca was also the first to receive approval for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights in Colombia on the Pacific Coast, where he worked with the national government and the presidency to transport blood samples from rural areas into central hospitals. These drone delivery trials benefited more than 1,200 people and waiting times for laboratory results was reduced by more than 75 percent.

The Skyports medical drone delivery trials will be the first of their kind for Colombia, with flights expected to commence around mid-2022. Drone delivery operations will be launched across remote areas of Colombia including La Guajira and Chocó, with a focus on carrying critical health supplies such as vaccines, pathology samples and HIV tests. The drones to be used on this project are provided by Australian drone company Swoop Aero and can carry up to 5kg, as far as 180km in harsh environments such as high altitudes, wind and rain.

The joint venture will build on from Skyports’ successful proof of concept trials which took place earlier this year, where Skyports partnered with the UK’s world-leading National Health Service in rural Scotland, transporting COVID-19 test samples, vital PPE and other medical materials by drone between medical facilities in isolated and difficult to reach areas. The successful trials reduced end-to-end delivery time by almost 95 percent – from what would have taken on average 20 hours through conventional delivery methods to just one hour via drone delivery.

Irelandia, a recognized low-cost airline developer, brings its deep aviation expertise to the partnership, through its previous ownership of leading airlines Ryanair, Tiger Air, Allegiant and Viva Aerobus. Irelandia’s current airline is Viva Air, based in Colombia and Peru. The Irish company has expertise in regulations, flight operations and commercialization, which will be a key asset for this project.

Why it’s important: This move increases exposure of Latin American infrastructure to beyond visual line of site drone operations, which are crucial for successful ultimate deployment of aerial mobility aircraft and flight guidance systems. Additionally, the political coordination required to enact these operational structures will pave the way for future operations of larger aircraft that carry fare-paying passengers or those being transported for EMS or first responder purposes.

Wing, the UAV aerial delivery company originally founded as a Google X Moonshot project, has recently unveiled a new roll-out model that will allow it to bring delivery services to densely-populated U.S metropolitan areas. Its first customer will be Walgreens.

The new model for providing drone delivery services in the U.S is creating small, easy assembly, drone delivery hubs that can be set up in just a few hours on nearly any small rooftop. This model will eventually allow retailers to set up one of these hub modules for a low cost and low infrastructure footprint. According to a recent press release by Wing, “Aircraft will arrive in small containers that serve as tiny hangars, allowing each store to quickly and easily deploy a small, dedicated fleet from its parking lot, on its roof, or in small spaces adjacent to the building.”

Essentially, this will allow retail and restaurant customers of almost any size to utilize drone delivery services, even in dense urban areas where infrastructure space is limited.

Walgreens has opted to be the first customer for this new delivery hub product. According to Wing, Walgreens team members will process orders and load packages onto the delivery drones, and Wing will oversee operation of the delivery service. The first, co-located operation will be set up at a Dallas-Fort Worth area Walgreens store in its parking lot, serving parts of the city of Frisco and town of Little Elm.

Why it’s important: Wing is a major rising force in the drone delivery industry, having already begun delivery services in Australia, the US, and Finland. In Logan, Australia, users can download the Wing app and order a small selection of goods, including coffee, groceries, sushi, cakes, pet food, and sportswear. Deliveries are generally made in under 10 minutes, and Wing’s record for a delivery is two minutes and 47 seconds from order to arrival. By adding this new type of service, (if regulation goes well as well), Wing will be able to give drone delivery capabilities to nearly every kind of small business.

Wing also recently hit the milestone of completing over 100,000 successful retail drone deliveries after receiving its Part-135 FAA in 2019.

Sources: Wing, The Verge

Related:

• Drone Package Delivery in the US: Google’s Wing is First (May 2019)
• Alphabet’s Wing and FedEx Offer Residential Drone Delivery Service (October 2019)

AIR, an Israel-based eVTOL manufacturer targeting the consumer market, has unveiled its commercial prototype, the AIR ONE. AIR is differentiating itself from major OEM’s by targeting owners who plan to use their eVTOL for personal use, rather than creating a shared air taxi. According to a company press release, AIR puts the freedom to fly directly in the hands of consumers with its sleek and playful vehicle intended for adventure and day-to-day flying.

AIR ONE on the ground

AIR intends to implement many cutting-edge technologies and processes used in the automotive industry to quickly scale mass production of AIR ONE. “The future of mobility is in the sky, but to get there we need to build consumer confidence in eVTOLs as a legitimate mode of everyday transport and develop vehicles on a mass-scale to bring that vision to life,” said AIR’s CEO and Co-Founder Rani Plaut. “AIR ONE is our hat in the ring, simultaneously showing consumers the first in a line of diversified, playful models for personal flight and demonstrating cutting-edge technology that will enable high-volume production and scalability.”

The company’s inaugural vehicle offers a range of 110 miles and speeds up to 155 mph. AIR ONE is also designed for storage at home with collapsible wings. At the heart of AIR ONE is the company’s ‘fly by intent’ software, which manages complex functions and navigation, so that usage isn’t restricted to highly skilled pilots and trained professionals. Additional safety features include an AI-enabled monitoring system which performs frequent inspections of the vehicle and eliminates checklists for riders to ensure paramount safety, even for riders with minimal training.

Based on technology and manufacturing techniques from the automotive and aerospace industries, AIR ONE is designed from inception to be a fun, safe and practical vehicle that adheres to aerospace standards and regulations. To this end, AIR is currently working with the FAA to obtain G1 certification.

Why it matters: AIR is targeting aerial mobility early adopters for its eVTOL prototype, rather than pursuing immediate commercial operations. AIR ONE will remain in the general/business aviation space as it markets itself to individuals looking for a new, innovative way to travel short distances by air.

Jetson, a Swedish based personal aerial vehicle (PAV) start-up, is unveiling their Jetson ONE eVTOL aircraft this week on Thursday, October 21st.

Jetson was founded by Peter Ternstrom and Tomasz Patan in 2017, and the first PAV prototype/proof of concept was built in the spring of 2018.  It took a further three years to create a consumer-friendly version. 

The current design iteration, dubbed the Jetson ONE by the company, is a “commercially available personal electric aerial vehicle that anyone can own and fly”.

Peter Ternstrom, Founder of Jetson, stated: “Our mission is to make flight available to everyone. The Jetson ONE is an electric helicopter that you can own and fly.  We intend to make everyone a pilot.

Jetson targets entry to the personal aerial vehicle market (PAV), which is a smaller segment of the aerial mobility market that aims to create personal sized vehicles for recreational use that employ many of the same technologies that will be rolled out in the larger aerial mobility sphere.

The company stated that their PAV can recharge “faster than a mobile phone” to enable user to enjoy repeat flights. The battery life duration and flight time duration have not yet been disclosed.

Tomasz Patan, co-founder and Technical Director of Jetson, stated: “The Jetson ONE is built around a rigid aluminum spaceframe with eight powerful electric motors.  It utilizes composite carbon fibre and cutting-edge 3D printed components, making it an extremely lightweight design.  It is also equipped with many safety features including a redundant propulsion system and a ballistic parachute.  It is a dream to fly.”

The Jetson ONE has already sold out for 2022 production and are now accepting deliveries in 2023. More information on the Jetson ONE and the unveil event programming can be found via the company’s website.

Why it’s important: A growing number of PAVs are achieving technological readiness and serve as proving grounds for technology that will be used in the future for aerial mobility and personnel transportation at scale. This increase in PAV deployments and usage will help solidify the framework for continued AAV industry growth.

Media Credit // Jetson

ABB E-mobility has been confirmed to be the provider for the charging infrastructure for Lilium’s eVTOL aerial mobility network. With this agreement, ABB will provide development, testing, and supply services for the MegaWatt fast charging systems that will be used in Lilium’s network. In addition, the ABB charging points will be designed to be capable of bringing batteries to full charge within 30 minutes and 80% charge within 15 minutes, which will be enough for the 20-25 flights per aircraft per day that Lilium plans for its global vertiport network. The network currently will offer services in Brazil, Germany, and the United States, with plans to expand further. 

ABB is a global technology company that focuses on energizing essential services in modern society and industry in order to provide a more sustainable future. The company’s MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) will allow for DC charging of up to 1000 kW and can also be used in heavy duty applications such as trucks or buses. 

Daniel Wiegand, CEO and Co-Founder of Lilium stated that, “We believe that the decarbonisation of aviation is both urgent and inevitable. Making sure we have the right charging infrastructure will play a crucial role in enabling our high-speed regional air network by allowing quick and efficient charging. We are proud to be working with ABB, who bring decades of experience in electrification and software, to set the charging industry standard for electric aviation.”

According to their website, ABB “engineers the electrification solutions for the transport of tomorrow, today. Including smart transportation solutions from EV chargers for the home, through electrified fleet depots and opportunity charging for electric bus and trucks, to high-power chargers for the highway stations of the future.” 

Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility Division stated that, “Combining Lilium’s mission to grow sustainable aviation with ABB’s global market expertise and leadership in e-mobility and charging infrastructure is a win for the environment and a win for passengers. Moreover, we see this planned partnership as an important commitment to all relevant charging standards that are adopted by multiple electric ‘vehicle’ manufacturers. By supporting the new MegaWatt charging standard, ABB E-mobility is paving the way for the electrification of all modes of transport, from cars and trucks to marine vessels, mining vehicles, and now, aviation.”

Lilium’s seven seater Lilium Jet, the flagship aircraft for the company’s global vertiport network, will possess a range of 155 miles with a cruise speed of 175 mph.

The Lilium Jet. Photograph: Lilium

Why it’s important: In 2019, global CO₂ emissions from all commercial air operations reached 918 million tons, an increase of 29% since 2013.. With passenger transport responsible for 780 million tons, or 85%, of the total emissions from air operations, decarbonisation of transport is a vital step in the fight against climate change and building a more sustainable future. 

Source // eVTOL Insights

Airflow, the developer of a new eSTOL (electric short take-off and landing) aircraft, has received a new investor and partner in Plug Power, a leading provider of hydrogen engines and fueling solutions enabling hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Airflow’s eSTOL aircraft featured here plugged into a Plug Power company fueling station.

Airflow is a steadily rising player in the world of eSTOL, which will serve regional mobility purposes such as middle mile transport of both goods and passengers. Airflow’s aircraft in particular will be able to take-off and land within 150 feet, making it excellent for e-commerce distribution as it could even be able to land on some rooftops, and for passenger transportation between major hubs. Notably, Airflow was co-founded by former members of the Airbus Vahana project, and has already received a pre-order for 50 eSTOL aircraft from Alaskan Airline Ravn among several others for a total of $500 million in LOIs (letters of intent), even from major airlines.

Now, Airflow has taken another step in its path to full operations by partnering with and receiving investment from Plug Power, a company dedicated to providing hydrogen fuel cell engines and fueling solutions for both hydrogen-powered vehicles, and now, aircraft. Although Airflow’s eSTOL was originally designed as an all-electric battery powered aircraft, the company is now also working with Plug Power to develop hydrogen-powered version of the aircraft as well. Said Marc Ausman, Co-Founder of Airflow, “Plug Power is a welcome and natural partner in the clean aviation movement. Not only can they produce and supply affordable green hydrogen at scale, but they are at the forefront of supporting the experienced aerospace companies tackling the variety of missions and aircraft classes required to ensure our industry quickly improves its carbon footprint. ”

Ausman added, “We see hydrogen fuel cell technology as a key thrust of our next generation power systems, which along with Sustainable Aviation Fuel-based hybrid systems and advanced battery systems, allow us to provide flexibility to our customers to deliver an aircraft that best meets their individual mission needs and sustainability goals.”

A cargo version of Aifrlow’s eSTOL being unloaded.

Plug Power has already been the maker of many successful hydrogen powered systems for several years. According to a recent press release by the two companies, they will work together to adapt Plug Power’s ProGen-based hydrogen fuel cell stack specifically for aerospace applications. In Airflow’s case, this technology could extend the Airflow eSTO’Ls range to up to 500 miles with a cargo-carrying capacity of 2000 lbs.

Said Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh, “Over the last several years we’ve been increasing our commitment to the aerospace market … we know that ensuring our ProGen solutions meet the ultralightweight and rigorous certification requirements of aviation is essential to our ownership of this opportunity. In order to establish a complete ecosystem for the aviation market and enable a global transportation system powered by green hydrogen, it’s essential that we work with players across aircraft classes who deeply understand the unique applicability of hydrogen in an industry as weight-sensitive as aviation. We see the development and certification of a system for Airflow’s Part 23 aircraft as an ideal entry point into the aerospace market that enables expansion into larger aircraft programs.”

Why it’s important: Although Airflow’s eSTOL originally launched as an all-electric aircraft, the flexible design of its electric power train will allow Airflow to add a hydrogen-powered version of the aircraft to its offerings. In some mission profiles, such as those of a shorter distance, an all-electric solution might make more sense, whereas for longer, regional missions, being able to carry larger weights over greater distances may enable the highest energy efficiency. By creating both types of aircraft, Airflow will be able to serve an even broader market, especially since it has chosen an already-successful hydrogen engine maker and fuel supplier as its main partner.

Source // Airflow, Plug Power

Related:

• Airflow Receives Order for 50 eSTOL Aircraft from Ravn Alaska
• VerdeGo Aero Partners with eSTOL Developer Airflow

Jaunt Air Mobility has entered into an agreement to merge with the AIRO Group (US). Jaunt joins a group of six aerospace businesses all engaged in the next generation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies and services. The group offers commercial, military, robotics, manned/unmanned aerial systems and multi-modal aircraft and avionics systems.

The companies will use the capital raised through the merger to support the development of the all-electric, five-seat eVTOL Jaunt aims to bring into commercial service by 2026. While several eVTOL aircraft developers, including Joby, Archer, and Lilium, have raised large amounts of capital by going public via special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), AIRO has opted to proceed straight to an IPO on its own.

Recently, Jaunt Air Mobility was also awarded an Air Force Contract for eVTOL Noise Reduction Research. The eVTOL developer’s patented slowed rotor compound (SRC) technology decelerates the rotor once aloft (the rotor tip speed equaling the aircraft’s speed) thereby reducing drag and associated vibration. In combination with a small wing sized for cruise, this produces a lift to drag ratio equivalent to a fixed wing airplane providing an exceptionally efficient flight with very low noise – noise that is practically imperceptible in flight, according to the company. Jaunt also touts that its Journey aircraft is poised to certify to transport commercial certification requirements, ensuring the highest level of safety.

“AIRO has existing revenue in its current civilian and military operations and has historically reinvested earnings into Independent Research and Development (IRAD). Therefore, additional capital required to produce fully operational eVTOL aircraft is substantially reduced to our advantage compared with our competitors.  The current market capitalization of companies in the eVTOL space and urban air mobility platforms are very significant.  AIRO additionally delivers diversified services across the UAM/Avionics/eVTOL/Defense marketplace.  AIRO is poised to be the leading publicly traded mid-tier aerospace and defense company after the void created by acquisitions in the public marketplace,” said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Executive Chairman of AIRO.

Why it’s important: As stated by AIRO Group CEO Joe Burns: “together, Jaunt and the other AIRO Group companies offer a transformational, next generation capability for the aerospace industry that addresses high growth markets in advanced air mobility as well as leveraging technologies across markets that benefit the general, business, commercial, and the military aviation community. Additionally, we have the resources, experience, and inherent knowledge to help streamline regulatory compliance and certification among all segments.”

Source // AIRO Group press release

EHang announced via press release last week that they’re now coordinating with the Spanish National Police to explore potential use cases for AAVs in emergency and security missions. EHang also conducted an exhibition of the EHang 216 passenger-grade AAV in Spain at the Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome in Madrid, as part of Press Day of Expodronica at World Air Traffic Management Congress.

EHang and the Spanish National Police plan to work closely to use the AAV in emergency situations such as rescue, surveillance and other missions that are critical for improving the quality of life and safety of citizens. As a result of this collaboration, the Spanish National Police and EHang, together with the Polytechnic University of Valencia (“UPV”), will demonstrate how to best utilize revolutionary AAV technology through trial flights and use case analysis, thus exploring safer and more effective solutions for saving more lives.

The EHang 216 at Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome, Madrid. Image // EHang

The Chief Commissioner of the Air Vehicles Unit of Spanish National Police affirmed the collaboration with EHang and the UPV represent progress in determining the best uses of AAV for policing, “AAV technology holds the promise to significantly improve our capability in emergency and security missions, such as firefighting, accessing contaminated areas with nuclear, radiological, bacteriological or chemical risks, landing in confined areas, transporting material, and other police services that may require agile mobility. The application of the AAV technology makes the Spanish National Police a vanguard among police using AAV technology nationally and internationally.”

Victoria Xiang, CEO of EHang Spain & LATAM, emphasized that collaborating with the Spanish National Police is very important for EHang. “The application of AAVs in emergency, national security matters and the fight against the pandemic is crucial and advantageous for the public sector. Autonomous, sustainable, and efficient mobility enables the authorities to execute their tasks in an environmentally friendly manner. EHang and the Spanish National Police will work jointly to leverage this cutting-edge technology to benefit citizens and society.”

Why it’s important: A large focus of AAV implementation hones on passenger carrying operations, but the EMS and security application for the technology may be ready sooner than commercial transport, due to regulatory approvals, public and social benefit, and technological appropriateness for aerial mobility aircraft in EMS and surveillance/security roles. EHang has a track record of seeking partnership with firms that span beyond personal transport, to include fire, security, and government services. Expect the trend of AAV deployment to follow logistical applications and limited EMS/Police force arenas first, ultimately progressing to on-demand commercial.

Bye Aerospace has picked up an order deposit from European carrier, Air2E. The airline announced this week it has executed a purchase deposit agreement for the all-electric eFlyer 800 for its air taxi operations and regional airline operations in Europe.

“The eFlyer 800 is the first all-electric propulsion technology that achieves twin-turboprop performance and safety with no CO₂ and extremely low ops-cost compared to legacy turboprop aircraft.” said George E. Bye, Bye Aerospace CEO. “These legacy jet and turboprop aircraft have been solid performers in the air charter market, but at high operating cost contributing to relatively expensive prices and for a small group of business customers. Customers like the ones served by Air2E are demanding greater flexibility and cleaner, more efficient means of transportation. That’s what we aim to deliver with our all-electric eFlyer aircraft.”

“Air2E’s mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation and now with the eFlyer 800 we are another step closer to this aim.” said Norbert Werle, Air2E’s Founder and CEO. “We intend to build an eFlyer 800 fleet for our AirTaxi service, which is already today the most economical individual flight solutions available. In contrast to large airline operations, small 4 to 10-seat airplanes are the ideal size for a regional network of on-demand flights, consequently providing the fastest road to sustainable and cost-effective individual air-travel with all-electric airplanes like the eFlyer 800.”

Bye Aerospace announced the eFlyer 800 program earlier this year in response to growing demands for regional all-electric airplanes with significantly reduced operating costs, plus increased capacity and utility. The company is also in the process of obtaining FAA Part-23 certification for the eFlyer’s professional flight training mission and for the four-seat eFlyer 4 for air taxi, cargo and advanced training uses. All the company’s current and future families of aircraft feature engineering, research and electric system solutions that are specifically designed to address compelling market needs. Benefits include five-fold lower operating costs, no CO2 emissions, and substantially decreased operations noise. The company estimates eFlyer will eliminate the release of significant amounts of CO2 each year as its deliveries begin and the current general aviation fleet is replaced.

“At Air2E we see a large demand of our expanding customer base for individual air travel. Every flight generates additional funding for the further fleet expansion towards emission free, sustainable flight as soon as the eFlyer800s become available. Bye Aerospace shares the same vision and provides the ideal airplane. Now it’s time for the customers that want to save time and gain flexibility on business trips to join this pathway towards environmentally sustainable and emission free travel,” Werle said.

Why it matters: Bye receiving its first major eFlyer 800 order marks a key milestone in realizing its commercial dreams. The configuration offers operators a familiar fixed-wing platform that traditional pilots will be comfortable operating. Expect to see more customers place orders as Bye Aerospace begins flight testing and pursues certification.

Source: Bye Aerospace Press Release

CycloTech, the developer a highly unique eVTOL propulsion technology based on marine concepts, has officially announced the first public flight of an aircraft using its systems.

Concept image of an eVTOL fully using CycloTech’s propulsion and control systems.

The unique technology behind CycloTech’s concept has not yet been seen in any other aircraft concept. To both propel itself and control its position in the air, CycloTech propulsors would provide omni-directional thrust from a central fan, rather than only providing thrust in one direction as seen in other kinds of multi-copters. This kind of thrust system would afford an eVTOL aircraft even more precise control, and potentially make for smoother and more efficient rides. In addition, according to the CycloTech team, the rotors of the CycloTech system utilize the efficiency of fixed-wing concepts without depending on an integrated fixed wing.

Example of how CycloTech’s propulsion technology could also be integrated into existing eVTOL concepts to provide more precise control.

For three years, CycloTech has been refining its propulsion technology, and now the company has officially released footage of the system being used in a test flight which took place for a live audience at the DroneX Trade Show in Linz, Austria. Said Cyclotech’s CEO Hans-Georg Kinsky, “This is the moment we have been waiting for a long time. We have proven this technology is usable as a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing)-drive. With this free-flight, we have succeeded in taking an important step towards commercializing this technology.”

CycloTech says that least in part, its technology will be ready for use by commercial applications within two years. It states that it already has about 10 million Euros of investment commitments, and is already talks with drone manufacturers about strategic partnerships.

View the test flight demonstration video below:

Why it’s Important: CycloTech introduces an entirely new type of thrust system to eVTOL flight that could have significant advantages over existing models. Although it being less conventional than other systems may slow its path to certification, CycloTech’s technology could prove to be a highly useful augmentation to existing concepts, and is likely to make its way to providing complete aircraft propulsion as eVTOL aircraft become more prominent.

Source // CycloTech

Related:

• CycloTech’s Air Taxi Concept (July 2020)
• CycloTech Begins Flight Demonstrator Assembly (October 2020)

Eve Urban Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, and Aviation Management Services – Serviços Aeronáuticos Ltda (“Avantto”) have signed a Letter of Intention and announced a partnership aimed at developing the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem in Latin America. This partnership includes an order for 100 of Eve’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as well as a collaboration to develop a new eVTOL operation in Brazil and across Latin America. Deliveries are expected to start in 2026.

Avantto and Eve will collaborate to develop new services and procedures that, together with communities and other industry stakeholders, can create a safe and scalable environment for eVTOL operations to expand. These efforts will focus on critical aspects of the passenger experience in order to design for all users, including how to maximize accessibility and inclusiveness in vertiports and eVTOL boarding operations.

Related: Ascent Partners with Embraer for 100 Eve eVTOLs

“Avantto has been a great partner for Embraer Executive Jets, and we are reinforcing this bond with a shared focus on sustainability in this next generation of transportation. The strength of Avantto’s experience in operations, coupled with their growth strategy, make an ideal partner for the future expansion of Eve’s eVTOL deployment in Brazil and across Latin America. We will work together to make sure we continue our mission to democratize aviation through increasing accessibility and affordability,” said Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve.

Eve’s zero-emission and low noise eVTOL represents a simple and intuitive design that continues to reach development milestones, including the first flight of the engineering simulator in July 2020, and a proof of concept in October 2020. Additionally, Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management project reached a new milestone in its collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to develop a scalable environment needed to host UAM flights.

Why it’s important: Avantto has over a decade of experience developing unique software, systems, and procedures enabling the company to offer 24/7 on-call flight services for short-haul intra-city helicopter transportation to its hundreds of active members. In parallel with Embraer’s more than 50-year history of aircraft manufacturing and certification expertise, this exclusive know-how will be pivotal in the success of the EVE/Avantto partnership.

Source // Eve press release