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Embraer CEO Sees Major Future UAM Market Potential for Eve

Embraer highlighted the future market potential of Eve, its wholly-owned eVTOL development subsidiary, with a booth at Farnborough International’s 2022 Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit held in London early this month. (Eve Air Mobility)

While Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto fielded no questions from analysts or investors about the future potential of their electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) development arm Eve during their annual results call last week, the Brazilian executive emphasized his enthusiasm about the future market potential presented by urban air mobility (UAM).

“The listing at New York Stock Exchange in closing is expected for this second quarter with total investments of about $500 million, which includes special and strategic investors. The anticipated pro forma enterprise value is $2.4 billion,” Neto said in his remarks. “Eve has the strategic support from Embraer, with access to infrastructure, extensive aircraft certification and manufacturing experience, and already established global network of services and support, intellectual property, and engineers as major differentiators from other projects.”

Eve is the independent eVTOL development company, the first launched by the joint ventures firm EmbraerX, that in December announced a new business combination agreement with Zanite Acquisition Corp., the Cleveland, Ohio-based aviation investment and acquisition firm co-founded by private aviation entrepreneur Kenn Ricci. Under the business combination agreement, Eve will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zanite.

Neto also highlighted Eve’s various airline partnerships and future purchase agreements that include SkyWest, Republic Airways, and partnerships with Rolls Royce and BAE Systems, among others, to develop the future services and infrastructure necessary to enable UAM operations. Eve has also found funding in commercial aircraft leasing companies. Azorra, the Florida-based aircraft leasing company that specializes in Embraer regional jets, signed an LOI with Eve for up to 200 eVTOL aircraft in December.

Although Brazil’s civilian aviation authority, ANAC, recently accepted Eve’s formal process for obtaining a Type Certificate for its eVTOL, the company has not yet unveiled any images of a real subscale prototype or demonstrator of the aircraft that it is promoting as under development. Instead, computer-generated images of what Eve’s conceptual eVTOL could eventually become have appeared in press releases over the last year, such as the one above in branding. (Eve Air Mobility)

In the near term, Embraer will be focused on serving existing demand for its first- and second-generation regional E-jets, which have increased in popularity and utilization due to the COVID-19 related air travel restrictions forcing the majority of passenger-carrying flights to operate domestic and regional routes.

Embraer reported overall $4.2 billion in revenue last year, up from $3.7 billion in 2020. The company delivered a total of 141 jets last year, including 48 commercial aircraft and 93 executive jets (62 light and 31 mid-size), according to their reported delivery results. Last week, Embraer launched its new E-190F and E-195F Passenger to Freight Conversions (P2F) program, with conversions of existing E-jets to occur in Brazil.

Embraer has also experienced some of the same supply chain shortages for semiconductors and raw materials that other aviation companies have reported in annual results calls and reports in recent weeks—however, not to the extent that they’re impacting delivery schedules for the company in a major way.

“I think it is also important to mention that the Russia-Ukraine conflict should not bring supply disruption in the midterm because we have worked on stocking some strategic items,” Neto said.

One area that is concerning to Embraer Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Antonio Garcia is defense, as they finished 2021 with $594 million in revenue for its defense segment, compared to $654 million in the previous year.

“We are going to suffer a little bit in 2022, and we do see a zero in 2022 because all budgets were cut, especially in front of the Brazilian government here; therefore, we are going to suffer in 2022,” Garcia said. “That’s one of our headwinds we have in our guidance.”

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PODCAST: PLAY CEO Talks Iceland’s New Low Cost Transatlantic Airline

PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson is the guest on this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast.

On this episode of the Connected Aviation Intelligence Podcast, PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson explains how his team plans to use a no-frills approach to operating a growing fleet of A321neo family aircraft, and whether he would ever consider adding in-flight connectivity (IFC) to the all-economy cabins.

Jónsson and a team of fellow former colleagues of Wow Air, the Icelandic low-cost carrier that ceased operations, first established PLAY in 2019. According to Jónsson, several of PLAY’s current executives were working on a new operational structure and air operator’s certificate (AOC) right before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with the support of some investors they were able to secure.

Have suggestions or topics we should focus on in the next episode? Email the host, Woodrow Bellamy, at wbellamy@accessintel.com, or drop him a line on Twitter @WbellamyIIIAC. Also, check out the agenda for the 2022 Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit just posted to our event website!

Listen to this episode below, or check it out on iTunes or Google Play. If you like the show, subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released.

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GKN Aerospace Completes Feasibility Studies of 30-Person eVTOL, Tests New Turbine Rear Structure Concept

Engineers at GKN Aerospace’s facility in Sweden completed testing of a new concept of a lightweight Turbine Rear Structure (TRS). (GKN Aerospace)

GKN Aerospace, leading airframe supplier to commercial and military aviation OEMs, has successfully completed several urban air mobility (UAM) feasibility studies through leading a Skybus research project. In collaboration with Swanson Aviation Consultancy, Pascall+Watson, and Connected Places Catapult, the Skybus project explored a concept of a 30-person eVTOL aircraft that would not only reduce congestion in urban environments but would also aid in decarbonization.

The feasibility studies found that these aircraft, referred to as “air buses,” could carry out operations in the same airspace as air taxis in the future. In addition to determining opportunities for “air bus” operations, the Skybus consortium created a concept for a vertiport—along with economic models and demand forecasts—for a future UAM system based in London.

GKN Aerospace offers an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems and technologies. Just last week, the company announced that their team of engineers at the Global Technology Centre in Trollhättan, Sweden, completed testing of a new lightweight Turbine Rear Structure (TRS) concept. The TRS serves to manage flow from an engine’s low-pressure turbine and maximize the axial thrust, according to GKN, and it helps to improve the engine’s efficiency. The engineers utilized a novel metallic alloy that possessed higher temperature capability in designing and manufacturing the lightweight structure, and the team demonstrated a weight reduction potential of 14% with the TRS.

The TRS has the potential to achieve a 14% weight reduction and it improves engine efficiency. (Photo: GKN Aerospace)

The findings from the GKN Aerospace-led Skybus program’s research will provide guidelines for integrating mass-transit eVTOL aircraft to improve access to remote or difficult-to-access regions. According to the announcement from GKN Aerospace, “A successful zero emissions mass transit system in the air would also ease congestion on the road network, reducing overall travel time, cost and emissions for all travelers.”

Skybus was started as a research initiative in January 2021 as part of the Future Flight Challenge that provides funding for development of sustainable aviation solutions. Neuron, an aviation technology company, also recently began a series of trials as participants in the Future Flight challenge. Neuron’s aim is to demonstrate aspects of future flight and advanced air mobility for both unmanned aircraft and eVTOLs. The current focus of the Future Flight challenge is developing integrated aviation systems for new classes of eVTOLs or drones.

GKN Aerospace collaborated with Swanson Aviation Consultancy, Pascall+Watson, and Connected Places Catapult to complete feasibility studies of a 30-person eVTOL aircraft concept for urban air mobility (UAM). (GKN Aerospace)

Gary Cutts, Director of the Future Flight Challenge at UK Research and Innovation, commented: “The Future Flight Challenge has always taken a broad view of the opportunities provided by the many different types of novel clean aircraft emerging. Our market studies show a real potential for a substantial distributed aviation system using the types of aircraft concept envisaged by the Skybus consortium and we welcome the system-wide insights gained from their feasibility studies.”

GKN Aerospace has partnered with multiple companies based on its significant expertise in manufacturing critical aerospace subsystems. In September 2021, GKN Aerospace was selected to design and manufacture the wing and electrical vertical wiring interconnection systems for the VA-X4 eVTOL from Vertical Aerospace. Earlier in 2021, the airframe supplier was chosen by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to manufacture advanced composite V-tails for the MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft System.

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Safran Helicopter Engines and Bell Textron Inc. Partner to Research Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Safran Helicopter Engines and Bell Textron have agreed to partner in researching the performance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in an Arrius 2R to operate the Bell 505 helicopter, and the collaborators will also analyze the economic impacts of SAF use. (Photo: Bell)

DALLAS, TEXAS — During a 2022 HAI Heli-Expo press briefing, Safran Helicopter Engines and Bell Textron Inc. announced that they will collaborate in studying the technical performance and economic impacts of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using the Bell 505 helicopter, powered by the Arrius 2R engine. Reducing carbon emissions is a top priority for Safran, and the company’s Helicopter Engines division has set a goal of using SAF to make up to 50% of all aviation fuel usage by 2025.

At the press conference given by Safran Helicopter Engines, CEO Franck Saudo remarked that SAF is “the most efficient and pragmatic [way] to achieve decarbonization,” said Saudo. Any helicopter engine can use a blend of up to 50% SAF, and the team at Safran Helicopter Engines is working to enable use of 100% SAF as soon as possible.

The Aneto enables increased mission capabilities by delivering 25% more thermal power.

SAF is just one part of Safran’s decarbonization strategy. Some of the latest developments have been reductions in fuel consumption. During the press conference, Saudo highlighted the Arrano engine, which powers the Airbus H160, that features a 15% reduction in fuel consumption. The design of the Arrano includes “a new-generation digital control system that offers greater in-flight responsiveness, enhancing both safety and pilot handling,” according to Safran. It also offers a significant reduction in engine maintenance compared to existing engines.

The family of engines called Aneto was another focal point of the presentation; the Aneto engines are designed for super-medium and heavy helicopters and deliver 25% more thermal power compared to similar existing engines. Both Aneto and Arrano engines were on display at Safran’s booth at Heli-Expo.

The Arrano engine powers Airbus 160 helicopters and was certified by the FAA in 2020. It is capable of reducing fuel consumption by 10–15%.

2021 was a low point for Safran Helicopter Engines in terms of engine production, according to Saudo, but the market recovery has already begun. “Some market segments have dramatically bounced back, such as the light helicopters market,” Saudo said. “What we see going forward for Safran Helicopter Engines is a significant ramp-up in 2022 with over 15% increase in engine production compared to 2021.” The Helicopter Engines division is also planning to hire more than 250 employees worldwide over the next year.

In response to a question about increasing SAF usage, Saudo explained that although there is a limited supply of SAF, it is difficult to increase production of it unless there is demand. Similarly, it is a challenge to grow demand for SAF without sufficient production. “We need to convince all market players that SAF is the most pragmatic and fast way to get to decarbonization. Safran is doing work with oil producers to see how facilities can produce SAF in sufficient quantities at a cost on par with conventional fuel.”

Doug May, Vice President of Customer Experience at Bell, remarked on the collaborative initiative with Safran, saying, “We look forward to gaining a comprehensive understanding of SAF incorporation that will inform future aircraft technology and operations and ultimately support greener aviation practices.”

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Airbus Helicopters CEO Gives eVTOL Updates, 2022 Market Outlook at Heli-Expo

A light-utility twin-engine H135, featured at the Airbus booth at HAI Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas.

DALLAS, TEXAS — CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Bruno Even, and President of Airbus Helicopters Inc., Romain Trapp, shared their perspectives on the company and their progress in a press conference at HAI Heli-Expo this week. Bruno Even noted that Airbus Helicopters received €8.5 billion in order intakes, as well as €6.5 million in revenue, in 2021. He believes that the market should recover fully from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic within the next 2–3 years and that the market is about 40% recovered so far. “Our strategy to continually invest in the product pays off when it comes to marketing positioning and proximity to customers,” he remarked. Even also mentioned the positive momentum that Airbus Helicopters envisions for the market in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Airbus has agreed to expand their partnership with The Helicopter Company to advance helicopter operations, using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for conventional helicopters, and bringing urban air mobility (UAM) to Saudi Arabia. The Helicopter Company (THC) already operates ten of Airbus’s H125s and recently added 20 H145s to its fleet, as well as six ACH160 helicopters. Through this expanded partnership, and in coordination with the local regulatory authorities, helicopters and other urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles will be used for applications in Saudi Arabia including emergency medical services, ecotourism, and private and business aviation.

Airbus also announced this week that Spirit AeroSystems, aircraft components manufacturer and architecture solutions provider, has agreed to develop and manufacture the wings of the CityAirbus NextGen, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype. The CityAirbus NextGen is fully electric, and its design includes fixed wings and a V-shaped tail, along with eight electrically powered propellers. Spirit AeroSystems has provided fully integrated wings and wing elements for multiple Airbus commercial aircraft in the past. According to the announcement from Airbus, “The structural concept of the eVTOL’s fixed wings will be able to transmit the related aerodynamic loads while being optimized for the right balance between hover and cruise efficiency. CityAirbus NextGen’s distributed propulsion system will contribute to reducing the influence of air turbulence.”

A model of the CityAirbus NextGen on display at HAI Heli-Expo

At the press conference this week, Even commented that it is key for Airbus Helicopters to maintain balance between their sources of revenue; for example, with military and civil markets, 56% of revenue comes from the military side and 44% comes from the civil market. Additionally, 44% of revenue is from services, and 56% of revenue results from the company’s products. “Our strategic priorities for the next year are customer loyalty, innovation and sustainability, and defense and security,” he stated. “We will continue to invest and innovate in our existing helicopters and in new versions of the vehicles.”

Romain Trapp remarked on the outlook for Airbus Helicopters, explaining that they expect significant growth for the company in 2022. Their staff has increased by 10% in the past nine months and they plan to continue growing quickly in the future.

Along with the rest of the aviation industry, Airbus Helicopters is pursuing carbon neutrality by 2050. Even said, “It will be a step-by-step approach. In the short term, the best way to address it is to start introduction of helicopters with sustainable aviation fuel. We demonstrated last year with the H225 that helicopters can fly with 100% SAF. We are convinced that SAF is the best way to contribute to reduction of emissions in the short-term.”

One challenge, he said, is that sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is more expensive now than conventional fuel. However, with the company’s focus on sustainability at the core of their mission, they expect to be able to use 100% SAF in their aircraft in the relative short term. Even also commented that while hydrogen-powered aircraft have many advantages, there are also limitations, and it is not the company’s first priority to develop hydrogen-powered helicopters.

Inside an H125 helicopter on display at Heli-Expo

Airbus also highlighted some recent developments in improving safety for its single-engine helicopters. “Improving aviation safety while boosting the competitiveness of our products is one of our top priorities at Airbus Helicopters. With the H125 having raised the bar to unprecedented levels in terms of performance and value for money, Airbus Helicopters has also worked in the last year to bring several new features which will significantly enhance the flight safety of the H125 and the H130,” according to Airbus.

For the H130 helicopter, a brand-new instrument panel is now available, including a new Garmin G500H TXi touchscreen main flight display, com/nav radio GTN650Xi, creating an improved human-machine interface in the cockpit for pilots.

The screen on the upper right-hand side is the Garmin G500H TXi touchscreen main flight display.

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Avianca to Expand Airbus Fleet with Order for 88 New A320neo Aircraft

Avianca has confirmed a new fleet order for 88 Airbus A320neo aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2025. (Avianca)

Avianca, the Bogota, Colombia-based airline, has confirmed an order for 88 A320neos, under a new purchase agreement with Airbus that includes an option to acquire 50 additional aircraft.

Avianca will start receiving its first new A320neos from the order in 2025, gradually incorporating the new aircraft into passenger carrying service over six years.

Rohit Philip, Avianca’s Chief Financial Officer, describes the A320neo as the “most advanced single-aisle fleet in terms of efficiency, reliability and comfort. This order highlights that we continue to make the required investments to grow our network in line with our business plan.”

Avianca emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in December, and is currently one of the largest airlines in Latin America, with a network of 120 routes, more than 3,200 weekly flights to more than 65 destinations in Colombia, Latin America and Europe. (Avianca)

Every new A320neo will feature an updated cabin configuration, including three types of seats: Premium, Plus and Economy, according to Avianca. Currently, more than 90 A320 planes in Avianca’s fleet are being reconfigured and 26 of them already have the new Plus and Economy seats.

The new fleet order for Avianca comes several months after the Colombian carrier emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in December. According to an overview of their restructuring plan, the airline wants to expand its passenger fleet to more than 130 aircraft by the end of 2025.

Avianca also operates Airbus A330s, ATR 72-600s and Boeing 787-8s within its fleet, currently serving 3,200 flights a week to 65 destinations between North America, Latin America and Europe.

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Breeze Airways Equips A220 Fleet with Viasat In-Flight Connectivity

Breeze Airways has selected Viasat as the in-flight connectivity service provider for its fleet of A220-300 aircraft, pictured here with a Viasat radome. (Breeze Airways)

Breeze Airways has selected the in-flight connectivity (IFC) service provider, Viasat, for its Airbus A220-300 fleet, according to a March 8 announcement from the two companies.

Salt Lake City-based Breeze first launched operations last year on a mixed fleet of Embraer E-190, E-195, and A220-300 jets. The selection of Viasat as the A220 connectivity service provider Monday also came with an announced expansion by Breeze to add 35 new routes this summer from 10 new cities. Breeze now operates 77 total routes between 28 cities in 18 states.

Breeze Founder and CEO David Neeleman, in a March 8 statement, said the airline’s vision for IFC “extends way beyond just delivering high-quality streaming and internet speeds. It will enable us to offer a fully-integrated and seamless experience through the Breeze app, giving our Guests unparalleled access to a wide array of personalized services and options.”

“We identified a natural partner in Viasat — not only in the performance, speed and satellite capacity advantage, but as a great cultural partner in the way we both seek to prioritize the digital experience,” Neeleman said.

Breeze Airways has configured its A220 cabins into “Nice,” “Nicest,” and “Nicer” premium and economy seating options. (Breeze Airways)

Breeze has 80 total A220-300s on order from Airbus, with options for an additional 40 aircraft on a one-per-month delivery schedule over the next four years. The airline will expand its fleet to 30 total aircraft this year, including 13 A220s and 17 E-jets.

Viasat provided updates on its Viasat-3 satellite launch schedule and acquisition of Inmarsat during an earnings call last month. A number of airlines have reached out to Viasat with interest in the acquisition and how it will affect their service, according to reporting on the call by Via Satellite, a sister publication to Avionics.

“From our first discussions with Breeze, there was a great fit based on how the airline values the digital experience for its Guests and how our world-class IFC solution delivers on that promise,” Don Buchman, Viasat’s vice president and general manager of commercial aviation, said, commenting on the Breeze Airways selection. “Specifically, for their expanding network and transcontinental routes, we can deliver the industry’s fastest in-flight connectivity service—even for bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming video, which dominate internet traffic today.”

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Embraer Launches Passenger to Freight Conversion Program for E-190, E-195 Jets

Embraer will provide the passenger-to-freighter conversions of E-190/195 jets at its facilities in Brazil. (Embraer)

Embraer became the latest commercial aircraft maker to launch air cargo variants of existing models, with the São José dos Campos, Brazil company launching the E-190F and E-195F Passenger to Freight Conversions (P2F).

The E-Jets P2F launch from Embraer comes following Boeing’s January launch of the 777-8X Freighter with Qatar Airways, and the July 2021 launch of the Airbus A350 Freighter prior to that. According to a March 7 press release, Embraer expects demand for 700 E-Jet Freighters over 20 years, and will provide P2F conversions for E-190s and E-195s at its facilities in Brazil.

E-Jet conversions will include cargo door, handling system, and interior upgrades to allow for transportation of hazardous materials, among other cargo-carrying modifications.

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, describes their E-Jet P2F program as “Perfectly positioned to fill the gap in the freighter market between turboprops and larger narrowbody jets, our P2F E-Jet conversion hits the market as the demand for airfreight continues to take off, and as e-commerce and trade in general undergoes a global structural transformation.”

The E190F can handle a payload of 23,600 pounds (10,700kg) while the E195F has a payload of 27,100 pounds, according to Embraer. Embraer describes demand for E-Jet-sized freighters, as driven by their knowledge of the age of the current in-service Embraer fleet—1,600 total E-Jets have been delivered globally.

Several key market factors are expected to help expand opportunities for Embraer’s P2F program, according to the company, which added this market and design breakdown of the cargo conversion program below to its website upon announcing the new program.

Embraer added details about their E-Jet P2F program to their existing family of aircraft on their website Monday.

Embraer is making the P2F conversion service available for all pre-owned E190 and E195 aircraft, with entry into service expected in early 2024.

The launch of the P2F program by Embraer comes following their recent fourth quarter and full-year 2021 orders and deliveries report. Embraer delivered 55 jets in the fourth quarter of 2021, of which 16 were commercial aircraft and 39 were executive jets (26 light and 13 mid-size). The Company delivered a total of 141 jets in 2021, comprised of 48 commercial aircraft and 93 executive jets. Embraer’s firm order backlog totaled USD 17.0 billion, reaching its highest value since the second quarter of 2018.

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CAAC Formally Adopts Special Conditions for EHang’s eVTOL

Two of EHang’s 216 AAVs perform flight demonstrations in Shenzhen. The CAAC has formally published Special Conditions for Type Certification of the EH216-S vehicles. (Photo: EHang)

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) recently announced that the Special Conditions for Type Certification of EHang’s EH216-S aircraft have been formally adopted. EHang, developer of autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) products and solutions, unveiled its first model, the 184, in 2016. The EH216 air taxi, an unmanned vehicle designed for low-altitude passenger transportation in the urban air mobility (UAM) sector, made its debut in 2019. The CAAC established a type certification team for the EH216 in April 2021. By formally adopting the Special Conditions for the aircraft, EHang now has a basis for compliance and safety of these vehicles, “including flight performance, structures, design and constructions, propulsion systems, systems and equipment, data link and ground control station,” according to the news release from EHang.

A representative from EHang told Avionics in an emailed statement that “the Special Conditions defined the requirements for EH216-S, [that it] is expected to fly in low-altitude airspace and target commercial operations with passengers onboard in the environment of UAM.”

The Special Conditions dictate how EHang will carry out compliance verification, which is the next goal for the company to achieve before obtaining Type Certification of the EH216-S. Once airworthiness certification is achieved, the team plans to carry out commercial UAM operations with the aircraft.

Pictured is the EH216 performing a flight demonstration in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. (Photo: EHang)

When riding in EHang’s air taxi, the company envisions passengers will be able to travel by selecting their destination, and the vehicle will autonomously fly the pre-determined path with no other input necessary. One advantage for future UAM operations is that EHang’s “proprietary in-flight operating systems and on-the-ground infrastructure enable reliable and simultaneous control of a large number of AAVs.”

The aircraft’s flight components are designed with backup systems in order to be fully redundant to increase flight safety. For example, the EH216 possesses 16 propellers, so that if one propeller were to fail while in flight, the vehicle would be able to continue flying without any safety concerns. Other redundancies include flight control systems, batteries, battery management systems, sensors, and propulsion systems. According to the company’s representative, “The built-in fail-safe system automatically assesses the operation status of EH216 and every one of its components in real time. In case of malfunction of any components, their backup systems can immediately and seamlessly come online to ensure safety. The fail-safe assesses the safety condition and determines whether to continue the flight or to land at a nearby safe location.”

The Special Conditions dictate how EHang will carry out compliance verification, which is the next goal for the company to achieve before obtaining Type Certification of the EH216-S. (Photo: EHang)

At the end of 2021, EHang announced a partnership with Guangzhou Development District Communications Investment Group to launch the 5G Intelligent Air Mobility Experience Center at the Innovation Park in Guangzhou, China. This city is a UAM pilot site for EHang, and the Experience Center will have a take-off and landing vertiport in addition to an automatic parking garage. One of the Center’s main functions will be to enable trial operations of electric aircraft such as the EH216 model and the Falcon B drone.

EHang shared in January 2022 that they received a pre-order for 50 aircraft from AirX Inc., an air mobility digital platform company based in Japan. AirX ordered the EH216 model in preparation for multiple UAM operations in Japan, including potential air taxi services at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

EHang claims to have successfully carried passengers in their aircraft as far back as 2015, and has completed test flights and demonstrations and 10 different countries.

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Astronics CEO Sees Commercial Aerospace Recovery, eVTOL Opportunities in 2022

Astronics Corp. CEO Peter Gundermann discussed a wide range of topics during the company’s 2021 and fourth quarter earnings call last week, including Ukraine, supply chain challenges, and potentially supplying some electrical power systems for eVTOL aircraft. (Astronics)

Astronics reported a $7 million increase in aerospace segment sales in its full-year 2021 earnings report last week, and during an earnings call to discuss the results, CEO Peter Gundermann covered several factors impacting their aerospace operations right now, including supply chain challenges, labor needs, and a small engineering firm that they operate in Ukraine.

“I’m sure you’ve heard tales from other companies, but the gymnastics that we have to do to figure out how to execute when a supplier for a program calls up and says, ‘You know those parts that you ordered that I said I would ship next week? Well, I’m not going to ship them for 20 weeks.’ It’s just incredible,” Gundermann said.

The East Aurora, New York-based aerospace electronics manufacturer counts Airbus, Boeing, and Panasonic Avionics as some of the top OEMs that it supplies cockpit and cabin systems to. Astronics reported a 21.1% increase in commercial aerospace sales, attributing the increase to the un-grounding of the 737 MAX and a recovery in demand for passenger air travel leading to higher utilization rates of the in-service commercial aircraft fleet. The company also noted a slight increase in general aviation avionics sales for 2021, and expects higher demand in that segment as well based on the surge in business jet operations that occurred last year and continues into 2022.

However, there are also major operational challenges and pressures that include supply chain and labor shortages, as well as a small engineering operation that Astronics runs in Lviv, a city located in western Ukraine.

“If you look at the map, it’s right by the Polish border, so it’s a relatively safe place to be,” Gundermann said. “But we are disturbed, to say the least, about what’s going on in Ukraine, as many of you are, I’m sure. And we’re concerned about our people there. We’re doing what we can to help, but it’s a weight around our perspective these days, for sure.”

The Astronics CEO further explained that the company has a total of 42 people at the Lviv location. “It has a significant impact in parts of our business, and Lviv is a pretty quiet and restive area at this point compared to what’s going on in the eastern and central parts of Ukraine.”

The company still expects its aerospace segment to continue to recover this year, although supply chain challenges remain. Gundermann estimates that Astronics ended 2021 with an estimated $15 to $17 million of scheduled product that “could not ship for one reason or another, typically having to do with supply chain challenges.”

Labor is another major challenge for Astronics, which had a workforce of 3,400 prior to the March 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their workforce now stands at 2,200. The company needs to add about 200 new workers to “execute the business in front of us,” Gundermann said.

Astronics introduced its new Ballard mPCIe avionics interface cards for ARINC 429/717 systems, pictured here, in 2021. The cards enable host devices, such as small form factor mission computers, to reliably communicate with avionics equipment. (Astronics)

Amid all of these challenges, Astronics also continued to introduce new technologies into the aerospace market, including an upgraded line of avionics interface cards for embedded aerospace applications. The company also received initial certification for a new cabin in-flight entertainment (IFE) system that uses a distributed network architecture with smaller and fewer boxes as well as an “industry first Wi-Fi 6 wireless access point” for the Boeing 737-800 and MAX.

When Beechcraft completed the first flight of its new Denali aircraft in November, the single-engine turboprop featured exterior lighting and cockpit panels from Astronics, as well as the company’s Max-Viz 1400 Enhanced Vision System.

Gundermann told investors that he has an overall positive outlook for 2022 based on positive demand trends in commercial air travel. He also expects some opportunities to eventually become available for Astronics to provide some electric power systems to electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developers.

“Airlines are waking up around the world and some are deciding to go forward with major installations and major changes from what they’ve done in the past. The technology doesn’t lie still, even if the airplanes are. So we’re seeing a surge in demand there, including from new customers, which are impressive to me,” Gundermann said. “I talked about eVTOL, electric vertical take-off and landing, opportunities, and how that seems to be a good fit for the capabilities we’ve developed for flight-critical electrical power for small aircraft. And we don’t have news today, but we are furthering our investigations there and extending our reach. And, I expect, program award announcements there in the near future.”

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