European helicopter operator Avincis is partnering with Airbus to develop plans for eVTOL aircraft operations. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday at this week’s ILA air show in Berlin, the companies said they would define concepts of operations for service in Europe and other regions.
Avincis, which already operates 60 Airbus rotorcraft in its 200-strong fleet, has not specifically committed to adding the four-passenger CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL vehicle to its portfolio. The company specializes in emergency medical support and missions such as firefighting, and it has bases in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with further operations in Mozambique and China.
The operator will help Airbus define mission profiles for the CityAirbus, which is expected to have a range of around 80 kilometers (50 miles). The European aerospace group unveiled the first full-scale prototype for the lift-and-cruise design in March and is aiming to start flight testing later this year.
“We’re pleased to partner with Avincis. Their established operational network, which is essential to enabling key missions such as emergency medical services, search and rescue, and fire-fighting, will be a valuable tool to collectively explore the mission potential of CityAirbus NextGen,” said Balkiz Sarihan, head of urban air mobility at Airbus. “Through this collaboration, we will explore how eVTOLs can contribute to missions that save lives and protect communities, a shared goal among our two companies.”
Last week, Airbus signed a cooperation agreement to help French startup Aura Aero to bring its planned 19-seat ERA hybrid-electric regional airliner to market in 2030. The Airbus Protect risk management unit will support the Toulouse-based company with the EASA type certification process. Airbus said it views the project as an opportunity to expand its expertise in hybrid- and all-electric propulsion systems, as well as gain more experience in the CS-23 general aviation regulatory environment.