2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Embraer is collaborating with Japanese electric motor manufacturer Nidec to develop&nbsp;propulsion systems for electric aircraft, the companies said on June 18 at the Paris Air Show.&nbsp;The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer and Nidec have agreed to form a joint venture company called Nidec Aerospace to develop a vehicle-agnostic&nbsp;portfolio of products for the aerospace industry, starting with electric motors for eVTOL aircraft.
Nidec has extensive experience manufacturing motors for electric automobiles, appliances, industrial equipment, and power generators, and now the company takes its first big leap into the aerospace industry through its partnership with Embraer.&nbsp;
“We are combining two very strong and powerful engineering [companies] to develop electric motors with high quality, very competitive prices, and scale to fulfill the needs of the entire industry,” Dimas Tomelin, Embraer’s senior v-p of innovation and corporate strategy, said at a media briefing at the airshow.
Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer affiliate company developing a four-passenger eVTOL air taxi, will become Nidec Aerospace's launch customer. During the briefing, Embraer and Nidec representatives revealed a half-scale mockup of the 70-kilowatt engine that will power&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup">Eve’s eVTOL</a>&nbsp;aircraft.
Eve also announced two additional suppliers for its eVTOL&nbsp;on Sunday at the show. According to Eve, the UK's BAE Systems will provide the battery system for the electric aircraft, while DUC Hélice Propellers will supply its rotors and propellers. France's DUC Hélice Propellers specializes in the design and manufacturing of carbon-composite aircraft components.&nbsp;
Embraer and BAE Systems have collaborated for the past year on potential&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-19/embraer-bae-strengthen-plans-use-eves-evtol-defense-applications">defense applications</a>&nbsp;for Eve’s eVTOL, which the company designed to serve the urban air mobility market. BAE Systems also works&nbsp;on energy storage for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-31/bae-develop-battery-system-hearts-es-30-hybrid-electric-regional-airliner">Heart Aerospace’s planned ES-30</a>&nbsp;hybrid-electric regional airliner and a hybrid-electric technology demonstrator for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-21/ge-recruits-bae-systems-provide-energy-management-nasas-hybrid-electric">NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration</a>&nbsp;project.
“Eve has taken a ‘building blocks’ approach to further enhance the maturity of the technology and its eVTOL,” said Eve&nbsp;v-p of program management and operations Alice Altissimo. “We continue to make very good progress and we are looking forward to working with these new suppliers as we accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable air travel.”
<h2 class="heading">Eve's eVTOL Order Book Swells to 2,850 Aircraft</h2>
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<div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-caption">
 
 
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Voar Aviation is one of several aircraft operators to announce purchase agreements with Eve Air Mobility during the Paris Airshow. (Image: Eve)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Voar Aviation is one of several aircraft operators to announce purchase agreements with Eve Air Mobility during the Paris Airshow. (Image: Eve)</figcaption>
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Eve Air Mobility recently collected orders for up to 150 air taxis, bringing its total order backlog for the four-passenger air taxi up to 2,850 vehicles, the company announced on June 20 at the Paris Airshow. According to Eve, this&nbsp;represents the largest and most diversified order book among aircraft manufacturers in the nascent eVTOL industry.&nbsp;
Voar Aviation, a general aviation service provider based in São Paulo, Brazil, signed a letter of intent covering the purchase of 70 Eve eVTOL aircraft, which the company intends to operate in several locations across Brazil.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-11-10/wideroe-explores-potential-scandinavian-urban-air-mobility-network" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Widerøe Zero</a>, the sustainability division of Norwegian airline Widerøe, has agreed to purchase up to 50 Eve eVTOLs. Eve and Widerøe have worked together since the 2021 United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) when the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential for eVTOL operations in Scandinavia. Now the airline has signed a letter of intent in which it has provisionally agreed to buy and operate Eve’s air taxis.&nbsp;
As part of the agreement with Widerøe, Eve will provide comprehensive services to support its eVTOL operations, including&nbsp;pilot training and maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities. Widerøe will also use Eve’s urban air traffic management software, designed to&nbsp;maximize operational efficiency while integrating with other airspace users.&nbsp;
Global aircraft leasing firm Nordic Aviation Capital&nbsp;signed a letter of intent covering the purchase of up to 30 Eve aircraft. According to Eve, the Copenhagen-based aircraft lessor has placed a firm order for 15 aircraft with the option of buying 15 more units that the company will lease to operators.&nbsp;
To further promote its eVTOL aircraft in Europe, Eve has expanded its longstanding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-24/eve-provide-60000-evtol-flight-hours-private-flight-group-blade" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">partnership with Blade Air Mobility</a>. In 2021, Eve agreed to provide Blade with up to 60 eVTOL aircraft through a network of local operators to serve Blade customers in South Florida and the U.S. West Coast. Last year Blade agreed to deploy up to 200 of Eve's eVTOLs in India.&nbsp;Now Blade plans to add Eve’s eVTOL to its European route network, with European operations launching in France.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Embraer Taps Nidec to Build Electric Motors for Eve's eVTOL Air Taxi

United Airlines has announced plans to launch eVTOL flights in the San Francisco Bay Area, building on a 2022 agreement with <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-08/united-airlines-invests-15-million-eve-signs-purchase-deal-200-evtol">Eve Air Mobility</a> to purchase up to 200 of its four-passenger aircraft. On June 14, the companies said they are now working with city and state officials, as well as infrastructure providers, to prepare an air taxi network right in the backyard of two of Eve’s rivals, Joby and Archer, which are developing similar aircraft in Silicon Valley.
This week’s announcement did not specify locations for the flights in Eve’s all-electric vehicle, which will have a range of around 60 miles, although United has indicated it wants to provide direct connections to its hub airports. The manufacturer, which is backed by Brazilian airframer Embraer, expects to complete type certification in 2026. 
<h3 class="subheading">United Backs Two eVTOL Horses: Eve and Archer</h3>
Last year, United invested $15 million in Eve. The major carrier also holds provisional orders for up to 200 of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-11/united-airlines-places-10-million-down-payment-archer-evtol-air-taxis">Archer’s Midnight eVTOL</a> vehicles and has announced plans with that company to launch services in New York and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-23/archer-and-united-airlines-reveal-first-air-taxi-route-chicago">Chicago</a>.
“Urban air mobility has the potential to revolutionize how United customers work, live, and travel,” said Michael Leskinen, president of United Airlines Ventures. “Eve’s proposed route is a critical first step towards making this all-electric and quiet commute a reality for Bay Area residents.”
According to Eve, the planned air taxi services will lead to significant recruitment of pilots and aircraft service technicians. The company says operators will benefit from the global product and customer support capability of Embraer, which makes airliners and business jets.
“Our shared goal is to provide residents and visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area with efficient and cost-competitive transportation in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the U.S.,” said Eve’s co-CEO, Andre Stein. “The Bay Area is perfect for eVTOL flights, given its size, traffic, focus on sustainability, innovation, and commitment to add other options for mobility.”

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

United Airlines and Eve Plan eVTOL Air Taxi Services in San Francisco

Eve Air Mobility is now selecting “main equipment” suppliers and during the second half of this year will begin assembling the first full-scale prototype of its eVTOL aircraft, according to Eve co-CEO Andre Stein. Speaking to reporters during a briefing held by parent company&nbsp;Embraer in Portugal on May 26, he said that recent ground tests of propulsion systems and wind tunnel testing have also helped move the program forward.&nbsp;
“Eve Air Mobility is not just about routes, solutions, or infrastructure,” Stein said, “it's about the evolution of mobility as the key to making life more fluid and cities friendlier. This is the first project to graduate from EmbraerX,” he added, referring to the airframe manufacturer’s innovation hub.
Having submitted the basis for type&nbsp;certification to Brazilian aviation safety regulator ANAC in March, Eve plans to build its full-scale prototype in the second half of 2023, to be ready to start a&nbsp;flight test campaign in 2024 that it hopes will lead to certification and entry into service in 2026. ANAC will be the primary certification organization, Stein said, and Eve will seek FAA validation of the design, hopefully simultaneously as Embraer did with its E2 airliner.
Meanwhile, the c<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-new-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup">abin mockup of the Eve eVTOL </a>is making the rounds of events, with its first showing this year at the SXSW show in Austin, Texas, in March. Eve’s first appearance after becoming a publicly-traded company takes place at the Paris Airshow June 19-25, where the mockup and a virtual reality simulation of an eVTOL flight will be on display at the Eve/Embraer pavilion.
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<div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-caption">
 
 
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Eve Air Mobility unveiled a revised design for its eVTOL aircraft in July 2022. (Image: Eve Air Mobility)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Eve Air Mobility unveiled a revised design for its eVTOL aircraft in July 2022. (Image: Eve Air Mobility)</figcaption>
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Embraer is the majority stockholder and it is closely involved in the development of the all-electric vehicle. Eve, which now employs around 300 people, can call on support from a 3,500-strong engineering team at its parent company.&nbsp;“We see that as an advantage,” Stein said. “We can flex that up and down. We don’t always need the same expert at the same time.”
Eve is aiming to garner a chunk of what it and its many rivals project&nbsp;to be a huge market for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft, estimated at three-quarters of a trillion dollars by 2040. So far Eve has signed letters of intent for 2,770 Eve vehicles from 26 prospective operators that include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-08/united-airlines-invests-15-million-eve-signs-purchase-deal-200-evtol">airlines</a>, technology companies, and lessors, including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-08/brazilian-start-flybis-orders-40-eve-evtol-aircraft">Brazil's FlyBIS</a>. “This gives us confidence there is an actual market behind it,” Stein said.&nbsp;
<h3 class="subheading">Eve Expands eVTOL Ground Testing</h3>
The recent testing involved measuring aerodynamic performance and sound properties of propellers on a test rig, with the aim to maximize efficiency, lower the sound footprint, and reduce operating costs. Eve also began testing vertical-lift rotors on a truck-mounted mobile testbed at Embraer’s facility at Brazil’s Gavião Peixoto Airport, to evaluate rotor performance during the transition phase of flight.&nbsp;
“This allows us to understand the sound profile,” he said. “It’s not only about decibels, it’s the profile.” He explained that engineers were able to test various propeller shapes on the rig and to gather visual data showing the sound profile during various phases including the transition between hover and cruise. This testing along with computational fluid dynamics calculations will help Eve refine the fidelity of its flight simulator and fly-by-wire flight controls, according to the company. “We have been doing rig tests, and we have been flying the engineering simulator for a while to develop the fly-by-wire controls,” he said. “There are lots of tests and building blocks. We don’t fly things just for the sake of it.”
Unlike some competing eVTOL designs, Eve engineers say they have selected a simpler lift-and-cruise design, where eight vertical-oriented propulsion units enable vertical takeoff and landing, while two rear-mounted units power the vehicle in forward flight, aided by the lift generated by Eve’s wings. The lifting rotors switch off for forward flight. This eliminates the need for a tilting mechanism for the wing or propulsion units, which adds weight and complexity.
“Aircraft have been tube and wing [configurations] for more than century,” Stein said. “With electric designs, we can think about distributed propulsion.”
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 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Initially, Eve Air Mobility's eVTOL aircraft will have a range of around 60 miles. (Image: Eve Air Mobility)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Initially, Eve Air Mobility's eVTOL aircraft will have a range of around 60 miles. (Image: Eve Air Mobility)</figcaption>
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Eve’s initial 60-mile (100-km) range, based on the current limits of battery technology,&nbsp;is designed to fulfill 99 percent of urban air mobility trips, and it will initially carry a pilot and four passengers. Eventually, if fully-autonomous flight without a pilot on board becomes possible through regulatory changes,&nbsp;Eve will accommodate six passengers.&nbsp;
With its noise footprint up to 90 percent lower and operating cost six times lower than an equivalent helicopter, the Eve eVTOL promises to be “community friendly” and suitable for cross-town, airport-shuttle, and sightseeing flights as well as serving areas where roads are impassable or nonexistent, according to Stein. Eve isn’t directly targeting the defense market, although Embraer could explore that in partnership with BAE Systems. “It’s a very different thing to be successful in that market,” Stein said.
As it refines the design of the eVTOL aircraft and prepares for prototype construction, Eve is selecting suppliers for the aircraft’s components. “We’ve been talking to them for years,” he said.
Likewise, Eve has “been engaged with regulators since the beginning [of the program],” Stein said. “Safety comes first. We’re deeply engaged with [Brazil’s] ANAC, and we have regular conversations with the FAA. Our engagement with ANAC is very positive and we have their undivided attention. We’re not fighting with other aircraft developers in Brazil. We believe we are in a good pace with the regulatory authorities.”
<h3 class="subheading">Certification By 2026 Could be a Challenge</h3>
Stein admits that it will be a challenge to certify the Eve eVTOL in 2026, particularly considering a typical Embraer aircraft program takes six to seven years from conception. However, he said, “We started with the date we believe is most possible.” He noted that many other eVTOL programs have moved their certification schedules “to the right.”&nbsp;
Plans for production of the Eve eVTOL aircraft call for manufacturing “first in Brazil,” he said. “A future facility could be elsewhere.” Maximum initial capacity would be 500 aircraft per year, and the aircraft would have to be shipped to their destination in containers, more like long-distance helicopter deliveries than airplanes that can be flown to the buyer location.
As for buyers’ flight operations, Stein said, “We are engaged with our customers in understanding what the limitations are going to be.” There are no plans for fly under instrument flight rules, for example, and in cities where customers plan to operate their aircraft, there are plenty of days where flying under visual flight rules (VFR) is sufficient. Embraer worked with MIT on a tool to model these flying networks, and, he said, “There is enough of a market VFR.”&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Eve announced that it has completed its urban air traffic management (ATM) prototype, which “focuses on concepts and services essential to supporting the introduction and scaleability of urban air mobility operations.” This means that Eve can now begin “commercial product development of urban ATM solutions to ensure UAM’s airspace integration is successful.”
Eve has tested the urban air traffic management prototype, most recently late last year during its Chicago simulation experience using helicopters as a substitute for eVTOL aircraft. It wasn’t just flights that replicated the eVTOL experience but ground services, infrastructure and equipment requirements, and the passengers’ end-to-end journeys.&nbsp;
One key difference between helicopters and eVTOLS, Stein explained, is that eVTOLs “bring different benefits, they don’t do everything a helicopter does. Because they’re so disruptive with lower costs, they need to be seen as a different operation. That’s why we’re doing so much with conops [concepts of operation], to work together with [local communities and authorities].”&nbsp;
Helicopter routes, for example, are “very inefficient,” he said, often routed over less populated areas such as rivers because of their noise footprint. “We are so much quieter.”&nbsp;
Electric aircraft should also have a different requirement for reserve power than helicopters or airplanes, Stein said. FAA regulations require a 30-minute fuel reserve for airplanes flying VFR (45 minutes at night) and 20 minutes for helicopters. He expects the FAA to issue special conditions in the next few months that will clarify electric aircraft reserve requirements.
Few eVTOL manufacturers will discuss how much their vehicles will cost to buy and operate, other than comparing costs to helicopters, but Stein did say that he expects an eVTOL ride to cost near the $100 or so that a surface taxi charges to go from New York's JFK Airport to downtown Manhattan. “We can get close to that,” he said, adding, “All these networks are modeled considering the value of time.”
<h3 class="subheading">The Grownups Are In the Room</h3>
With its background stemming from being part of the Embraer family, Stein believes that <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-04/eve-commits-long-term-investment-urban-air-mobility">Eve</a> has a huge head start on the competition to bring an eVTOL to market. “Hell yeah, we do have an advantage,” he said. “We’ve seen big players trying to certify and failing. Having a cohesive group of engineers, access to IT, and tools, it gives us an advantage. Finally, the grownups are in the room. It’s an ambitious timeline,” he admitted, “but we have a much better understanding of the process. Our peers weren’t expecting certification to be so complicated.”
That said, Eve isn’t expecting to hit a switch and suddenly start manufacturing thousands of eVTOLS. “We’re ramping up,” Stein said. “We’re not waiting for a magic battery or magic composite [materials]. We’re doing our math on existing technology.”

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Eve Steps Up Ground Tests In Preparation For eVTOL Prototype Assembly

Ferrovial Airports and Eve Air Mobility have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on infrastructure development for eVTOL operations in the U.S. and Europe. The partnership centers on the companies’ joint interest in the urban air traffic management software developed by Eve to allow for the integration of all airspace users in the urban environment. 
“As a leading global infrastructure provider and operator, Ferrovial is committed to building and operating safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation infrastructure, which is why we are truly excited to announce our collaboration with Eve,” said Ferrovial Vertiports CEO Kevin Cox. “Ensuring that we are utilizing an agnostic state-of-the-art urban air traffic management system will be key to achieving our goals.”
According to the companies, the collaboration reinforces a shared commitment to safely integrating&nbsp;and scaling&nbsp;global urban air mobility operations.
“This agreement represents a significant step forward and is a strong validation of Eve’s urban air traffic management service offering,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “Eve is much more than an eVTOL manufacturer. We are working with companies like Ferrovial Vertiports to consider how these aircraft will operate safely, efficiently, and in the most responsible way possible.”
The agreement advances Ferrovial’s positioning in the urban air mobility sector as it develops vertiport networks in Europe and the U.S. Texas-based division <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-22/airports-group-gears-demand-led-vertiport-development-plans">Ferrovial Vertiports</a> already has begun work with aircraft manufacturers and operators under some 30 nondisclosure agreements covering plans for short-hop, intracity, and subregional connections of 100 miles or more, as well as hub-airport feeder flights.
For example, a partnership Ferrovial signed with eVTOL aircraft developer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-01-28/lilium-enlists-ferrovial-grow-its-air-mobility-network-across-florida">Lilium in January 2021 </a>calls for the companies to develop 10 or more vertiports across Florida starting in 2025.&nbsp;Spain-based Ferrovial group includes Ferrovial Airports, which it formed in 1998. The division now operates 33 airports worldwide, after providing investment and development expertise. Its portfolio includes facilities in the U.S., Australia, and Chile, as well as stakes in four <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-28/ferrovial-launches-plan-uk-vertiport-network-vertical-aerospace">UK airports</a>.
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Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Ferrovial Airports, Eve Agree on Infrastructure Partnerships for eVTOL Aircraft Service in the U.S. and Europe

Brazilian air taxi start-up FlyBIS this week confirmed plans to establish a fleet of Eve Air Mobility's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. Under a letter of intent signed on December 8, the company agreed to purchase up to 40 of the all-electric vehicles that <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-04/eve-commits-long-term-investment-urban-air-mobility">Eve aims </a>to have certified and ready to enter service in 2026.
FlyBIS, based in Caxias do Sul, has plans to build an urban air mobility network in Brazil initially. Once eVTOL operations are up and running there, the company aims to expand its air taxi services into neighboring countries.&nbsp;
“This new collaboration with FlyBIS will enable us to expand the future of air mobility to Southern areas of Brazil and other South American countries,” said Eve’s co-CEO Andre Stein. “This region has several high-traffic tourist areas that will benefit from eVTOL operations, reinforcing our commitment to fostering the urban air mobility market in different regions around the world.”
With the new agreement from FlyBIS, Eve now has an order backlog of up to 2,770 <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-new-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup">eVTOL aircraft</a>—a value of approximately $8 billion—from about two dozen prospective customers. Companies in Eve’s order book include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-08/united-airlines-invests-15-million-eve-signs-purchase-deal-200-evtol">United Airlines</a>,&nbsp;and the Brazilian private aviation charter operator and fractional ownership group <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-10-04/brazilian-private-aviation-operator-plans-latin-american-air-taxi-network">Avantto</a>. Eve has said it plans to begin delivering aircraft to its customers in 2026. The public company is still majority-owned by Brazilian aerospace group Embraer.
<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/eve">Eve’s eVTOL</a> is a fully electric, piloted aircraft designed to carry four passengers on short trips of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles). Eventually, the manufacturer&nbsp;aims to switch over to fully autonomous operations, which would free up a seat to allow five passengers to fly in the aircraft.

Brazilian Start-up FlyBIS Orders 40 Eve eVTOL Aircraft

Eve Air Mobility this week announced the expansion of its partnership to support the development of software for its urban air traffic management (UATM) system. The <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-new-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup">eVTOL aircraft developer </a>has signed a letter of intent with vertiport infrastructure specialist Bluenest to jointly develop technology to automate vertiport operations.
Announcing the agreement on November 29, Eve said that its planned <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-13/eve-and-skyway-will-integrate-air-traffic-management-and-vertiport">UATM software</a> will be an agnostic platform that could be used by any of the eVTOL aircraft being developed for applications such as air taxi services. The company is working on a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/eve">four-passenger design </a>that it hopes to have certified and ready to start commercial operations in 2026.
Bluenest is part of the Spain-based infrastructure group Globalvia. It will now join several existing partners working with Eve to develop operational models for advanced air mobility that can be tailored to the specific needs of different regions and aircraft applications.
“Our software will support the integrated operation of urban air mobility aircraft, optimizing operational performance and safety, as well as preparing for both scale and eventual integration of uncrewed vehicles,” said Eve’s co-CEO Andre Stein.

Eve Adds Bluenest to Urban Air Traffic Management Partnership

Skyway&nbsp;Technologies, which is developing navigation services for autonomous aircraft, is to integrate Eve Air Mobility’s urban air traffic management (UATM) software with its planned vertiport operation services. Under a letter of intent signed on October 12, the companies say they will work together to provide urban air mobility solutions to support eVTOL operators as part of Eve’s goal of delivering a UATM platform that could be used by all new eVTOL aircraft, including the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/eve">four-passenger model </a>it is working to bring to market in 2026.
U.S.-based Skyways is applying its hybrid artificial intelligence&nbsp;technology for tasks such as airspace deconfliction resolution, autonomous aircraft separation, and airspace compliance. It is already providing these services for drone operators from its own air traffic management center and is now making plans to support the large numbers of vertiports that are expected to be used by eVTOL aircraft.
“The partnership with Skyway will help drive market awareness for<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-new-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup"> Eve </a>as a software supplier to providers of service for UAM and help ourselves and others understand how to improve and advance&nbsp;UAM operations,” said Eve’s co-CEO Andre Stein. “We will study the use of Eve’s UATM software solutions for Skyway’s operations and develop an operational model for use in certain missions and regions.”
According to Skyway CEO Clifford Cruz, having a fully integrated UATM and vertiport services platform will provide reassurance to operators wanting to operate large fleets of eVTOL aircraft for services such as air taxi flights. “This enables airline investments into this sector the ability to close the loop when it comes to operating these aircraft at digitally&nbsp;driven vertiports being developed,” he stated. 
Last month, Eve and its partner Blade Air Mobility conducted a two-week operational trial using helicopters to simulate how eVTOL aircraft will use vertiports and other landing sites in the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-09-26/chicago-gets-preview-urban-air-mobility-future-india-next">Chicago</a> area. Last year it conducted similar work in<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-brief/2022-05-10/eves-concept-operations-rio-de-janeiro-offers-urban-air-mobility-blueprint"> Rio de Janeiro </a>as part of a wider effort to develop concepts of operations for eVTOL aircraft.

Eve and Skyway Will Integrate Air Traffic Management and Vertiport Navigation Services

United Airlines invested $15 million in Eve Air Mobility and placed a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat electric aircraft plus 200 options calling for first deliveries as early as 2026, the Chicago-based carrier said Thursday. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies intend to work on future projects, including studies on the development, use, and application of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/eve">Eve’s aircraft</a> and the so-called urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
The latest commitment by United comes less than a month after it placed a $10 million deposit on 100 eVTOL aircraft <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-11/united-airlines-places-10-million-down-payment-archer-evtol-air-taxis">with Archer Aviation</a>. The airline in February 2021 signed a provisional agreement with Archer to buy up to 200 of its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft in a deal valued at $1 billion. At the time, Archer said the pre-delivery payment represented one of the first of its kind in the nascent eVTOL industry following announcements by several manufacturers of provisional sales that appear unsupported by any type of formal payment schedule or deposit.&nbsp;
“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” said United Airlines Ventures president Michael Leskinen. “Today, United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies. Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 —&nbsp;without using traditional offsets.”
United became the first major U.S. airline to create a corporate venture fund with the establishment of United Airlines Ventures (UAV), established to support the company’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 without the use of traditional offsets. Through UAV, United claims a leadership position in investments in eVTOL and electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel cell engines, and sustainable aviation fuel. 
United says its confidence in the growth opportunities in the UAM market and Eve’s unique relationship with Embraer partly drove its investment in the eVTOL developer. The Eve-Embraer relationship allows for access to the Brazilian manufacturer’s service centers, parts warehouses, and field service technicians. United expects Eve’s service and support operations to support its entire eVTOL fleet. Meanwhile, United joins the consortium led by Eve established to simulate UAM operations in Chicago starting on September 12.
“United's investment in Eve reinforces the trust in our products and services and strengthens our position in the North American market,” said Eve co-CEO Andre Stein.“I am confident that our UAM agnostic solutions, coupled with the global know-how we have been developing at Eve and Embraer’s heritage, are the best fit for this initiative, giving United’s customers a quick, economical and sustainable way to get to its hub airports and commute in dense urban environments. It is an unparalleled opportunity to work with United to advance the U.S. UAM ecosystem, and we look forward to it.”
Eve Holdings came into being in May with the business combination between Embraer and special purpose acquisition company <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-14/eve-and-zanite-expect-complete-merger-and-wall-street-listing-may">Zanite</a>, enshrined with a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange that generated $377 million in proceeds. Under the terms of the deal, Embraer now holds a 90 percent stake in the eVTOL aircraft developer while Zanite shareholders and several other investors control the balance.

United Airlines Invests $15 million in Eve, Signs Purchase Deal for 200 eVTOL Aircraft

Eve is stepping up its efforts to test the basis on which eVTOL aircraft could operate air taxi services in crowded cities, with a planned urban air mobility (UAM) simulation in Chicago. In an August 23 announcement, the eVTOL aircraft developer said the exercise will involve helicopters operated as part of the rideshare network of its prospective customer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-24/eve-provide-60000-evtol-flight-hours-private-flight-group-blade">Blade Air Mobility</a>.
Last year, Eve conducted a similar exercise in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, with local helicopter charter operator <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-26/helisul-probed-human-realities-urban-air-mobility-services">Helisul Aviation</a> providing aircraft for a structured 30-day trial to map out prospective routes and operating procedures with passengers on board. This work, which was also supported by flight booking service Flapper, resulted in the publication of a <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-brief/2022-05-10/eves-concept-operations-rio-de-janeiro-offers-urban-air-mobility-blueprint">concept of operations</a> for eVTOL flights in and around the city that has been presented to Brazilian air safety regulator ANAC. 
Like <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-24/eve-provide-60000-evtol-flight-hours-private-flight-group-blade">Blade</a>, Helisul also plans to add Eve's eVTOL vehicle to its fleet from 2026, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-07-22/eve-guarantees-evtol-flight-hours-flapper-charter-platform-latin-america">Flapper</a> also intends to offer flights to its on-demand customers. Blade has also committed to adding the rival Beta Technologies' Alia eVTOL vehicle to its fleet.
Starting on September 14, Blade will arrange services around the Chicago area each morning and afternoon, with flights available to passengers via its app from the downtown Vertiport Chicago to "helistops" the northern suburb of Schaumburg and the southern suburb of Tinley Park. Eve, which will start ground testing on September 12, will&nbsp;study operations, ground services, passenger journeys, and eVTOL operator needs, allowing for more accessible and faster connections to the city center.&nbsp;
Eve will perform the ground tests at <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-10/vertiport-offers-warm-welcome-chicago-evtol-aircraft-operators">Vertiport Chicago </a>simulating services, infrastructure, and equipment requirements for the eVTOL aircraft. The public company, which is majority owned by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, says that&nbsp;the study will help it to understand the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to enable the launch and expected long-term growth of UAM in a major North American city.
“Simulating the eVTOL operation in Chicago allows us to study how people will experience this service and understand the entire ecosystem requirements for our product and services, while showcasing the benefit of urban air mobility in one of North America's most prominent and populated cities,” said Eve co-CEO André Stein. “We are wrapping up preparations to execute these simulations seamlessly and look forward to helping prepare Chicago for a local zero-emission UAM solution that is quiet, efficient, and sustainable.”
The consortium of partners Eve assembled for the simulation also include regional&nbsp;airlines Republic Airways and Skywest, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, the villages of Tinley Park and Schaumburg, Spanish infrastructure and renewable energy conglomerate Acciona, and Brazilian UAM logistics specialist Speedbird Aero. 
"For Eve, it is essential to understand and address through these projects involving partners and the community the key challenges associated with the main pillars of the UAM ecosystem,” said Eve vice president of services and fleet operations Luiz Mauad. “Our proposal brings together all stakeholders and counts on different views and feedback to structure and deliver the best solutions." 
&nbsp;

Eve to Conduct UAM Simulation Out of Chicago Vertiport Using Helicopters

Losses at Eve Holding continued to increase during the second quarter of 2022, as the former Embraer business unit stepped up investment in the development of the four-passenger eVTOL aircraft it aims to start delivering in 2026. Announcing financial results for the first time since its Wall Street initial public offering in May, the company said that its net loss for the first half of this year increased by $16.7 million to $21.3 million and that the deficit for the second quarter alone was $11.8 million compared with $2.4 million in the same period of 2021.
Balancing the unsurprising losses is Eve's total reported liquidity, including cash, equivalents, and financial investments, of $330.8 million. Cash raised from financing was boosted by the net proceeds so far from its New York Stock Exchange listing of $329.1 million.
The investment required to bring its new eVTOL vehicle to market will be substantial. Eve is committed to addressing all aspects of the envisaged urban air mobility operations, with work in progress to develop new air traffic management systems, and also plans to provide maintenance and support services to operators.
While no revenues are flowing yet, the company has started to log commitments from prospective customers. At the end of June, Eve had a backlog of 1,910 conditional sales agreements for the&nbsp;eVTOL vehicle. Since then, it has received another non-binding order from Embraer and BAE Systems for up to 150 eVTOLs that will be used <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-19/embraer-bae-strengthen-plans-use-eves-evtol-defense-applications">for defense and security applications</a>. This latest order brings the total number of units in Eve’s backlog up to 2,060, with an estimated value of nearly $6 billion, Eve’s co-CEO Jerry DeMuro said during an August 4 call with investors.&nbsp;
Via letters of intent, those orders have come from 22 different customers consisting of “operators from around the globe with different aviation backgrounds, including fixed wing and helicopter operators, rideshare providers, and more recently, a defense player with the potential to expand the applications of our UAM solutions,” DeMuro said. As the company advances its eVTOL development in the coming years, it will begin converting those letters of intent into firm orders and collecting down payments of up to 50 percent of the value of the vehicles ordered, Eve’s chief financial officer Eduardo Couto said during the call.&nbsp;
The IPO in May, which followed Eve's business combination with special purpose acquisition company Zanite,&nbsp;raised a total of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-10/embraer-backed-eve-boosts-evtol-plans-377-million-initial-public-offering">$377 million</a>. “We believe this funding provides an excellent foundation for the development and certification of our eVTOL and other elements of the urban air mobility ecosystem that we expect to launch in 2026,” DeMuro said.
“The bulk [of&nbsp; funds raised] was invested in our eVTOL development, and a portion was used for the development of our service and support solutions and the development of our <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-22/eve-partners-halo-urban-air-traffic-management-solutions">urban air traffic management system</a>,” Couto said. “We are the only eVTOL company with a complete solution, including the vehicle, service and support, and air traffic control,” he added.
Despite the increased spending, Couto said the company ended the second quarter of 2022 with about $330 million in cash and no outstanding debts. “We feel extremely comfortable with our current cash position, as it gives Eve plenty of resources to maintain our eVTOL development for multiple years,” he said.
Eve officials did not specify when the company expects to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-16/eve-prepares-fly-full-scale-evtol-prototype-order-book-swells">begin flight testing a prototype</a>, perhaps reluctant to firm up projections made back in February when they said this was expected "in the next few months." The company hasn’t disclosed many details about its design, other than <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-17/eve-reveals-new-evtol-design-and-cabin-mockup">a cabin mockup</a> it revealed at the 2022 Farnborough Airshow last month. However, Eve officials did explain some recent changes to their design during the call with investors.&nbsp;
“We have been evaluating variations of our lift plus cruise configuration. Now, I believe that the current configuration is mature enough to disclose to the market,” Eve’s co-CEO André Stein said during the call. “The aircraft remains simply designed with eight lifters and pushers, allowing for a reliable and safe platform designed for vertical takeoff and landing and avoiding moving parts,” Stein said. “The simple design is a differentiator in our certification efforts.”
Eve’s chief technology officer Luiz Valentini explained that the company recently made two major changes to the eVTOL's configuration. First, they changed the placement of the rotors to allow for smaller motors that use less power, which “is helpful with respect to the sizing and the weight of the vehicle,” Valentini said. “It allows us to reduce the weight, which of course brings benefits in terms of energy efficiency and noise and other aspects.”
The second major design change Valentini discussed was the replacement of a wing-and-canard configuration in favor of a wing and empennage. “We find that this configuration with the conventional placement of wing and tail gives us a little bit more flexibility to adjust the stability and controllability of the vehicle in the future, and to make minor adjustments if we have to,” Valentini said.&nbsp;
Capable of carrying four passengers and one pilot, Eve’s eVTOL will have a range of about 100 kilometers (60 miles) on a single charge, which will allow it to fly for about 30 minutes. Although the aircraft will be piloted initially, Eve plans to eventually switch over to autonomous operations.
Eve will first seek type certification for its eVTOL aircraft with the Brazilian aviation authority <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-10/brazilian-regulator-agrees-process-certifying-eves-evtol-aircraft">ANAC</a>, which has bilateral air safety agreements with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The company expects to achieve type certification by 2025, with the first deliveries expected in 2026.

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