Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) unit of Embraer announced having stepped into partnership with the helicopter and UAM travel provider Halo. Under the deal, Eve committed to delivering 200 electric vertical takeoffs and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with the first expected delivery scheduled for 2026.
According to the Embraer statement, the recent agreement between Eve and Halo will enable Eve to launch and develop new eVTOL operations in the markets of the United States and the United Kingdom. The Brazilian aerospace manufacturer stated that the collaboration between the two companies comes as the first international eVTOL operator partnership of its kind and is expected to create an attractive field for UAM operations.
“This partnership is an important step for Eve to assume its position as a global leader in the UAM industry. […] Halo is aligned with our mission to create comprehensive Urban Air Mobility solutions and this order marks an important milestone for Eve in key markets,” Andre Stein, the President and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eve was quoted saying in the Embraer statement.
Embraer added that beyond the initial order and collaboration to develop a new eVTOL operation, Eve and Halo will also partner on the “continued development of Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management system” as well as “the fleet operations and services product offerings that Eve offers as an ecosystem integrator for UAM operations.“
Considering London as a key market for eVTOL operations, both companies plan to apply for the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s “innovation sandbox” program to launch operations in the city.
“We believe Eve has designed an aircraft that is well-prepared for not only initial certification but also has a proven track record of production,” Kenneth C. Ricci, the Principal of Directional Aviation Capital, the investment fund of which Halo is part of, said.
Eve has made several advancements with its eVTOL concept. In July 2020, the company completed the first flight of its engineering simulator. Later in October 2020, Eve unveiled its proof of concept.