The flight, which was witnessed by Mr. Tsugumasa Muraoka, Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mr. Toru Kawano, Vice Chairperson of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly, and Mr. Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive’s official production partner, provided further confirmation of the aircraft’s technical maturity and the potential use of eVTOL for scenic tourist flights.

https://youtu.be/KDvE4AbiQ0E

Demonstration Flight Details

The demonstration flight, which was flown without passengers or crew, simulated the future operational flows SkyDrive will use to provide tourist flights once SkyDrive’s aircraft is in service. Alongside the actual flight of the remotely piloted aircraft, the simulation included a run through of a seamless passenger journey conveying passengers arriving by car at the vertiport (takeoff and landing facility) straight to their eVTOL flight.

[First Flight]

• Date & Time: Around 8:00 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026
• Operation Mode: Autonomous control and remote piloting without a pilot on board
• Flight Results: Flight distance: 2 km (approx. 1.24 miles) / Flight time: 6 min 20 sec / Maximum speed: 86 km/h (approx. 53.4 mph) / Maximum altitude: 30 m (approx. 98.4 ft.)

[Second Flight]

• Date & Time: Around 11:05 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026
• Operation Mode: Autonomous control and remote piloting without a pilot on board
• Flight Results: Flight distance: 1900 m (approx. 1.18 miles) / Flight time: 5 min 42 sec / Maximum speed: 54km/h (34 mph) / Maximum altitude: 25m (82 ft)

Background and Objectives

SkyDrive is developing a compact eVTOL with the mission of “leading the once-in-a century mobility revolution” that will establish eVTOLs as a feasible option for intra-urban transportation and a regular feature of city life. To date, SkyDrive has flown its prototype aircraft more than 300 times in various environments, including flight test sites in Toyota City (Aichi Prefecture) and Yamaguchi City (Yamaguchi Prefecture), as well as at the Expo 2025 Osaka venue, Osaka Port, and, most recently, at Tokyo Big Sight in February 2026.

Future eVTOLs will contribute to society in various ways including the avoidance of urban traffic congestion, the post-disaster delivery of emergency relief supplies and emergency medical support, and the expansion of regional economies through the provision of novel tourism experiences. Today’s demonstration flight exercise, which simulated the seamless movements required to transit passengers arriving by road to a scenic eVTOL flight, helped confirm the feasibility of these new eVTOL-centered tourist opportunities.

https://youtu.be/H0Z5yxUGgcU

Comment from Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc.

“I was proud and delighted to see today the successful completion of our demonstration flight here in Yamaguchi, a milestone that builds upon our previous flights at the Expo 2025, Osaka Port, and Tokyo Big Sight. I also am extremely grateful to our immensely supportive partners, including Governor Muraoka, Assembly Vice Chairperson Kawano, and President Suzuki of Suzuki Motor Company, for taking the time to visit our test facility and share this experience with us.

Today’s flight simulated a concrete example of how eVTOL will be integrated into future tourist experiences. These scenic flights are a key pillar of the commercial eVTOL services we plan for 2028. In our simulation today, passengers arrived by road, demonstrating the seamless, zero-wait time switch from road transport to eVTOL, a model case that showcases the potential of next-generation urban air mobility to drive tourism in various destinations. SkyDrive also looks forward to working with our railway company partners to deliver the same seamless transitions we saw today, showing how both road and rail travel will link smoothly into eVTOL departures.

With safety as our utmost priority, SkyDrive continues to make progress in our aircraft development and production. While some of our earliest use cases will be tourist flights, as demonstrated today, our ultimate goal is to create sustainable, wide-ranging eVTOL infrastructure that addresses diverse social challenges, boosts urban and regional economies, supports post-disaster relief, and provides emergency medical care.”

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The Clontarf, Brisbane facility has grown from a 50m² workshop to an 800m² standalone site. As part of this expansion, Bell has invested in enhanced non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities, including a new NDT room three times larger than the original, and has increased the number of qualified technicians to meet growing demand.

The upgraded CRO shop now offers a full suite of hydraulic services, including inspection, testing, repair, and overhaul of individual components and assemblies for Bell aircraft. These improvements are designed to reduce operator downtime, lower costs, and provide tailored support that meets customers’ operational and budgetary needs. Collectively, these enhancements have contributed to a 50% increase in Bell’s component capability over the past 12 months.

“This expansion reflects a major investment in our operations and a clear, long-term commitment to the Australian rotary wing market,” said Dean Ashton, general manager, Bell Textron Australia. “By upgrading our facilities, introducing new services, and growing our team through workforce and talent development, we are strengthening our ability to provide reliable, responsive, and locally driven support for operators across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. These enhancements are part of our broader vision to build a comprehensive aftermarket support ecosystem that meets the evolving needs of our customers today and well into the future.”

To further support customers, Bell Australia has a dedicated CRO logistics team focused on streamlining freight forwarding for faster turnaround times and improving spares management to strengthen demand forecasting and optimize inventory.

The expansion has also created new job opportunities. Over the last 18 months, the CRO shop has doubled its staff to support current growth and future demand. Bell Australia has an apprenticeship program and has increased investment in factory training for technicians, building a strong pipeline of skilled talent and maintaining rigorous quality standards.

The facility holds certifications from CASA 145, FAA, and TCCA, underscoring compliance with global aviation standards. Bell Australia’s hydraulic services currently cover the overhaul and repair of hydraulic servos for the Bell 205, Bell 206, Bell 212, Bell 407, and Bell 412. Integrated servo and valve assemblies are also available for the Bell 212 and Bell 412, with further capability expansions planned.

Globally, Bell operates 12 company-owned service centers offering aircraft maintenance, blade repairs, and customizations across Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Singapore, and the United States. This is further supported by a network of more than 50 authorized service centers worldwide, ensuring operators have access to reliable support wherever they fly.

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Responsibilities will be shared, with PHI Air Medical providing experienced pilots, mechanics, and flight nurses, and AFMA supplying trained paramedics. The base will support both emergency scene responses and interfacility patient transports throughout the region. The integrated crew model will support seamless coordination between aviation operations, advanced clinical care, and local emergency response systems.

“This new partnership with AFMA reflects our shared commitment to delivering high-quality, life-saving care to the communities we serve,” said Mark Leighton, Co-President PHI Health and President of PHI Cares. “By integrating our teams and resources, we are strengthening emergency response capabilities across the West Valley.”

This is a unique air medical partnership that will expand access to time-critical air medical services for West Valley communities, and support faster transport to definitive care when minutes matter more than ever. “Residents will be flown via aircraft fully equipped with advanced life support, night and adverse-weather capabilities, and staffed by a team able to provide immediate scene and interfacility response, involving the transport of a patient between one health care facility and another.”

“Residents in the Buckeye and West Valley area can join PHI Cares Membership. Members transported by PHI Air Medical or any cooperative partner across the country will have no out-of-pocket cost for their flight.”

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The newest aircraft will be stationed at Life Lion’s Lancaster base, within the program’s top referral county for both air and ground transports. The helicopter joins a fleet of two other Airbus H155 aircraft, part of the manufacturer’s Dauphin family of helicopters.

With the arrival of the new aircraft, Life Lion operates three of the largest and fastest aeromedical helicopters in Pennsylvania. Each helicopter features a large interior cabin that accommodates advanced lifesaving equipment, specialty medical personnel and family members during transport. The aircraft can also transport additional clinical specialists, including neonatologists, respiratory therapists and perfusionists.

Equipped with advanced avionics and instrument flight capabilities, the helicopters can safely operate in a wide range of conditions, including low visibility and high wind.

“Critical care transport is about more than getting a patient from one location to another,” said Dr. Chadd Nesbit, lead EMS physician and division chief for Life Lion. “Our teams provide intensive, evidence-based care from the moment they arrive at the patient’s side until they reach the appropriate specialty center. Adding this aircraft strengthens our ability to deliver that care safely and efficiently, giving more patients access to the advanced resources that can improve outcomes.”

This year, Life Lion celebrates 40 years of air medical transport. Since its first patient flight in 1986, the program has transported more than 45,000 patients. Life Lion flies approximately 1,200 air medical missions and completes about 900 critical care ground transports each year. Nearly half of all Life Lion missions involve pediatric or neonatal patients.

“Life Lion has spent four decades serving Pennsylvanians during some of the most critical moments of their lives,” said Keith McMinn, senior director of Life Lion Emergency Services. “This aircraft helps ensure we can continue providing safe, high-quality critical care transport for patients when they need it most.”

Life Lion serves a large geographic region, providing access to trauma, stroke, cardiac, pediatric and neonatal specialty care, including direct access to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the region’s only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center.

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In their primary firefighting role, a 2,000 litre belly-mounted tank is fitted.  The KUH-1 also has 437 litre auxiliary fuel tank, allowing the transportation of patients from Jeju Island to the Seoul metropolitan area, a straight line distance of 450 km (280 miles).  This represents a significantly expanded operational reach for the 119 Rescue service

The aircraft are equipped for a diverse range of disaster response scenarios including EMS, SAR, Firefighting and night-time operations.  They will provide fire authorities opportunities across a wide range of situations, including mountain and water rescue operations, transport of critical emergency patients, and large-scale wildfire suppression.

Jo Hyeon-mun, acting head at the National 119 Rescue Headquarters, stated: “The newly deployed firefighting helicopters will play a key role in protecting lives at various disaster sites, including mountain accidents, wildfires, and emergency patient transport in the Chungcheong and Gangwon regions. We will do our best to ensure safe and swift mission execution in any situation through thorough training and preventive maintenance.”

This deployment represents a significant enhancement to South Korea’s domestic aerial firefighting and rescue infrastructure, particularly for the Chungcheong and Gangwon regions, which face elevated risks from wildfires and mountain rescue incidents.

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As part of its plan to protect Ontario and keep communities safe, the Ontario government has delivered the first Joint Air Support Unit helicopter in Peel Region. The deployment marks the first helicopter to enter service through Ontario’s Joint Air Support Unit, a $191 million provincewide initiative that is expanding aerial policing capacity across Ontario.

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Skyfly is developing a unique and groundbreaking two seat fixed-wing aircraft that is built to conform to the FAA’s new MOSAIC rules for Light-Sport Category aircraft. Called the Axe, it can take off and land either conventionally with a runway rollout, or vertically with no runway required, and then efficiently cruise on its two wings. It’s all electric, so it’s quiet & neighborly, and Axe’s operational costs are very low compared to legacy aircraft. Axe’s tandem-wing carbon-composite airframe, eight fixed-angle electric motors, and simplified flight controls, together will make personal vertical flight more practical, accessible and fun.

The Skyfly-FDOT agreement marks a significant milestone in Skyfly’s U.S. expansion strategy, establishing the company’s first dedicated presence in the United States and reinforcing its commitment to the U.S. as a core market for its advanced air mobility technology.

Skyfly’s plans were publicly showcased on 10 August 2026, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the SunTrax facility in Auburndale to highlight the site’s expanding role in advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicle testing. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. also took part in the event, underlining the state’s support for Skyfly’s move into the Florida market.

“Access to SunTrax gives us a world-class testing environment and puts us at the heart of one of the most important advanced air mobility ecosystems in the country,” said Michael Thompson, CEO of Skyfly Technologies. “This is an important step in bringing Skyfly’s technology to the U.S. market.”

“FDOT’s partnership with Skyfly brings vital testing and workforce opportunities to Florida, further advancing this emerging mode of transportation,” said Jared W. Perdue, P.E., Florida Department of Transportation Secretary. “Skyfly establishing operations at SunTrax brings Florida one step closer to taking highways to the sky and making flying cars a reality.”

Under the terms of the LOI, Skyfly intends to commence occupancy of the leased space in the fourth quarter of 2026. SunTrax will also support Skyfly’s growth in Florida, including assistance with local workforce development, state and federal grant guidance, and regulatory introductions, including with the FAA.

The parties intend to finalize a formal lease agreement in the coming months.

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This will put their most frequently used helicopters – a pair of Sikorsky S76C++s – further away from central London, but much closer to their fixed-wing base at Farnborough Airport, which has just undergone a huge expansion.

The planning limitations on movements at Farnborough means that the airport management actively restricts movements from helicopters and single-engine turboprop fixed wing.  While the Flexjet helicopter fleet will still be involved with providing a rotary wing “interline service” to their fixed wing customers, the location a few miles up the road at Blackbushe provides greater flexibility for additional operations away from the company’s jet fleet and expansion into other rotary wing opportunities, including eVTOL in the years to come.

Flexjet also manages a Leonardo AW139 and a Sikorsky S92 in the UK for customers, with these being based at Elstree and Stansted respectively.  It is not clear whether either will be moved to Blackbushe at this time.

Eli Flint, president of Flexjet Vertical Lift, is quoted as saying “development is progressing well and now into its final stages. We’re on target to launch our new operation from Blackbushe by early November, when the focus for our Flexjet customers will be on airport transfers and shooting season trips”

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“Delivering the 5,000th R44 Raven II reflects the enduring trust operators around the world place in Robinson,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “The R44 remains the most widely sold and flown light civil helicopter on the planet because it delivers unmatched reliability, low direct operating costs, and multi-mission versatility. Whether it is powering flight schools, supporting agricultural operations, or serving private and utility operators, the Raven II is the benchmark for modern light rotorcraft’.”

Robinson certified the R44 in 1990 and delivered the first R44 in 1993. Since then, the model has grown into one of the best-selling helicopters ever made with owners and operators in more than 100 countries flying it today. The R44 comes in multiple variants, including the Raven I, Clipper I, the Cadet for training and the Raven II and its counterpart the Clipper II. Robinson recently unveiled a new Utility Interior available on all R44s, with easy to clean seat fabrics and replacing the carpet and headliner with a more ruggedized materials for tough missions.

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Wisk, SkyGrid and Insitu have pioneered and incubated core autonomous flight technologies for the future that, in combination with Archer’s air taxi, UAS and AI technologies, will bring new and innovative solutions to the market. These companies, with nearly two million combined flight hours, are expected to bring a deep autonomy foundation to Archer’s ZEE artificial intelligence platform. This positions Archer to deliver an end-to-end physical AI platform across commercial aerospace, defense and air traffic management that can lead the next generation of aviation.

Archer’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein said, “This is a watershed moment for Archer and the future of physical AI in aerospace and defense. This is the next big step forward in becoming a diversified platform, rapidly growing our revenue base and bringing scale to our business.”

In conjunction with the transaction, Boeing and Archer are entering into a collaboration and technology-sharing arrangement through which Boeing will retain access to the Wisk core autonomous flight technology for its current and next-generation commercial and defense aircraft. The transaction allows Boeing to retain strategic upside through its stake in Archer and simultaneously focus current and future investments into Boeing’s core businesses.

“This transaction is a win-win for Boeing and Archer,” said Brian Yutko, Boeing vice president, Commercial Airplanes Product Development. “It allows Wisk, SkyGrid and Insitu to accelerate capability development and time to market while ensuring Boeing capitalizes on its investments in these technologies over the past two decades through continued development in our core businesses. Having worked with the incredible teams in these companies firsthand, it’s clear this transaction will create an industry leader in the advanced aviation market. We look forward to collaborating with Archer to drive continued innovation in aerospace, defense and autonomy.”

About the companies:

• Wisk is the only company that has designed, built and flown six generations of eVTOL aircraft, amassing 1,700+ flight tests. Over the past 16 years, Wisk’s world-class team has developed unmatched autonomy capabilities powered by a next-gen flight-control computer, sensor suite, and radar system designed for certification in both civil and potential defense markets.

• Insitu is a pioneer in designing, developing and manufacturing uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) used in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Its product portfolio spans high-performance, cost-effective, resilient, VTOL-capable UAS and AI-enabled software solutions. Insitu’s technologies have helped the armed forces of 35 nations make quicker, more informed decisions to bring warfighters home safely. With offices in the US, Australia, the UK, and the UAE, Insitu has manufactured and fielded more than 3,500 UAS and provides operations and support networks in every hemisphere of the globe.
• SkyGrid has built a leading ground-based, aircraft-agnostic air traffic management solution that establishes the digital foundation for the future of automated airspace. SkyGrid enables safe integration, scalable automation and coordinated traffic management that is necessary for commercialization across the aviation ecosystem.

Consideration will be paid in newly issued Class A shares and warrants to Boeing in a private placement under Section 4(a)(2), with Boeing agreeing to a 12‑month Lock‑Up, subject to hedging and pledging exceptions. Warrants carry a 19.9% beneficial ownership limitation, exercisable in cash or on a cashless basis and subject to stockholder‑approval mechanics that can temporarily require cash‑settled Replacement Warrants.

Archer will grant Boeing registration rights for the consideration securities, with deadlines for filing and effectiveness and potential fee payments if deadlines are missed. Boeing will have the right to designate one director while it holds at least 10% of pre‑closing Class A shares. A separate Forward Equity Purchase Agreement allows Archer, alongside a third‑party equity offering expected to raise at least $400.0 million, to require Boeing to purchase up to $55.0 million of additional shares before a defined Expiration Date. The Purchase Agreement includes reciprocal indemnities supported by a representation and warranty insurance policy and can be terminated on several grounds, including failure to close by May 9, 2027 (subject to possible extensions).

The transaction remains subject to certain agreed-upon closing conditions, including expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and is expected to close by the end of 2026. Moelis & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor to Archer and Fenwick & West LLP is serving as outside counsel. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to Boeing and Mayer Brown LLP is acting as outside counsel.

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Under this partnership, the four companies have produced a comprehensive eVTOL roadmap covering the exploration of routes in Sri Racha, Bangkok and Ko Samui, as well as the development of tickets sales and maintenance networks.

Background to the agreement

This latest agreement follows on from a first MOU, signed in June 2024 by SPI, Saha Tokyu and SkyDrive, to support studies into the feasibility of introducing the SKYDRIVE aircraft Thailand (*2). Now, Bangkok Airways, a major Thai airline, is joining together with the three original signatories to explore more effective, concrete commercial possibilities for SkyDrive’s eVTOLs.

Bangkok Airways, which provides services within Thailand and between Thailand and neighboring nations, is a regional airline known for its “Asia’s Boutique Airline” concept. As a provider of high-quality, customer-focused, personalized air travel, Bangkok Airways is keen to integrate eVTOLs into its route network. The airline, which has extensive knowledge and experience of the aviation industry, operates routes to major tourist destinations in Thailand, such as Trat, Sukhothai, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Ko Samui. Owning and operating airports and hotels, including assets in Ko Samui, puts Bangkok Airways in a unique position to promote tourism development and harness its long track record in the tourism industry to drive the future growth of SkyDrive’s eVTOL.

The addition of Bangkok Airways to SkyDrive’s existing partnership with the Saha Group and Tokyu Group is a further step towards the establishment of next generation urban mobility infrastructure and a model of eVTOL use that links flights into the fabric of the city. Success in Thailand will provide a springboard for the roll out of viable eVTOL networks in Japan, as well as in other nations such as Australia and Vietnam. The seamless integration of next generation urban air mobility into urban development programs will create advanced urban transport networks that can be adapted to fit major cities across the world.

Collaboration over Strategies and Support for Commercializing eVTOL in Thailand

The four parties to the agreement have agreed to work in stages to develop systems for supporting the development of eVTOL businesses in Thailand. These systems, which will harness existing infrastructure and the cooperation of other local partners, will lay the groundwork for the sale of eVTOL aircraft and their future commercial operation.

We will first work together over the exhibition and demonstration of the aircraft, giving potential customers the opportunity to learn more about eVTOL and move towards purchase commitments. We will also determine the support systems required to achieve the smooth sale, storage and maintenance of the aircraft, as well as the training of pilots and other personnel, as fleet size and flight frequency increases.

The four parties will also investigate how, in the longer term, a wider range of business functions could be relocated into local markets as required by demand trends and market maturity.

Flight Routes

Under this agreement, the four signatories will start to assess and select specific flight routes within Thailand, focusing on alleviating traffic congestion and improving passenger access and convenience to a variety of destinations. We will also work to develop sightseeing flight options, levering the aircraft’s potential to stimulate further demand in the tourism industry.

• Sri Racha: Routes under consideration include a network linking Saha Tokyu’s J-Park/HarmoniQ development (upscale residences designed primarily for the families of Japanese people living and working in Thailand) with outlying islands and tourist attractions in Koh Sichang, Koh Lan and Pattaya.
• Bangkok: In the medium and long term, the four signatories are looking to develop air taxi routes linking central Bangkok, and residences such as Kings Square Residence, with Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Using our aircraft to provide regular daily journeys in speed and comfort will allow residents and other passengers to bypass Bangkok’s chronic traffic congestion, maximizing the potential value of the destinations served.
• Ko Samui: The parties to the agreement will seek to operate sightseeing eVTOL flights that leverage the beauty of Ko Samui’s world-renowned natural scenery. We will also examine the potential for fast and reliable air mobility services between Ko Samui’s airport and its various resorts, allowing tourists to reach their destinations in comfort without the inconvenience of traffic congestion or long boat rides.

Comments

Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited States

This partnership marks an important milestone for Thailand’s aviation industry. The introduction of eVTOL technology represents a new innovation for Thai aviation, opening opportunities to rethink how we connect cities, airports, and key tourism destinations in a more efficient and environmentally responsible way. As a fully integrated aviation service provider, Bangkok Airways is well positioned to explore how the SKYDRIVE can complement our existing route network and airport infrastructure, particularly in destinations such as Samui, Sukhothai, and Trat. While this initiative is still at the study stage, we are ready to further examine the operational, regulatory, and commercial frameworks necessary to support future eVTOL services in Thailand. We believe this collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and our responsibility to help shape the next chapter of sustainable air mobility in the country.

Vichai Kulsomphob, Executive Chairman & CEO of Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Company Limited

We are honored to support the strategic collaboration among SkyDrive Inc., Bangkok Airways, and Saha Tokyu Corporation, marking a significant step toward advancing sustainable air mobility in Thailand. This partnership represents important progress in the development of eVTOL operations—an innovative solution poised to transform transportation while reducing environmental impact. As a committed partner, we will provide close coordination and support to help establish a strong foundation for future commercial deployment. Through this collaboration, we aim to foster innovation, enhance connectivity, and contribute to Thailand’s long-term economic and social development, shaping a smarter and more sustainable future for the country.

Masahiko Nishimoto, Managing Director of Saha Tokyu Corporation Company Limited

Saha Tokyu Corporation Company Limited, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, is dedicated to developing living environments in Sriracha, Thailand, a hub for Japanese manufacturing companies. We are honored to be part of this initiative, which will allow us to explore business opportunities in Thailand in collaboration with Bangkok Airways, SPI, and SkyDrive, a leading Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer. Together, we will investigate operational applications for SkyDrive’s aircraft, supporting SkyDrive’s expansion into Sriracha, Thailand and contributing to regional development. We believe this initiative will significantly benefit Thai society, and its economy and we intend to play our part by offering real estate services, including housing and workspaces, as eVTOL helps Thailand’s regions to grow.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive Inc.

We are truly honored to announce our partnership with Bangkok Airways, Saha Pathana Inter-Holding, and Saha Tokyu, three of Thailand’s leading companies. As rapid economic growth continues, Thailand faces critical challenges including chronic traffic congestion and environmental pollution caused by vehicle emissions. Since 2024, we have been working with Saha Pathana Inter-Holding and Saha Tokyu to explore how “SKYDRIVE” our compact, zero-emission eVTOL, can help resolve these issues. With the additional participation of regional airline Bangkok Airways, a company with extensive expertise in operations and tourism development, we will be able to accelerate studies of concrete flight routes and services. Moving forward, the four companies will work closely together to bring the commercial operation of our eVTOL aircraft to Thailand.

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Joby is a leading developer of eVTOL aircraft designed for commercial passenger transportation.

“I first visited Perot Field two decades ago, and it was clear even back then that this airport would grow into a cornerstone of aviation for the region,” said Greg Bowles, Joby Aviation’s Chief Policy Officer. “Establishing a presence in Texas puts Joby in one of the most exciting markets in the country. This site gives us a base to demonstrate the value of air mobility services across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the state. Texas is showing strong leadership in advanced air mobility, thanks to partners like Hillwood, TxDOT and NCTCOG, and we look forward to working with them to bring that vision to life as we begin flights under the eIPP program.”

The new location positions Joby within one of the nation’s most established aviation and logistics platforms. The location connects the company with AllianceTexas’ multimodal transportation infrastructure, skilled regional workforce and network of public- and private-sector partners focused on advancing mobility innovation.

“Welcoming Joby to AllianceTexas reflects our ability to pair flexible real estate solutions with the resources forward-looking companies need to grow,” said Samuel Rhea, vice president at Hillwood. “Joby brings an important new capability and demonstrates how AllianceTexas continues to evolve to support aviation, manufacturing and the advanced air mobility sector.”

Perot Field is the world’s first industrial airport purpose-built for cargo and corporate aviation and serves as the aviation cornerstone of AllianceTexas. The airport is also a central component of the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone, a public-private ecosystem that brings together industry innovators, policymakers and infrastructure partners to advance technologies across air and surface mobility.

“Joby’s presence at Perot Field is a significant milestone for the airport and for North Texas aviation,” said Christopher Ash, president of Alliance Aviation Companies. “By locating within the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone, Joby helps validate the collaborative work happening here and advances the integration of eVTOL technology across the region’s transportation network.”

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Based in Southern California, BlueSky provides specialized helicopter services across the Western U.S., including aerial firefighting, powerline support, utility and construction services, animal surveying and other essential aerial operations. The Company operates a fleet of five helicopters, including four Blackhawks and one Bell 407. The BlueSky team has a long history of providing mission critical aviation services to leading energy companies and state and federal public safety agencies.

The acquisition expands Fundamental’s public service helicopter platform to 24 aircraft and establishes a meaningful presence in one of the nation’s most active markets for aerial firefighting and utility services. BlueSky also brings in-house maintenance capabilities which are expected to enhance operational expertise and aircraft availability across the broader platform as Fundamental continues to scale this strategy.

“BlueSky is exactly the type of business we are looking to partner with as we continue building our public service helicopter platform,” said Ryan Keane, Senior Managing Director at Fundamental Advisors. “The Company has earned a strong reputation providing critical firefighting and utility services in one of the country’s most important public safety and infrastructure markets. This acquisition meaningfully expands our presence in the Western U.S., strengthens our relationships with key utility and public safety customers and adds valuable maintenance and operational capabilities. We look forward to partnering with the BlueSky team as we continue to grow a diversified helicopter platform that supports essential public safety and infrastructure needs nationwide.”

“Fundamental shares our long-standing commitment to safety, reliability and service excellence,” said Bryan Robinson, CEO at BlueSky Helicopters. “For years, our team has supported customers operating in some of the most demanding environments in the country, and we are proud of the reputation we’ve built with critical utility customers. With Fundamental’s support we will gain access to additional resources and operational support to continue to deliver the high-quality service our customers expect and pursue the next phase of growth.”

The acquisition represents Fundamental’s latest investment in its public service helicopter strategy, which was launched in 2025 to support businesses providing mission-critical aviation services across the United States. The strategy focuses on partnering with operators that provide essential public safety, utility infrastructure and emergency response services, while providing the capital, operational resources and platform support needed to scale in a fragmented sector.

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LifeFlight acquired this helicopter, referred to as “Yankee Mike” for the last two characters in its tail number, N901YM, late last year and had the interior completely rebuilt to meet the specifications of its sophisticated air medical transport program. Yankee Mike was built in 2018 and had a mere 300 hours of flight time when it was acquired by LifeFlight of Maine. For comparison, LifeFlight of Maine puts an average of 535 hours of airtime on each of its helicopters every year.

With the addition of Yankee Mike, LifeFlight of Maine now has four A109 SP helicopters, which are newer, faster, and slightly larger than its predecessor, the A109 E, which LifeFlight first began flying as its primary aircraft in 2005. LifeFlight still owns two of these E model aircraft, which it relies on during required maintenance intervals for its primary aircraft. With the addition of the new helicopter, LifeFlight will begin phasing out its two A109 E helicopters.

“Before Yankee Mike joined our fleet, our helicopter with the least airtime, Whiskey Mike, has 2,336 total hours,” said Peter Cartmell, Director of Operations. “Most places, not necessarily EMS, will put 100 to 150 hours a year on a helicopter. Because of the number of patients we care for and the distances across Maine, we put four or five times that many hours on our aircraft each year. We need to keep investing in these aircraft so that we can continue to fulfill our mission.”

Standardizing LifeFlight’s helicopter fleet to all A109 SP models will help improve efficiency for helicopter pilots, who currently are trained to operate two different models of aircraft.

“The different models may seem the same to the naked eye, but when you look in the cockpits, the avionics between the E models and the SPs are very different,” said Cartmell. “Every time pilots switch back and forth, there is a bit of a learning curve. We also must train new pilots on both systems, which takes additional time and resources.”

“The autopilot in the SP is a four-axis autopilot, as opposed to a three-axis autopilot in the E models. As a result, they are a lot more stable and have more capability for instrument approaches than E models have,” shared Cartmell.

The SP models are faster, traveling at an average speed of 165 mph. They can make the trip from Bangor to Caribou in less than an hour. Additionally, these helicopters can fly approximately 1.5 hours before refueling, depending on weather conditions and other factors.

The SP models are about 18 inches longer than the E models, creating more cabin room for the medical crew to care for a patient in the back of the helicopter. “With all of our medical equipment on board, the back of the helicopter is pretty tight when caring for a patient, so every bit of additional space makes a difference for clinical crews,” said Chuck Hogan, Chief Clinical Officer.

While work on Yankee Mike is complete and it has been delivered to LifeFlight’s Bangor hangar, the helicopter still needs to be certified by the FAA for air medical operations. Once this process is complete, the helicopter will officially join LifeFlight’s fleet and be used to bring Mainers all over the state critical care when and where they need it.

The post LifeFlight of Maine adds fourth AW109SP to complete fleet standardization appeared first on HeliHub.com.

The flight involved the activation of the aircraft’s rear pusher propeller and thus signified the start of the transition phase from vertical to wing-borne flight. During the test, the aircraft attained a stabilized speed of 27 knots and a maximum ground speed of 30 knots whilst the pusher was activated up to 1,200 RPM.

The flight took 3 minutes and 9 seconds, travelled approximately 0.84 nautical miles and attained a maximum height of 90 feet above ground level.

“This first partial transition flight is an important milestone in Eve’s development journey,” said Johann Bordais, chief executive officer of Eve Air Mobility. “Successfully activating the pusher propulsion system in flight validates a key aspect of our aircraft design and brings us one step closer to delivering safe, efficient and scalable air mobility solutions.”

The transition phase is one of the most critical aspects of eVTOL flight, as it involves the aircraft moving from vertical lift to forward flight. The successful completion of this initial partial transition test further advances Eve’s efforts to expand the aircraft’s flight envelope and validate system performance.

“This flight successfully demonstrated pusher activation in flight and validated key performance targets at the start of the transition phase,” said Marcelo Basile, head of engineering at Eve Air Mobility. “The data collected will support continued envelope expansion as we advance toward higher speeds and more complex transition flight testing.”

Eve’s flight test engineering team is continuing ongoing loads and structural analyses to support future envelope expansion. Following the aircraft’s flight-testing program, the company plans to conduct datalink testing to validate radio link performance and support operations at speeds up to 50 knots.

Over the coming weeks, Eve expects to progressively expand the aircraft’s airspeed envelope, including additional flights with pusher activation as part of the broader transition flight-test campaign.

The post Eve Air Mobility Achieves First Transition Flight Milestone appeared first on HeliHub.com.

“It’s always a proud day when we open a new base,” said Air Methods Senior Account Executive Brian Carpenter. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us to expand our service area while continuing to provide the life-saving care that our partners and their patients have come to expect.”

Kentucky 15 operates in an Airbus EC130 aircraft, which is renowned for its exceptional reliability and minimal maintenance downtime. It is fully equipped with the advanced medical equipment and medications required to function as a flying ICU.

The base is staffed by Air Methods’ highly-trained pilots, clinicians, and mechanics. In addition to a variety of specialized medical equipment, crews also carry whole blood for in-flight administration to patients experiencing severe blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock.

Air Method’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by its Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accreditation—the highest standards in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry. The program is equipped to provide ICU-level care in flight, including the ability to administer blood either in the air or at the scene of an accident.

The aircraft itself is not new to Kentucky as it has made the short trip from the Air Methods of Kentucky base in Somerset. Kentucky 3 will continue to fly in an EC130T2 which has been transferred from New York state.

As part of an expansive ecosystem, the new base joins Air Methods of Kentucky bases in Bedford, Corydon, Elizabethtown, Glasgow, Mt. Sterling, and Somerset. Air Methods also provides aviation services for HCA Tri-Star in Nashville and Covenant Health in the Knoxville area.

“Having a strong ecosystem of aircraft and clinicians allows us to provide our partners and patients with industry-leading care that they expect and deserve,” said Carpenter. “With just one call, we will be there no matter how big of an ask.”

Air Methods is dedicated to serving communities across Kentucky and beyond. The company is in-network with most health insurance providers, and the Air Methods patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to help ensure the affordability of air medical services.

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Familiarization meetings, which are designed to deepen a regulatory authority’s understanding of an aircraft’s performance and incorporated technologies, are a critical step in the aircraft type certification process. SkyDrive’s familiarization sessions with the FAA, which will also be attended by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), are expected to include comprehensive and in-depth technical reviews, covering topics including the core aircraft design concept and the specific approaches required for compliance with the FAA’s safety standards.

To prepare for these familiarization sessions, SkyDrive leaders responsible for engineering and certification recently met with the FAA and the JCAB officials on the sidelines of the 2026 FAA-EASA International Aviation Safety Conference, held in Washington D.C. Senior officials attending this preparatory meeting included:

• FAA Representatives: Malory Naill (Acting Executive Director Aircraft Certification Service), Dan Elgas (Director Policy & Standards Division), Stephen Burke (Manager International Office), John Yoo (Manager International Validation Branch), and Adrian Hoefer (International Office).
• JCAB Representatives: Tetsu Shimizu (Director of Airworthiness Division), Naoki Amitani (Director of Pilotless Aircraft Planning Office), Hidenori Miyajima (Flight Standards Division), and Kotaro Yamamoto (JITTI Research Fellow).

During the preparatory meeting, the attendees discussed how the FAA and the JCAB would work together with SkyDrive to implement an efficient concurrent validation process, as SkyDrive looks to achieve the regulatory compliance required to commercialize their aircraft in multiple markets around the world.

SkyDrive is currently pursuing type certification in both Japan and the United States. The FAA has officially accepted the type certification application, which was submitted in April 2024(*2). Moving forward, SkyDrive will continue to work closely with the civil aviation authorities in Japan and overseas, seeking to progress the development of its aircraft and advance swiftly towards type certification with an absolute priority on safety.

The post SkyDrive starts formal meetings with FAA appeared first on HeliHub.com.

Farmer brings over 25 years of experience in patient care, healthcare operations, and executive leadership. He began his career as a flight paramedic serving children’s hospitals, an experience that inspired his lifelong commitment to patient access, healthcare quality, safety, and equity.

Throughout his career, Farmer has held executive leadership roles with PHI Air Medical, Air Methods Corporation, Intuitive Health, and CSI Aviation, leading complex healthcare operations while driving improvements in financial performance, clinical growth, quality, patient safety, and workforce engagement.

As President & CEO, Farmer will work closely with Life Link III’s Board of Directors and its nine-member health systems to strengthen regional access to care, advance strategic priorities, and support the organization’s long-term success.

“I am honored to join Life Link III, an organization with a remarkable legacy of excellence, innovation, and service,” said Farmer. “I look forward to partnering with our exceptional team and member health systems to build on that legacy, honor our longstanding commitment to safety, and continue setting the standard for excellence.”

Farmer is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. He earned both his Doctor of Healthcare Administration and Master of Healthcare Administration from Oklahoma State University and is also a published healthcare textbook author and editor.

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During the Games of the Future 2026 (“GOTF2026”), the EH216-S conducted multiple route flights over the event venue in Astana, carrying Nurlan Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, and other distinguished guests.

As the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana serves as an important hub connecting Europe and Asia. Its distinctive temperate continental climate and open airspace environment provide favorable conditions for AAM applications and flight operations.

The President Assistant of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yesekeyev Kuanyshbek, Vice-Minister of Transport Kazakhstan Lastayev Talgat Tleubekovich, and CEO of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan Michael E. Daniel attended the event and witnessed the flights.

In June 2026, Kazakhstan proactively established a national initial regulatory framework for eVTOL aircraft, vertiports, and unmanned aircraft traffic management systems (“UTM”).

Two months later, the EH216-S completed its first pilotless human-carrying flight under this regulatory framework, demonstrating EHang’s technical capabilities in rapidly supporting safe and compliant human-carrying flights across diverse regulatory environments worldwide.

In 2025, EHang signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Allur Group, one of Kazakhstan’s largest automotive manufacturers, to jointly develop emerging markets for AAM solutions in Central Asia.

According to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, the first phase of the project will focus on demonstration and tourist flights lasting between five and 30 minutes, showcasing the country’s natural, cultural, and historical landmarks. In the future, the autonomous aircraft could become part of the urban transportation network, complementing existing modes of transportation.

To date, EHang’s EH216-S has expanded its flight footprint to 23 countries across five continents, marking Kazakhstan as the latest addition and demonstrating its adaptability to diverse climates, geographic environments, and airspace conditions.

EHang is transforming pilotless human-carrying flight from a technological vision into an increasingly accessible reality around the world, helping bring China’s low-altitude economy standards to global markets and reshaping the future of urban and intercity mobility.

The post EH216-S Completes First Pilotless Human-Carrying eVTOL Flight in Kazakhstan appeared first on HeliHub.com.

The New York-listed British-based company is reported to expect about $35M from existing institutional investors, with Mudrick Capital Management and Yorkville Advisors providing much of the commitment.

The transaction, being handled by Jefferies, could be announced this week. This potential financing comes soon after the company’s announcement that it’s in advanced talks with the UK government for a grant worth as much as £10 million to support manufacturing facilities in Britain.  Vertical Aerospace has received nearly £50 million in government funding to date.

The prospective $100 million raise would provide Vertical Aerospace with additional cash to advance certification and commercialization, but it also highlights the company’s continuing dependence on outside financing ahead of a revenue stream.

This latest fundraising effort comes less than six months after Vertical Aerospace secured access to as much as $850 million of investment capital as it sought to ease concerns about its financial position.

Its flight-testing program is being overseen by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, with certification currently targeting 2029.

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The news on the ground at the Helicopter Investor conference in London in mid-June was pointing to regulator Interfederale Screeningscommissie (Belgian Interfederal Screening Committee) not being happy with the proposed Chinese ownership of NHV, but it has taken until this week for that to be formally announced.  The exact reasons for the rejection have not been publicised.

NHV has issued the following statement

NHV Group confirms that the contemplated acquisition of NHV Group by GDHF will not be proceeding following the decision of the Belgian Interfederal Screening Committee. As a result, there will be no change in the ownership or control of NHV Group.

NHV remains a strong and independent company, and it is business as usual across our operations. Our management team, operations, customer commitments, and strategic direction remain unchanged.

Our focus remains firmly on serving our customers, supporting our partners, and continuing to deliver safe and reliable helicopter services across all of the markets in which we operate.

We remain fully committed to our strategy, our employees, and the long-term development of the business. We thank our customers, partners, and employees for their continued trust and support.

Meanwhile, NHV will continue to be a customer of GDHF, having taken on the lease of two Airbus H160s from the Chinese owned leasing company earlier this year.  Helicopter market intelligence firm Parapex Media advised HeliHub.com that these are MSN 1086 and 1088, which carry Danish registrations OY-HZC and -HZD respectively.

The plan by NHV’s current owners Ardian to sell the company are likely to still be in place, and have indeed been in place for at least the last 15-18 months.  At the 2025 version of the Helicopter Investor conference, CEO Lars-Henrik Thorngreen was given a slot to make a presentation about NHV, seen by a sceptical audience as setting out his stall.

Ardian, a French firm formerly known as AXA Private Equity, bought NHV in late 2013, fighting off competition from rival groups Apax Partners and Eurazeo according to Belgian newspaper reports at the time.

NHV’s full name is “Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen”, translating to English as North Sea Helicopters Flanders.

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The award follows a milestone year for LifeFlight, with the organisation recently celebrating helping more than 100,000 people since its inception.

LifeFlight Commercial Chief Operating Officer Timothy McGuire, who accepted the award at the event, said the third consecutive win was a proud moment for the organisation.

“To be recognised as EMS Business of the Year for a third consecutive time is an incredible achievement and a credit to every member of the LifeFlight team who contributes to our mission each day,” Mr McGuire said.

“This award reflects the skill, dedication and teamwork of our people, who continue to push the boundaries of aeromedical care and support communities across Australia.

“We remain committed to strengthening our capability and investing in the people, technology and resources needed to continue providing the highest standard of aeromedical care to communities whenever and wherever they need us.”

The Australian Aviation Awards champion top-performing aviation professionals and offer recognition to airlines, airports, defence support businesses, and organisations that have implemented innovative initiatives.

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■ Background to our partnership, future plans
SkyDrive currently holds a cumulative total of 427 aircraft orders from partners in Japan and overseas (the order book includes pre-orders for 354 aircraft and basic purchase agreements for 73 aircraft). Outside Japan, the majority of these orders come from companies that already operate helicopters or charter aircraft and are therefore already in possession of the air operator’s certificate (AOC) required for aircraft operations.

The situation is different in Japan, where SkyDrive has received large numbers of orders from rail companies and other parties that do not currently hold an AOC (*2). As such, to expand the range of its operations and grow the eVTOL market in Japan, SkyDrive intends to contract companies with significant operational and maintenance experience to support the commercial operations of our aircraft, ensuring a safe, smooth, and reliable service launch. This first MoU with JBZ, a company with deep expertise in the field of business aircraft operations, is an agreement to move forward with concrete discussions on how these arrangements will be organized and implemented.

■ Details of this new MoU
Under the MoU, both parties agree to discuss:
● The development of aircraft ownership and operations schemes, determining the respective roles played by SkyDrive, JBZ, and aircraft buyers.
● The development of a roadmap proposing a specific time frame for entry into service and other future plans.

■ Next Steps
SkyDrive will work together with JBZ and other future operations partners to ensure that parties purchasing SkyDrive aircraft can do so with complete confidence. This will allow strategic partners in all industries to own and generate revenue from SkyDrive aircraft, speeding the adoption of eVTOL technology across Japan.

■ Comments from the parties to the MoU
SkyDrive Inc. CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa
“I am delighted that we have been able to sign this MoU with JBZ, a specialist operator of business aircraft, including rotorcraft. The strategy of helping players from various industries purchase and fly eVTOL is a core part of our efforts to ensure widespread uptake of eVTOL technology and promote the use of our aircraft across Japan. Together with JBZ, we will build safe, robust and reliable flight operations frameworks that will deliver the new experience of advanced air mobility to the public as soon as possible.”

Shin Koizumi, Representative Director, Japan Biz Aviation Co., Ltd.
“We at JBZ are extremely honored to have concluded this MoU with SkyDrive over the future operations of eVTOL aircraft in the Japanese market.  Our business, through the operation of aircraft including Honda Jets and Bell 429 helicopters, currently provides safety-first, high-value added mobility services that take into account the needs of the high-net worth individuals and other customers who entrust us with their aircraft.

We are working to promote business jet and helicopter charters as a new mobility option for travel around Japan. This MoU is an important additional step forward that further broadens our business scope, allowing us to apply the operational know-how developed through our ongoing businesses to the new fields of eVTOL and advanced air mobility.

The combination of SkyDrive’s technology and our operational knowledge will move us forward towards the goal of introducing advanced air mobility to passengers in Japan.”

The post SkyDrive signs eVTOL Operations MoU in Japan appeared first on HeliHub.com.

The Genesys Avionics Suite brings a modern, mission-focused cockpit to the Black Hawk, boosting operational effectiveness across tactical, transport and search-and-rescue missions. Key benefits include:

• Increased mission capabilities and redundancy including advanced situational awareness with Synthetic Vision, Hover-Hold, Helicopter Terrain Awareness & Warning System (HTAWS), TCAS traffic awareness, and ADS-B / FIS-B weather overlays.

• Reduced obsolescence and sustainment costs through modern, supportable electronics including replacement of the unreliable legacy gyros, improving dispatch reliability, reducing cost of ownership, and extending fleet life.

• Modernized operational and tactical capabilities enabled by integrated navigation, communications, and flight-management systems.

• Reduced pilot workload and improved safety with an IFR-approved 4-axis autopilot and full engine indicating and crew alerting system integration

Moog’s solution integrates proven mission-critical components designed for operational use and rapid installation including smart displays and vehicle management systems.

The post Portuguese Army picks Moog Avionics to update UH-60L Fleet appeared first on HeliHub.com.

India’s major cities face severe traffic congestion, creating significant challenges for time-critical medical logistics. By combining SkyDrive’s eVTOL technology, Air India’s operational expertise and Suzuki’s India market insight, the three companies will take on the challenge of realizing last-mile emergency medical logistics, contributing to the advancement of India’s medical infrastructure.

Comment by Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo of Air India Limited
“India is today one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing aviation markets, and we see advanced air mobility as a natural extension of the country’s transport ecosystem. This collaboration with SkyDrive and Suzuki reflects our shared ambition to explore 21st century solutions to address real-world challenges while shaping the future of mobility. The potential application of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics is particularly compelling because it combines technology and purpose, helping to reduce critical transit times when every minute can make a difference. We are pleased to contribute to this feasibility study with our operational expertise, airport infrastructure knowledge, and stakeholder relationships to help evaluate and develop a framework for safe, reliable, and scalable eVTOL operations.”

Comment by Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc.
“Since our founding, SkyDrive has been dedicated to transforming the future of transportation through the aerial mobility revolution. We are incredibly proud to partner with Air India and Suzuki to take a step toward medical logistics—a sector where every second counts and lives can be saved. In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilizing eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics—including the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies—will reshape medical infrastructure. We will work dedicatedly to contribute to saving as many lives as possible.”

Comment by Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager, Next Generation Business Development of Suzuki Motor Corporation
“The eVTOL aircraft being developed by SkyDrive, with which Suzuki is engaged in business and technology collaboration, represents a new form of mobility that embodies Suzuki’s philosophy of ‘Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi (Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater)’. We believe it has the potential to play a role in supporting medical infrastructure in urban areas.

Under our corporate slogan, ‘By Your Side,’ Suzuki will continue to provide diverse mobility options tailored to customers’ needs and contribute to regional development. By collaborating with a wide range of mobility companies, including SkyDrive and Air India, Suzuki aims to realize ‘infrastructure mobility closely connected with people’s lives.’”

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Known as “Phase 3.0,” the contract covers SPINE upgrades to 49 aircraft (21 UH-1Y, 28 AH-1Z) with work to be performed at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center starting mid-2027 with first deliveries of the upgraded H-1 units in 2028.

“Beginning SPINE Phase 3.0 emphasizes the importance of this essential modernization effort and enables the USMC H-1 fleet to remain competitive with current and future capabilities,” said Danielle Markham, program manager, Bell. “SPINE will enable H-1 operators and maintainers to implement the equipment and technology needed to keep the aircraft as a fully interoperable member of the modern joint force throughout the lifetime of the H-1 fleet.”

The SPINE program, formerly known as SIEPU, provides greater electrical power capacity for modern warfighting capabilities and improved ability to integrate next-gen technology for enhanced lethality and survivability. SPINE-equipped H-1s will address improvements toward:

• Advanced and scalable architecture supporting rapid integration of current and future technologies
• In addition to aircrew safety enhancements, UH-1Y mission kit improvements to the fast rope, hoist, and litter kit provide the ability to rapidly conduct personnel recovery while operating in austere environments
• A vital Series A capability that provides integration of net-enabled weapon systems and data links. (Series A: Improved defensive systems, digital interoperability, increased aircraft electrical power)

Equipped with more robust defensive systems, an advanced data bus, Link 16, and long-range net-enabled weapons, Series A Bell AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys will more effectively operate at altitudes and in environments exclusive to rotary wing platforms. Flying below radar resolution cells, the Viper and Venom will be undetectable to enemy radar while receiving target locations from Joint Force fixed wing assets that remain outside of the enemy’s missile range.

This combined arms approach will leverage the strengths of both U.S. rotary wing and fixed wing platforms allowing USMC H-1s to contribute to the maritime fight and Joint Force in ways previously unavailable to Combatant Commanders.

“H-1s are essential to maintaining attack, strike, and utility capabilities within the Marine Corps and they do this while providing a large volume of fires. We are very pleased to see this modernization effort take another leap forward,” said Col Jason Duke, Program Manager, PMA-276. “The SPINE program will provide a significant increase to overall H-1 electrical capability to optimize advanced battlefield technology and ensure the H-1 fleet will continue to be relevant into the 2040s.”

In the fall of 2025, Bell completed the first SPINE upgrade on one UH-1Y and one AH-1Z, and those aircraft were then sent to Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River for flight testing. The Phase 3.0 contract signals the start of fleet modification into this new configuration at Bell’s Amarillo facility, with aircraft to be fielded by the USMC in future efforts.

Bell’s effort to modify the H-1 aircraft began at the company’s Drives System Center (DSC) and Repair and Overhaul Center (ROC) and culminated in the first aircraft electrical and structural modifications that took place in Amarillo. Successful execution of this program is a result of years of work and collaboration between U.S. Government, Bell, and industry partners.

*The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.

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Joby’s aircraft is approaching commercial readiness. The company has flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft and entered the final stage of FAA type certification. Piloted flights across the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City have demonstrated its operational capability. As air taxis move from certification to early operations, the constraint will shift to the ground: aircraft will need places to land, charge, and connect passengers to the rest of their journey. Building that infrastructure rapidly, in the right locations, and at scale is expected to be the critical path to making electric flight part of daily life.

“Smart cities require innovative real estate and infrastructure development,” said Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO of Atoms. “As new transport modes and smart city services become available, designing and deploying a new asset class to support them is critical. We’re focused on serving city stakeholders with inspired, efficient buildouts that deliver great experiences for residents and communities alike.”

Atoms Real Estate builds smart city infrastructure for cities: power-intensive, complex deployments delivered by in-house architects, engineers, technology and construction teams. In this partnership with Joby, Atoms will develop vertiports as next-generation transportation hubs, where electric aircraft, autonomous ground vehicles, and ridesharing services will converge. The hubs will enable passenger connections, aircraft servicing, and last-mile ground transportation.

“Thoughtful urban planning can take a decade or more, and making electric flight part of everyday life will require a new generation of transportation hubs connecting aircraft, ground transportation, and communities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “As air taxis move closer to early commercial service in the U.S., the right infrastructure becomes increasingly important, not just where aircraft land and charge, but how cities embrace this new form of transportation. Atoms has a vision of building ambitious infrastructure projects that combine technology, operations, and customer experience, making them a natural partner for Joby.”

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To put these figures into context, Avincis’ firefighting flight hours across Spain, Portugal and Italy have increased by nearly 90% compared with the same period last year. In the process, its crews have dropped nearly 200 million litres of water—enough to fill nearly 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Together, these figures reflect the scale of one of Europe’s most challenging wildfire seasons in recent years and the growing demand placed on aerial firefighting operations across the continent.

As wildfire seasons become longer and more intense, Avincis is structured to provide a scalable aerial emergency response across Europe. The company continues to work closely with public authorities, civil protection bodies, fire and rescue services and other emergency organisations across Southern Europe. Globally, the company operates a firefighting fleet of around 70 aircraft, including 22 Canadair water bombers, enabling it to reinforce firefighting operations in Southern Europe as demand peaks throughout the season.

Across Spain, Portugal and Italy, Avincis operates a fully integrated response model, with pilots, engineers, maintenance technicians, operational teams and support personnel working together to keep aircraft mission-ready. From planning and maintenance to deployment and recovery, every mission is coordinated to ensure a safe, reliable and continuous response.

John Boag, Group CEO of Avincis, said:
“Wildfire seasons are becoming longer, and the pressure is being felt across the industry. Aircraft that once operated for three or four months during the summer are now required from as early as March through to October. This makes it more difficult to move aircraft and crews between regions, recruit experienced pilots and plan for a season that no longer has a clearly defined end point.

“Meeting this demand is not only about aircraft—it is about people. Our focus is on training our crews throughout the year and ensuring close coordination between firefighters on the ground and pilots in the air. That teamwork is what makes the difference when a fire breaks out.”

Spain and Portugal
So far this season, Avincis has logged 5,630 flight hours and 2,533 missions, dropping more than 120 million litres of water across the Iberian Peninsula.

Across the region, the company is currently operating 52 aircraft — a mixed fleet including the Canadair CL-215, Airbus AS332, Airbus AS350, Airbus AS355, Bell 212, Bell 407, Bell 412— supported by 266 professionals working across flight operations, engineering, maintenance and other technical and operational functions.

This combination of amphibious water bombers and different helicopter types give the operation the flexibility to manage crew rotations, scheduled inspections and maintenance requirements, while maintaining the level of aircraft availability required during periods of intense activity.

Italy
In Italy, Avincis operates with 279 professionals, who have completed 3,600 flight hours and 1,360 missions so far this season, dropping a total of 79.5 million litres of water.

To fight fires in Italy, the company operates 18 Canadair CL-415 aircraft on behalf of the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco, with fleet operational readiness at close to 100%. The CL-415 is purpose-built for aerial firefighting, able to collect water directly from suitable bodies of water before returning to the fire zone — a capability that demands close, continuous coordination between aircraft crews and ground teams.

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The Aichi Prefectural Police is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety, order, and security within Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Operating under the oversight of the National Police Agency, the force is tasked with crime prevention, traffic management, disaster response, and community policing.

This latest addition builds on a deep relationship between the Aichi Prefectural Police and Bell. The agency has relied on Bell aircraft for years, operating models such as the Bell 206 and Bell 412, and now welcomes the Bell 505 into its fleet.

“The Aichi Prefectural Police in Japan have a long-standing history with Bell, and it is our pleasure to accomplish this new milestone together,” said David Sale, managing director, Asia Pacific, Bell. “We are grateful for their trust and support throughout the years. The Bell 505 is versatile and capable for any challenge, and we are proud to see it chosen for such a wide variety of missions.”

The Bell 505 has established itself as a trusted platform for law enforcement and public security agencies. Combining advanced situational awareness technology with a spacious, adaptable cabin, the aircraft is well-suited to the demanding requirements of aerial policing — including surveillance, search and rescue, border patrol, and rapid deployment in emergency scenarios.

Introduced in 2014 and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2017, the Bell 505’s performance, reliability, and low maintenance profile have made it an increasingly popular selection for government and security operators seeking a modern, mission-ready helicopter. There are now more than 600 Bell 505s operating in more than 66 countries on six continents, surpassing 300,000 total fleet flight hours.

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“This collaboration joins a national leader in air medicine with a national healthcare leader in ground medicine,” says Air Methods Regional Sales Director Zach Nicholson. “Having two organizations that continue to push themselves to enhance treatment options will ensure that our shared patients receive the best possible care from industry-leading clinicians, regardless of where they are located in Georgia or surrounding states.”

The Kennesaw base is staffed by Air Methods’ highly trained pilots, clinicians, and mechanics. The new aircraft will be large enough to transport Emory Healthcare specialty teams throughout the region, as well as carry specialized medical equipment, including baby pods for infant transports and large equipment to support complex cardiac patient transports. Crews will also carry blood products for in-flight administration of patients experiencing severe blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock.

“The addition of Emory Flight 1 represents an important investment in how we connect patients to the specialized care they need throughout the region,” says Heather Brooks, RN, BSN, senior vice president of the Emory Healthcare Capacity Command Center. “As Emory Healthcare continues to expand access to advanced services across Georgia, this aircraft strengthens our ability to rapidly transport critically ill patients, deploy specialty care teams and support time-sensitive interventions. Through our collaboration with Air Methods, we are enhancing our capacity to deliver the highest level of care while improving access for the communities we serve.”

The aircraft will also act as an extension of Emory Healthcare’s industry-leading Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program, the most advanced form of life support for individuals with heart or lung failure. Air Methods clinicians are trained to care for patients needing ECMO treatment and will work with Emory Healthcare’s ECMO team to expand that coverage beyond traditional healthcare settings.

The collaboration returns the Emory Flight brand to the community after Air Methods and Emory Healthcare previously operated co-branded bases in Griffin, Jefferson, and Cartersville. In addition to the Emory Flight base in Kennesaw, Air Methods will continue to operate AirLife Georgia bases in Griffin, Cornelia, Jasper, Newnan, Covington, and Blairsville. Air Methods also has Lifestar-branded bases in Springfield and Hinesville.

AirLife Georgia’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by its Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accreditation—the highest standards in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry. The program is equipped to provide ICU-level care in flight, including the ability to administer blood either in the air or at the scene of an accident.

In addition to providing high-quality critical care, AirLife Georgia is in-network with most major insurance providers. Its patient advocacy program also works directly with patients and families, regardless of insurance status, to ensure access to care remains affordable and stress-free. Prepaid memberships are not required.

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Omni operates approximately 88 helicopters worldwide, with the AW139 representing a significant portion of that fleet. The decision to upgrade every AW139 aircraft — rather than a subset — reflects the operator’s confidence in the RDR-7000’s ability to strengthen pilot decision-making in demanding offshore conditions, where weather can change quickly and diversion options are limited.

“Safety is the foundation of everything we do at Omni, and that starts with giving our pilots the clearest possible picture of what’s ahead,” said Roberto Coimbra, CEO of Omni Taxi Aereo. “Upgrading our entire AW139 fleet with Honeywell Aerospace’s radar technology is an investment in our crews, our passengers and the long-term reliability of our operations. It reflects the kind of partnership we look for: one that helps us operate with confidence, mission after mission.”

The RDR-7000 gives pilots earlier, clearer warning of hazardous weather — including turbulence, hail, lightning and wind shear — by continuously scanning the atmosphere and building a real-time picture of conditions along the flight path. Independent testing has shown the system can help predict turbulence with up to 93% accuracy, giving pilots more time to adjust course and reduce the likelihood of a turbulence-related incident by more than half.

“When it comes to offshore helicopter operations, it’s about giving pilots better information, sooner,” said Jose Vincius, senior regional sales manager, Honeywell Aerospace. “Omni’s decision to upgrade its entire AW139 fleet is a strong vote of confidence in what this technology can do for pilot situational awareness, mission reliability and the safety of everyone on board.”

Because the RDR-7000 operates automatically — without requiring pilots to continually adjust settings mid-flight — it also reduces pilot workload during high-tempo operations, freeing crews to focus on the mission rather than managing the radar. Software features can be enabled remotely via an “over-the-air” update as they become available, helping keep Omni’s fleet current without additional downtime. For an operator running scheduled offshore missions on tight windows, that translates into fewer weather-related delays, higher aircraft availability and a more predictable maintenance schedule.

The system’s 3D volumetric scanning approach also allows it to distinguish between overlapping storm systems — including weather hidden behind a closer storm front — giving pilots a more complete view than conventional radar, which typically scans only a portion of the sky. Under optimal conditions, the RDR-7000 can scan out to 320 nautical miles, though real-world detection range varies with atmospheric conditions and aircraft altitude.

The RDR-7000 is compatible with a wide range of aircraft platforms beyond the AW139. To learn more, visit Honeywell Aerospace’s IntuVue RDR-7000 product page.

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The EASA approved stainless steel cargo basket product line is available in multiple configurations, with options providing up to 500 lbs of cargo capacity and up to 22 cubic feet of cargo volume.

“We are building several different stainless-steel Cargo Baskets with a variety of features based on the operator’s mission,” said Jeff Yarnold, VP of Operations at BOOST Systems. “Our goal is to give operators practical, certified solutions that improve the capabilities of their aircraft.”

“Our most recent value-added product for the cargo baskets is our Starlink Mount,” said Yarnold. “This solution enhances what we can offer operators in the field. With this capability, crews can integrate approved Starlink connectivity into their aircraft, providing enhanced real-time communication, data access, and overall mission effectiveness.”

The EASA approval represents another milestone in BOOST Systems’ expanding portfolio of certified helicopter mission equipment and strengthens the company’s ability to support operators worldwide.

BOOST Systems is a global leader in fully certified Human External Cargo (HEC) Systems and continues to develop a growing range of next-generation mission equipment for helicopter operators.

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The R88 is a heavy-duty asset for operators who need reliability in tough environments. With a 10-seat capacity and a 3,000-pound internal payload, it fills the gap between light singles and expensive twins without the overhead.

R88 Specifications & Capability

• Capacity: 10 seats (2 pilots + 8 passengers).
• Powerplant: Safran Arriel 2W turboshaft engine (approx. +950 shp)
• Payload: More than 2,800 lbs (1,270 kg) internal
• Endurance: More than 3.5+ hours of flight time.
• Range: Over 350 nautical miles.
• Utility Features: “Truck-bed style” fold-down rear door for HEMS stretcher loading or bulky cargo, and a 275-cubic-foot cabin with a flat floor.

“Bringing the R88 to South America, and specifically Brazil, is a major milestone for Robinson. Brazil is one of our most vital global markets, driven by operators who demand hard-working, versatile aircraft across agribusiness, utility work, and corporate transport,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “The R88 provides a 10-seat platform with the payload and multi-mission flexibility they need, combined with the low operating cost per hour, straightforward maintenance, and proven reliability that define the Robinson brand.”

Robinson Leadership at LABACE 2026

Robinson executives will be on-site to engage with the Latin American aviation community and discuss the future of the R88:

• David Smith, President and CEO
• Robyn Eagles, VP of Marketing and Communications

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At 03:51 BST on 20 July 2026, the starter accelerated Prototype No. 1 to 15% N1 and the engine fired. During its first self-sustaining run, Prototype No. 1 reached 55% N1 and operated stably at commanded speed for five minutes, with no issues observed during the run.

The GT50 thus becomes the first clean-sheet helicopter turboshaft independently developed by a British manufacturer to achieve a first engine run since the Rolls-Royce Gem did so in 1969.

The result moves GT50 into the next phase of engine testing for the HX50 helicopter programme.

Before introducing fuel and ignition, the team checked the engine’s supporting systems and completed starter-driven cold-crank tests. Prototype No. 1 was extensively instrumented to measure temperatures, pressures, rotational speeds, flow rates and vibration throughout the test programme.

GT50 Prototype No. 1 comprises 438 complex precision parts, with its manufacture involving 71,668 machining and production operations.

Hill’s published design targets for GT50 include 400 hp maximum continuous power, 440 hp take-off power for five minutes at up to 10,000 ft and ISA +15°C, and 500 hp emergency power for 30 seconds. The engine has a target weight of 100 kg, target fuel consumption of 35 US gallons per hour at maximum continuous power, and a published TBO target of 5,000 hours or 20,000 cycles, on condition. Its planned production control architecture is a dual-channel Hill FADEC with manual reversion.

‘GT50 is born. It works. It sounds amazing. After four intense months manufacturing components, building and instrumenting the first engine and developing the test cell, GT50 took its first breath. We have taken the idea of making a new aircraft and engine that could change everything and dragged it kicking and screaming into vivid reality. Our team made this happen.’

— Jason Hill, Founder and Chief Engineer, Hill Helicopters

Two members of Hill’s engine team reflected on the result:

‘When the engine lit and accelerated away, I was absolutely ecstatic — and slightly numb as well. I could not believe that it had gone so well. The mood after the engine became self-sustaining was one of quiet satisfaction mixed with elation.’

— Steve Hill, Chief Engine Aerodynamicist, Hill Helicopters

‘We approached the first run conservatively, beginning with the supporting systems and starter-driven cold-crank tests before introducing fuel and ignition. Seeing the engine light and then become self-sustaining was an incredible moment.’

— Eric Welch, Chief Electrical Engineer and Avionics, Hill Helicopters

Hill will now run GT50 across its full speed range, conduct acceleration and deceleration ramps, and collect the data needed to map the full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) and develop the automatic-start sequence.

At the centre of the programme is Hill Helicopters’ Production Centre One (PC1) in Stafford, where design, development, production and assembly functions are brought together. PC1 supports Hill’s vertically integrated approach: developing the HX50, GT50 engine and Hill Digital Cockpit as one programme while bringing critical component development and manufacturing capability in-house.

The GT50 first run is one step on Hill’s road to what it calls General Aviation 2.0, an end-to-end approach to aircraft development and ownership intended to make personal aviation more attainable and better supported.

An HX50 Update & AMA focused on the GT50 first run will be livestreamed on Hill Helicopters’ YouTube channel at 17:00 BST on 5 August 2026. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage and first-hand reflections from the team, the programme follows the GT50 through manufacture, assembly and testing to its first self-sustaining run. It will remain available to watch here:

About Hill Helicopters

Based in Stafford, United Kingdom, Hill Helicopters is developing the HX50, a clean-sheet, five-seat private helicopter for personal aviation, together with its purpose-designed GT50 turboshaft and Hill Digital Cockpit. The company is integrating aircraft, engine and cockpit development within a single programme. For more information, visit www.hillhelicopters.com.

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Midnight covered each leg of the journey in roughly nine minutes, a trip that can take ~35+ minutes by car, demonstrating the kind of short, time-saving hops the aircraft was built to fly.

“This roundtrip journey is exactly the kind of route we plan to fly with Midnight under the eIPP and in LA during the Olympic Games,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “This mission provides a template for us to replicate with our partners across Texas, Florida and New York as we get ready for eIPP operations later this year.”

As part of its broader eIPP efforts, Archer is working closely with the FAA, federal, state and local partners to establish the procedures, infrastructure and local operational capabilities needed to support future commercial air taxi operations. That work also supports preparations in Los Angeles, where Archer will serve as the Official Air Taxi Provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.

Archer’s Midnight air taxi is designed to enable passengers to replace 60-90 minute trips on the ground with quiet, all-electric flights, dramatically reducing travel times compared to traditional ground transportation and helping avoid growing levels of congestion.

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SkyDrive sees opportunities for growth in Indonesia due to a combination of factors which affect standards of living and productivity in both urban and rural areas. The Jakarta metropolitan area experiences annual economic losses from traffic congestion estimated at approximately 65 trillion rupiah (*2). Both the mining industry (a major industry in various Indonesian regions accounting in total for approximately 10% of regional GDP (*3)) and Indonesia’s vast agricultural plantations (which exceed 15 million hectares in area (*4)) are affected by logistics and disaster response delays resulting from underdeveloped infrastructure.

At the above event, SkyDrive exhibited a full-scale mockup of the “SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive Model SD-05)” outside Japan for the first time, presenting the attendees with various proposals for specific practical eVTOL applications aimed at resolving the social challenges Indonesia is working to resolve.

■The History of Cooperation between SkyDrive and Whitesky
SkyDrive and Whitesky entered a strategic alliance for the launch of eVTOL operations in Indonesia back in August 2025 (*5). Since then, both parties have been working together to discuss the future of the business and develop specific business plans.

The cooperation between the two companies began with a focus on resolving the extreme chronic traffic problems that currently affect quality of life in Jakarta. One specific issue caused by congestion is the slow speed of road travel between Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the city center. As Whitesky runs the Cengkareng Heliport, conveniently located next to the airport, air taxi services between the airport and the city center formed a natural starting point for discussions on the future feasibility of urban eVTOL routes.

Talks between SkyDrive and Whitesky on alleviating urban traffic congestion were followed by further investigations into the potential role of eVTOL in supporting the mining and agricultural industries that play such an important role in driving the sustainable development of Indonesia’s economy.

While natural resource mining is a key industry on Indonesian islands including Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra, mining sites are frequently located in areas with limited road infrastructure leading to logistical inefficiencies and delays in providing medical treatment to the victims of the industrial accidents in these areas, which may occur as frequently as a few times per week.

Alongside mining, both companies are also investigating potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector due to the huge size of Indonesia’s many agricultural plantations. While drones are currently used for spotting forest fires and wide-ranging surveillance patrols, the large distances involved can limit effective drone deployment.

As talks between SkyDrive and Whitesky moved beyond urban air taxi services to encompass eVTOL services for regional industries, it became clear that eVTOLs offer potential for reduced operating costs and lower environmental impact in both scenarios. With this in mind, the current event was held to build momentum towards specific eVTOL usage cases in these fields.

■Proposed Use Cases
Following initial discussions focusing on the usage of eVTOL aircraft for urban air taxi services, SkyDrive and Whitesky are now moving forward with concrete investigations into eVTOL applications in various major regional industries as described below.

１．Urban air taxi services in and around metropolitan Jakarta
Rapid transit services, which can avoid urban traffic congestion, for passengers travelling between Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and central Jakarta, including the nearby smart city.

２．Mining industry applications on the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra
Services for mining sites that require long car or bus journeys due to poor road access. These services may include shuttle services for engineers and other employees travelling to mining sites, and provision of emergency medical services equivalent to medical helicopter services, as required in response to industrial accidents and natural disasters.

３．Applications within large scale palm oil, paper and sugar plantations
Site monitoring and patrol services, as required by the owners and operators of large agricultural plantations. Maximum flight distance limits the effectiveness of drone surveillance of extremely large plantations. eVTOLs can also play a role in rapidly detecting and tackling the forest fires that frequently affect plantations, particularly in the dry season.

Currently, conventional helicopters are used to provide some of the above services. Switching these helicopters to eVTOLs will allow for lower operating costs, fewer emissions, and quieter operations.

■Event Summary

●　Event dates: June 23, 2026 (Tue.) – June 24, 2026 (Wed.)
●　Venue: Cengkareng Heliport, Jakarta, Indonesia
●　Major participants
・Indonesian government officials from the ministries responsible for transport, economy, trade and industry
・Major mining companies
・Representatives of major agricultural plantations
・Representatives of the aerospace industry

At the event, senior representatives of the Indonesian government and private sector companies were able to experience first-hand the size and comfort of a mockup of the SKYDRIVE (SD-05), which was on exhibit outside Japan for the first time. SkyDrive was able to confirm the strong level of interest among attendees over the respective roles that the aircraft can play in Indonesia’s urban and rural areas. Some attendees shared enthusiastic feedback, noting: “The diverse range of potential business cases within Indonesia provides ample opportunity for the future introduction of SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft, with potential applications including shuttle operations for mining companies, land surveillance for large agricultural holdings, and avoidance of traffic congestion in urban areas” and “we can see great potential in the aircraft as an economic alternative to helicopters and also as a means to create new industrial value through advanced technology”.

■Comments
Mr. Muhammad Neil El Himam, Deputy Chairman for Digital and Technology Creativity at The Ministry of Creative Economy/Agency for Creative Economy:
The next-generation Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and eVTOL technologies developed by SkyDrive represent a ‘new face’ that brings innovation to our creative economy. We are confident that the introduction of SkyDrive’s advanced technology will go beyond a mere evolution in transportation, creating immense economic value through new intellectual property and specialized jobs. For Indonesia to become a nation capable of developing and managing new technologies, it is essential for global companies like SkyDrive and local partners to unite in building a ‘complete ecosystem’ through industry-academia-government collaboration. We welcome and will strongly support SkyDrive’s continuous challenge to propel the future of mobility.

Mr. Sokhib Al Rokhman, S.SiT., S.T., M.T.,
Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia
Our country welcomes new technologies in next-generation mobility, and we highly evaluate the initiatives taken by private sectors. While there will be absolutely no compromise on aviation safety and security, we are prepared to flexibly advance our regulatory framework. This includes utilizing existing structures and providing multiple airports as regulatory sandboxes for demonstration trials. To facilitate the introduction of foreign-made aircraft such as SkyDrive, we hope to conclude an agreement on the type certification validation process with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in the future to ensure smooth cooperation. In alignment with the company’s plan to launch commercial operations as early as 2029, we will fully commit ourselves over the next three years to developing the necessary regulations for safe commercial operations.

■Future Developments
Through this event, SkyDrive and Whitesky gathered data on potential eVTOL applications in various industries, including the transportation of personnel and goods, emergency medical services, and land surveillance. This data will be harnessed for the various feasibility tests required to prepare for commercialization. Both companies will   also work together, through public-private cooperation with the Indonesian government, to develop the processes required for the certification of eVTOL aircraft in Indonesia. The first step toward commercial services in Indonesia is to prepare the infrastructure and operational systems needed to support commercial eVTOL flights in the mining areas in Kalimantan and urban air taxi services in and around Jakarta.

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As the electric aviation industry moves toward commercial operations, charging infrastructure is emerging as one of the critical technologies needed to make high-frequency electric flight commercially and financially viable.

Led by Vertical in partnership with the University of Bath along with engineering technology and consulting firm InnCat Ltd., the ECLiPSE project will develop innovative charging and liquid-cooling technologies designed to reduce infrastructure costs, accelerate site integration and enable faster aircraft turnaround, helping unlock the next generation of zero-emission aviation.

Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, during which Vertical demonstrated the show’s first eVTOL flights, the project has been selected for funding through the UK Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator programme and represents a total investment of approximately £3.4 million, including up to £1.75 million in government funding, subject to completion of the grant agreement. The funding forms part of a wider UK Government £43 million package for next-generation aviation technology.

In a major vote of confidence for the technology, new government-backed research from the University of Birmingham has recently found that flying taxis could improve connectivity, support economic growth and help deliver cleaner aviation across the UK.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “To unlock commercial electric aviation, the industry needs the infrastructure that allows aircraft to recharge quickly, operate efficiently and scale economically. Through ECLiPSE, we’re making electric flight operational and commercially viable, while strengthening the UK’s leadership in next-generation aerospace innovation.”

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “The next generation of flight is taking off in the UK. By powering up electric and hydrogen-powered planes, we’re bringing passengers closer to the flights of the future – while creating skilled jobs, backing UK businesses and spreading economic growth to all 4 corners of the country. We’re working hand in hand with industry to cut emissions, drive innovation, and ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world to build, test and fly the aircraft of tomorrow.”

The ECLiPSE project will integrate advanced high-power charging and thermal management technologies that are expected to improve charging performance while reducing system size, installation complexity and long-term operating costs. By increasing charging power and improving thermal management, the programme aims to make electric aircraft operations more commercially attractive for operators while accelerating deployment of charging infrastructure.

The technologies developed through the programme are also expected to have applications across the wider transport sector as electrification continues to expand.

The announcement builds on longstanding UK Government support for Vertical through programmes including the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), the Future Flight Challenge and now the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator programme. In addition, Vertical announced this week that they are in advanced discussions with the UK Government on a broad package to anchor the first of Vertical’s planned global full-production sites in the UK. The package includes a further grant of up to £10 million ($13.5 million), bringing total direct UK Government funding support to approximately £48 million ($64 million).

Vertical is developing not only its Valo electric aircraft but also helping build the broader ecosystem required to support commercial electric flight. Alongside recent strategic agreements across aircraft systems, hybrid-electric propulsion and defence applications, the ECLiPSE programme expands Vertical’s capabilities into charging infrastructure, an increasingly important element of the future advanced air mobility value chain.

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The Arriel 2K underwent its first bench tests in 2022 and made its maiden flight on the AW09 in March 2023. Since then, it has accumulated more than 4100 hours of testing, including over 600 hours in flight. Ground tests were carried out at the Safran Helicopter Engines site in Bordes, as well as at the DGA testing center in Saclay, near Paris which included icing and endurance tests.

“The certification of the Arriel 2K marks another defining step towards the entry into service of the AW09. All the teams at Safran Helicopter Engines are ready to support Leonardo and its customers in bringing this brand-new helicopter into service”, said Cédric Goubet, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO.

The Arriel 2K is a new variant of the Arriel 2 family of engines, in the 1,000 shp power class. It features an engine interface optimized for the AW09 and has been designed around a proven and robust gas generator comprising a two-stage compressor (one axial stage and one centrifugal stage) that delivers high compressor efficiency in a particularly compact package. The annular combustion chamber ensures clean and efficient fuel combustion. The Arriel 2K is also equipped with a dual-channel FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) and an EACB (Engine Auxiliary Control Box), which reduces the pilot’s workload.

AW09 operators will benefit from Safran Helicopter Engines global support network and its complete service offer, including advanced digital services such as health monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities. These services maximize engine availability and reduce operating costs.

Arriel is Safran’s best-selling family of helicopter engines, with more than 15,500 units produced for over 40 different helicopter types. With more than 66 million flight hours, the Arriel engine has earned a high level of trust among helicopter operators and has become the benchmark for light helicopter engines. In terms of reliability, durability and operability, the Arriel has established itself as the benchmark in our industry.

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The simulation is one of the latest milestones under Wisk and NASA’s five-year Non-Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (NRSAA), focused on advancing autonomous aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in the National Airspace System (NAS).

The simulations were executed by connecting Wisk’s Autonomy Lab in Mountain View, CA, with NASA’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulation laboratories, Future Flight Central, at Ames Research Center. The two-story facility provides a 360-degree, full-scale airport simulation environment. Testing took place along flight paths in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, specifically following predetermined IFR routes between Moffett Federal Airfield (KNUQ) and San Martin Airport (E16).

The human-in/over-the-loop simulation, which featured air traffic controllers communicating with Wisk’s supervisors, evaluated a series of complex nominal and contingency scenarios developed jointly by Wisk and NASA. This activity is designed not only to practice standardized procedures under normal conditions, but also to test Wisk’s methodology against multiple contingencies. By evaluating performance during worst-case scenarios, Wisk assessed how the methodology remains resilient and capable of supporting scalable operations.

“This is an incredible milestone for Wisk as it’s the first time we’ve tested our 1:3 supervisor-to-aircraft ratio with NASA in a high-fidelity, high-workload environment that mirrors the complexity of the National Airspace System,” said Erick Corona, Head of System and Operations Integration. “Wisk is doing more than building an autonomous aircraft. We are working closely with organizations like NASA to mature and modernize the broader aviation ecosystem. Proving that a single ground-based supervisor can manage multiple flights safely and efficiently is paramount to making commercial air taxi operations scalable and affordable. We are deeply grateful to the NASA team for their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to this project.”

The campaign utilized Wisk’s Remote Supervision System and autonomous systems to manage navigation and communication seamlessly. The teams captured precise data on communication response time, task latency, situation awareness, and cognitive workload using NASA’s Task Load Index and the Bedford Workload Scale.

Data and findings generated from these joint exercises will help inform standardized communication and procedures to reduce both ATC and pilot workloads, laying the foundation for future policy framework on how communication can be streamlined and eventually digitized (e.g., Automated Flight Rules). Wisk and NASA will continue to collaborate on joint studies and campaigns around autonomous integration in the NAS. By demonstrating that autonomous flight with human oversight can safely handle complex air traffic coordination scenarios, Wisk has taken an important step toward making safe autonomous air travel an everyday reality.

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Historic Public Flight Demonstrations

The week began with Vertical making history by completing the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) transition flight demonstration at the Farnborough International Airshow. The aircraft successfully transitioned from vertical take-off to wing-borne flight before returning to a vertical landing, showcasing how it will operate in real world environments without the need for a runway. Vertical continued successful demonstration flights throughout the week in front of tens of thousands of visitors.

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “This week at Farnborough showed that electric aviation is moving from promise to progress. From our historic public transition flight to new customers, partnerships and government support, we’ve demonstrated that commercialising a new class of aircraft takes more than breakthrough technology – it takes an ecosystem. We’re proud to be helping build that ecosystem and bringing the future of flight closer to reality.”

UK Government Support and Industrialisation

Alongside the piloted flight demonstrations, Vertical announced it is in advanced discussions with the UK Government on a package of support worth up to £10 million ($13.5 million) to establish its first full-scale production facilities in the UK, highlighting the UK’s commitment to building a world-leading advanced air mobility industry. During the week, the new Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, visited Vertical’s stand and attended a demonstration flight.

The Company’s manufacturing plans are intended to support future production scale-up as Vertical moves from flight testing toward certification and entry into service. During the week, Vertical also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UK Export Finance to explore future export and customer financing support as the Company scales production and serves international markets.

This government momentum, was further expanded with the announcement of a £3.4 million UK Government backed ECLiPSE programme led by Vertical Aerospace to develop next-generation charging and thermal management technologies for electric aircraft.

Defence and Autonomous Capabilities

Vertical also continued to expand its autonomous defence capabilities through its partnership with Near Earth Autonomy, while the Ministry of Defence confirmed its interest in the Company’s eVTOL, hybrid-electric and autonomous technologies, with ongoing engagement to explore future dual-use applications.

Ecosystem and Global Partnerships

Beyond technology and industrialisation, Vertical continued to build the ecosystem needed to bring electric aviation into commercial service. This included:

• Joining Honeywell Aerospace’s Project VERTI-GO, a major European initiative to help safely integrate eVTOL aircraft into shared airspace – Europe’s equivalent of the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
• Signing of separate new customer agreements with Sigma Air Mobility, an advanced air mobility operator and member of the Luxaviation Group, and with VIC Properties to explore premium urban air mobility services in Portugal.
• A strategic regulatory collaboration with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and a separate MoU with Cluster2 Airports Company, a leading Saudi airport operator.

Path to Certification and Entry into Service

Vertical’s Farnborough announcements build on continued progress toward certification of its Valo aircraft and its target of achieving Type Certification in 2029. The company is advancing through a structured flight‑test and design‑approval programme, using piloted full-scale prototypes to de-risk the path to certification.

In parallel, Vertical is investing in UK manufacturing and battery facilities and working closely with regulators, air navigation service providers, and infrastructure partners to ensure Valo can be safely integrated into existing airspace and operated under emerging eVTOL rules. This combined focus on technology, regulation, and industrial readiness is designed to support a smooth path from certification to commercial entry into service on key urban and airport‑shuttle routes.

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The aircraft will be equipped with advanced mission systems that will significantly enhance their capabilities for border and maritime patrol, surveillance, and search and rescue operations. The upgrades will improve situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and mission response capability, enabling crews to perform their duties more safely and efficiently.

This project further strengthens the successful partnership between BAM and Trakka Systems in delivering advanced airborne mission solutions for public safety and government operators.

The Contract is financed by the Cohesion Fund project (2021-2027.2.03.23-0017), “Increasing Maritime Rescue Capability”, and co-financed by the Estonian state budget.

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The FIREHAWK, a purpose‑built variant of the BLACK HAWK ^® helicopter, will enable the Czech Republic to launch rapid, all‑weather suppression missions from its home base and, through the European Commission’s RescEU program, extend support to neighboring nations confronting ever‑intensifying wildfire seasons.

Beyond the immediate tactical benefit, the program underscores Europe’s strategic move toward self‑reliant, high‑technology defense and civil‑security capabilities. The aircraft will be a permanent asset of the RescEU pool, enabling rapid cross‑border deployment whenever wildfire, flood or earthquake emergencies arise.

“This production start is more than a manufacturing milestone; it is the first concrete step toward a continent‑wide, modern aerial firefighting network,” said Dr. Dennis Goege, vice president and chief executive for Europe, Lockheed Martin. “By delivering proven technology from a European supply chain, we are giving European communities a decisive tool to protect lives, property and ecosystems.”

The program illustrates a seamless collaboration among PZL Mielec, ČLS and U.S.-based United Rotorcraft, who will be expanding its capabilities into the Czech Republic. The team at PZL Mielec’s state‑of‑the‑art facility in Poland assembles each BLACK HAWK airframe with the support of more than 1,200 local suppliers, sustaining roughly 5,000 jobs across the EU. United Rotorcraft will integrate mission‑specific firefighting equipment, conduct crew training and provide long‑term sustainment, ensuring that the Czech operators receive a turnkey solution that mirrors the operational maturity relied upon by U.S. agencies including CAL FIRE, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department and others.

“PZL Mielec has a long history of delivering aircraft that serve both national security and public safety missions,” said Janusz Zakręcki, PZL Mielec president and general director. “The launch of production for the Czech Republic’s FIREHAWK aircraft reinforces our role as a key European manufacturing center and highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing natural disasters and emergency response challenges.”

“The Czech Republic is not merely buying helicopters; it is pioneering Europe’s first operational FIREHAWK capability,” said Monika Kowalczykova, chief executive officer of Česká letecká servisní. “Our partnership brings world‑class, multi‑mission aircraft to a region that faces increasingly severe wildfire threats, and it sets a benchmark that other European operators can follow.”

“The FIREHAWK’s proven performance in the toughest U.S. fire seasons gives us confidence that it will excel in Europe’s diverse terrain and weather,” said United Rotorcraft vice president of strategy and business development Jeanette Eaton. “We are sending a team to the Czech Republic to install the firefighting kit, water tanks and additional search‑and‑rescue equipment, ensuring the aircraft are mission‑ready from day one.”

Each FIREHAWK is equipped with a 1,000‑gallon (3,785 L) water tank, retractable snorkel, twin engines and night‑vision capability – advantages that have proven decisive in the most demanding wildfires across the United States.

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The simulator, based on the iconic Bell 214ST helicopter, stands out for its unique, highly customized cockpit configuration. Since there are very few operating units of this heavy-lift single-engine aircraft left globally, entrol has approached this project as a bespoke development. This milestone positions entrol as an agile technology partner capable of custom-building flight training devices (FTDs) tailored perfectly to the artisan requirements of specialized operators.

Advanced mission simulation for fire-fighting and cargo training

The configuration delivered to McDermott Aviation goes beyond standard flight training. By incorporating Mixed Reality (MR) goggles, the simulator enables highly immersive training for complex operations—allowing pilots to interact naturally with the physical cockpit controls while being fully immersed in a high-fidelity virtual environment.

For aerial firefighting and cargo training, entrol has developed a dedicated Mission Scenarios Package powered by Unreal Engine IG. The database features 5 specific elevated helipads, as well as an additional option of 10 specific airports and heliports. This allows crews to practice water drops, heavy lifting, and approaches in real-world tactical environments, recognizing terrain and operational obstacles with unprecedented precision.

“As we progress the McDermott 214ST program, our focus extends beyond the aircraft itself. We’re building a complete support ecosystem that includes training, engineering, maintenance and operational capability for current and future operators,” states John McDermott, president at McDermott Aviation. “The addition of the Entrol simulator is an important part of that commitment. It will provide a highly realistic training environment that supports pilot familiarisation, recurrent training and operational readiness, while reflecting the modern avionics and systems being incorporated into the next generation of the McDermott 214ST platform.”

Having spent decades operating and maintaining these aircraft in some of the world’s most demanding environments, McDermott understands the importance of investing in the tools and technology that support safe and effective operations. “Our goal is to provide operators with not only a proven heavy-lift helicopter platform, but also the training and support infrastructure required to maximise capability, safety and long-term operational success,” John McDermott adds.

Bell 214ST FTD Level 7 technical specifications

The device features an advanced enwall LED visual system, ensuring total immersion during all flight phases. Additional technical specifications include:

• Advanced flight training capabilities: simulator fully optimized for high-level firefighting and heavy-lift cargo operations.
• Flight dynamics and realism: integrated cockpit vibration system to replicate the precise tactile sensations of the Bell 214ST helicopter.
• Data analysis and debriefing: advanced debriefing station alongside an iPad with remote IOS for in-depth post-mission reviews, optimizing the qualitative learning of the pilot.

With this project, entrol reaffirms its commitment to the Asia-Pacific market and its ability to deliver customized, bespoke solutions that meet the real-world needs of special mission operators worldwide.

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SkyDrive sees opportunities for growth in Indonesia due to a combination of factors which affect standards of living and productivity in both urban and rural areas. The Jakarta metropolitan area experiences annual economic losses from traffic congestion estimated at approximately 65 trillion rupiah (*2). Both the mining industry (a major industry in various Indonesian regions accounting in total for approximately 10% of regional GDP (*3)) and Indonesia’s vast agricultural plantations (which exceed 15 million hectares in area (*4)) are affected by logistics and disaster response delays resulting from underdeveloped infrastructure.

At the above event, SkyDrive exhibited a full-scale mockup of the “SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive Model SD-05)” outside Japan for the first time, presenting the attendees with various proposals for specific practical eVTOL applications aimed at resolving the social challenges Indonesia is working to resolve.

The History of Cooperation between SkyDrive and Whitesky

SkyDrive and Whitesky entered a strategic alliance for the launch of eVTOL operations in Indonesia back in August 2025 (*5). Since then, both parties have been working together to discuss the future of the business and develop specific business plans.

The cooperation between the two companies began with a focus on resolving the extreme chronic traffic problems that currently affect quality of life in Jakarta. One specific issue caused by congestion is the slow speed of road travel between Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the city center. As Whitesky runs the Cengkareng Heliport, conveniently located next to the airport, air taxi services between the airport and the city center formed a natural starting point for discussions on the future feasibility of urban eVTOL routes.

Talks between SkyDrive and Whitesky on alleviating urban traffic congestion were followed by further investigations into the potential role of eVTOL in supporting the mining and agricultural industries that play such an important role in driving the sustainable development of Indonesia’s economy.

While natural resource mining is a key industry on Indonesian islands including Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra, mining sites are frequently located in areas with limited road infrastructure leading to logistical inefficiencies and delays in providing medical treatment to the victims of the industrial accidents in these areas, which may occur as frequently as a few times per week.

Alongside mining, both companies are also investigating potential for cooperation in the agricultural sector due to the huge size of Indonesia’s many agricultural plantations. While drones are currently used for spotting forest fires and wide-ranging surveillance patrols, the large distances involved can limit effective drone deployment.

As talks between SkyDrive and Whitesky moved beyond urban air taxi services to encompass eVTOL services for regional industries, it became clear that eVTOLs offer potential for reduced operating costs and lower environmental impact in both scenarios. With this in mind, the current event was held to build momentum towards specific eVTOL usage cases in these fields.

Proposed Use Cases

Following initial discussions focusing on the usage of eVTOL aircraft for urban air taxi services, SkyDrive and Whitesky are now moving forward with concrete investigations into eVTOL applications in various major regional industries as described below.

1. Urban air taxi services in and around metropolitan Jakarta
   Rapid transit services, which can avoid urban traffic congestion, for passengers travelling between Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and central Jakarta, including the nearby smart city.
2. Mining industry applications on the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra
   Services for mining sites that require long car or bus journeys due to poor road access. These services may include shuttle services for engineers and other employees travelling to mining sites, and provision of emergency medical services equivalent to medical helicopter services, as required in response to industrial accidents and natural disasters.
3. Applications within large scale palm oil, paper and sugar plantations
   Site monitoring and patrol services, as required by the owners and operators of large agricultural plantations. Maximum flight distance limits the effectiveness of drone surveillance of extremely large plantations. eVTOLs can also play a role in rapidly detecting and tackling the forest fires that frequently affect plantations, particularly in the dry season.

Currently, conventional helicopters are used to provide some of the above services. Switching these helicopters to eVTOLs will allow for lower operating costs, fewer emissions, and quieter operations.

Event Summary

• Event dates: June 23, 2026 (Tue.) – June 24, 2026 (Wed.)
• Venue: Cengkareng Heliport, Jakarta, Indonesia
• Major participants
  • Indonesian government officials from the ministries responsible for transport, economy, trade and industry
  • Major mining companies
  • Representatives of major agricultural plantations
  • Representatives of the aerospace industry

At the event, senior representatives of the Indonesian government and private sector companies were able to experience first-hand the size and comfort of a mockup of the SKYDRIVE (SD-05), which was on exhibit outside Japan for the first time. SkyDrive was able to confirm the strong level of interest among attendees over the respective roles that the aircraft can play in Indonesia’s urban and rural areas. Some attendees shared enthusiastic feedback, noting: “The diverse range of potential business cases within Indonesia provides ample opportunity for the future introduction of SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft, with potential applications including shuttle operations for mining companies, land surveillance for large agricultural holdings, and avoidance of traffic congestion in urban areas” and “we can see great potential in the aircraft as an economic alternative to helicopters and also as a means to create new industrial value through advanced technology”.

Comments

Mr. Muhammad Neil El Himam, Deputy Chairman for Digital and Technology Creativity at The Ministry of Creative Economy/Agency for Creative Economy:
The next-generation Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and eVTOL technologies developed by SkyDrive represent a ‘new face’ that brings innovation to our creative economy. We are confident that the introduction of SkyDrive’s advanced technology will go beyond a mere evolution in transportation, creating immense economic value through new intellectual property and specialized jobs. For Indonesia to become a nation capable of developing and managing new technologies, it is essential for global companies like SkyDrive and local partners to unite in building a ‘complete ecosystem’ through industry-academia-government collaboration. We welcome and will strongly support SkyDrive’s continuous challenge to propel the future of mobility.

Mr. Sokhib Al Rokhman, S.SiT., S.T., M.T.,
Director of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia
Our country welcomes new technologies in next-generation mobility, and we highly evaluate the initiatives taken by private sectors. While there will be absolutely no compromise on aviation safety and security, we are prepared to flexibly advance our regulatory framework. This includes utilizing existing structures and providing multiple airports as regulatory sandboxes for demonstration trials. To facilitate the introduction of foreign-made aircraft such as SkyDrive, we hope to conclude an agreement on the type certification validation process with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in the future to ensure smooth cooperation. In alignment with the company’s plan to launch commercial operations as early as 2029, we will fully commit ourselves over the next three years to developing the necessary regulations for safe commercial operations.

Future Developments

Through this event, SkyDrive and Whitesky gathered data on potential eVTOL applications in various industries, including the transportation of personnel and goods, emergency medical services, and land surveillance. This data will be harnessed for the various feasibility tests required to prepare for commercialization. Both companies will also work together, through public-private cooperation with the Indonesian government, to develop the processes required for the certification of eVTOL aircraft in Indonesia. The first step toward commercial services in Indonesia is to prepare the infrastructure and operational systems needed to support commercial eVTOL flights in the mining areas in Kalimantan and urban air taxi services in and around Jakarta.

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Investors may participate in the call by using the following link, which is now open for early registration: https://bristowgroup-2q2026.open-exchange.net

A replay of the call will be available through August 26, 2026 and can be accessed using the same link. The accompanying investor presentation will be available on August 4, 2026, on the investor section of Bristow’s website at www.bristowgroup.com.

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Developed to bridge the gap between rotary-wing and fixed-wing capabilities, the MV-22B combines the vertical takeoff and landing of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing airplane. This configuration allows the Marine Corps to transport personnel and cargo faster and farther than legacy platforms, operating from both amphibious ships and austere shore sites. Marine Expeditionary Unit-based MV-22Bs can extend the aircraft’s operational reach to almost any location around the globe.

“The MV-22B didn’t just join our fleet; it fundamentally changed the way the Marine Air-Ground Task Force generates combat power,” said Lt. Gen. William Swan, Deputy Commandant for Aviation. “It provides commanders with decision space that only speed and reach can provide, connecting ships, bases, and distributed forces in ways previous generations could only imagine. Today, Marine commanders build operations around the assumption that the MV-22B will be there.”

Since reaching initial operational capability in 2007, the Marine Corps MV-22B fleet has flown more than 683,300 hours across 114 operational deployments. This versatile platform supports combat operations, contested logistics, medical evacuations, and humanitarian assistance from forward-deployed locations across the globe. Today, the Osprey sources 75 percent of all Marine Corps rotary-wing assault support. This unmatched operational tempo underscores the success of the joint acquisition program as it reaches its final delivery.

“Completing the MV-22B Program of Record is a significant milestone,” said Col. Robert Hurst, V-22 Joint Program Office Program Manager. “The V-22 Osprey sets the United States apart from every other military on the planet with the operational employment of tilt-rotor technology. The delivery of the MV-22B has extended the reach and lethality of the United States Marine Air-Ground Task Force for 20 years, and it will continue to be a game-changer on the battlespace. We remain focused on efforts to enhance fleet readiness, capability, and modernization of the MV-22B Osprey, the backbone of the Marine Corps for decades to come.”

With the final delivery, the Marine Corps is executing a long-term modernization strategy to keep the MV-22B operational through 2055. Current initiatives are focused on improving nacelle wiring to reduce maintenance hours, pursuing improved prop-rotor gear boxes with triple-melted, refined steel components, standardizing aircraft configurations across the fleet, and redesigning key components to enhance safety and make the aircraft more sustainable. “We cannot assume that because the MV-22B transformed Marine aviation once, its evolution is complete,” said Swan. “It is our responsibility to carry this legacy forward and ensure this aircraft remains ready, relevant, safe and lethal for the fight ahead.”

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The launch directly addresses an urgent industry challenge by providing a resilient, highly skilled pipeline of aviation professionals at a time of critical global demand. Spanning nearly 12,000 square metres, the training academy brings together under a single offering all of Airbus Helicopters’ advanced engineering type-training, pilot training, and executive leadership management modules.

In addition, the training academy is fully aligned with the UK Government’s domestic Skills Agenda, and offers comprehensive, levy-funded Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 Apprenticeship pathways in Engineering and support functions. By bridging the gap between foundational education and highly complex, regulated aerospace careers, the academy provides direct regional socio-economic benefits while establishing long-term STEM pathways.

“We are seeing a shortage of technical rotary wing specialists in the UK, further impacted by the added workload to industry and the lack of mutual recognition between CAA and EASA. The launch of this training academy is part of a long-term vision to ensure critical services to support the UK’s rotary wing fleet and will help improve the UK’s competitiveness and strengthen the UK’s role as a centre of excellence for rotary wing pilot, engineering and early careers training,” said Richard Atack, Managing Director Airbus Helicopters in the UK.

The high-tier technical instruction provided by the Academy directly supports organisations vital to national resilience, including the UK Ministry of Defence’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS) at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley, the National Police Air Service (NPAS), and nearly two-thirds of the UK’s air ambulance (HEMS) providers.

Operating under rigorous UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and EASA frameworks, the Academy holds the distinction of being the only organisation in the country to deliver a Part 147-approved Airbus Helicopters B2 type course, drawing civil and military students from both domestic markets and international fleets.

Rolling enrollment cycles are now active at the academy for engineering certifications, pilot type-ratings, and leadership management.

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Since establishing their partnership, Enstrom and Safomar have worked together to support commercial, military, and private operators throughout the region. Beyond aircraft sales, Safomar provides maintenance and customer support—helping ensure aircraft operators receive local expertise throughout the life cycle of the aircraft.

“Safomar has been an exceptional representative of the Enstrom brand for many years,” said Chuck Wade, senior vice president of product, sales and customer excellence. “This delivery reflects more than the transfer of an aircraft— it represents the continued strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to supporting customers throughout South Africa and the broader African market. It also marks an important milestone for Enstrom as our first commercial aircraft delivery since resuming production, reinforcing our ability to serve both commercial and military customers around the world.”

“Enstrom and Safomar’s [relationship] is a living example of trust, collaboration, and focus on a superb product, superior support, and [dedication to] constant improvements” shares Shai Shalem, Founder and CEO of Safomar Group. “We both have our customers’ safety and requirements as our top priorities. Our joint objective is to further expand the African market with solutions that Enstrom’s superb products provide.”

Once in South Africa, the aircraft will support Safomar’s continued efforts to demonstrate the capabilities of the Enstrom 480B while strengthening customer relationships throughout the region. The delivery further reinforces the companies’ shared commitment to providing dependable aircraft, local expertise, and long-term support for operators across Africa.

Additional updates will be shared following the aircraft’s arrival in South Africa, highlighting its delivery, entry into service, and the continued collaboration between Enstrom and Safomar in supporting operators throughout the region.

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The data gathered through the high-speed flight test campaign allows SkyDrive’s engineers to confirm the accuracy of the aircraft characteristics and dynamic behavior predicted in advance of actual aircraft testing through advanced design and analysis, marking another major step towards type certification and the planned commercialization of the aircraft in 2028.

■ The Significance of Reaching 100km/h
SkyDrive is pleased to announce this high-speed milestone. However, the significance of achieving stable flight at 100km/h goes beyond simply reaching a certain number on the airspeed indicator.

Aircraft development begins with design and analysis, proceeds through individual system tests and ground tests, and then moves on to the manufacture of a full-scale aircraft and flight testing. At the same time, simulators are used to repeatedly verify flight characteristics, propulsion systems, and flight control systems.

Simulation, analysis and ground testing are all key parts of the process, but the final flight testing stage is critical. There are some things that cannot be known until the aircraft actually flies. This is particularly true of high-speed flight, where aerodynamic forces, vibrations, structural loads, and flight control system response all change and interact in complex ways. Flight testing is the only way to verify whether the results predicted during the design phase accurately describe the aircraft’s in-flight behavior.

As SkyDrive’s aircraft is based on a completely new concept, distinct from conventional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, we cannot assume that existing knowledge and flight data will apply. Every new aircraft needs to collect and verify data through actual flight tests, but with a new aircraft concept, this phase becomes even more indispensable.

■ The Benefits of Reaching 100km/h with our Multicopter

1. Achievement of Important Technical Milestones
   During high-speed flight, aerodynamic forces, vibrations, structural loads, propulsion systems and flight control all change significantly, as do the interactions between them. High speed testing is a critical stage of aircraft development as it allows us to confirm the appropriateness of our design and the precision of our prior analyses.
   Flight testing also frequently reveals new challenges. If the data from actual flight testing differs significantly from the data assumed at the design and analysis stage, it can result in the need for additional testing, design changes, and even the revision of existing development plans.Our current flight test campaign has allowed us to confirm the stability, controllability and structural integrity of the aircraft, as well as the functionality of the aircraft’s various systems. The results show that the observed flight characteristics and behaviour match our expectations from the design and analysis phase.SkyDrive is pleased to have achieved high speed forward flight, overcoming the difficulties of reaching this stage and demonstrating the appropriateness of our design, analysis and testing assumptions. We are now able to move our development forward toward the certification and commercialization of our aircraft with a higher degree of visibility and predictability.
2. Confirming the Ability of a Compact Multicopter to Enable Urban Air MobilityThe recent high speed forward flight tests conducted by SkyDrive demonstrate the utility of the compact multicopter concept that SkyDrive has pursued since the company’s founding.SkyDrive’s multicopter design, which eschews fixed wings, is optimized for use in urban airspaces. A compact design not only allows for wider flexibility in takeoff and landing locations, it also keeps the aircraft structure and operations as simple as possible, reducing operational costs and improving maintainability.The compact multicopter design represents a revolution in aviation. However, while the new design brings many benefits, it also means that the aircraft testing cannot rely on the past data collected from existing commercial aircraft models. This makes it particularly important for SkyDrive to show that its aircraft can fly safely at the speeds required for commercial operations and also that the compact multicopter design is truly feasible for urban airspace use.Through these recent high speed tests, SkyDrive has confirmed that our aircraft architecture, which uses 12 independent rotors under the control of a central flight control system, functions as designed in high speed forward flight, a confirmation that further underscores the feasibility of using the aircraft for short-hop urban flights.100km/h is not just a number. It is an important step towards the establishment of multicopters as a new and efficient means of urban transport.

■ How SkyDrive Achieved Successful High Speed Flight Testing
The successful achievement of 100km/h flight is the culmination of a long process. The capacity to conduct safe and stable high speed flight is built on simulations, wind tunnel tests, ground tests, and various system tests, all of which are required to acquire know-how and data on the aircraft’s flight characteristics.
SkyDrive has conducted:

• An extensive range of flight testing: Our development experience dates back to our SD-03 prototype. Since then, we have accumulated hundreds of test flights.
• Wide-ranging test program: Outside flight testing, our test program also includes standalone testing of our batteries, motors, and rotors, aerodynamic performance testing in the wind tunnel at JAXA (the Japanese space agency), and ground vibration testing.
• Step-by-step flight control tuning: The real time data collected from low- and mid-speed flights is used by our engineers and pilots to take cautious decisions at each stage of the flight test campaign on whether to proceed with faster, expanded flight profiles.

■ Future Developments
Around the world, many companies are developing eVTOL aircraft. The industry is currently moving beyond the phase of demonstrating that such aircraft can actually fly and into a more advanced phase of gathering the evidence required to show that the aircraft can operate stably at high speed, collecting the data required by regulatory authorities for certification, and demonstrating the viability of future commercial operations.

SkyDrive’s will continue with high speed testing to expand the aircraft’s flight envelope at the speeds required for commercial operation, collect further data and know-how, and clarify that the flight performance of the aircraft continues to match the performance expectations predicted during the design and analysis phase.

Our journey towards certification and the start of commercial operations in 2028 continues.

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With 30 completed Super Puma transactions, the vast majority involving the H225 platform, Rotortrade has built one of the industry’s most comprehensive track records supporting operators, governments, leasing companies, and financial institutions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Far beyond aircraft trading, Rotortrade has developed unique expertise across the entire Super Puma lifecycle. The company has successfully managed return-to-service programs, heavy maintenance coordination, aircraft repossessions, long-term storage programs, mission conversion and management programs, technical upgrades, complex retrofits, and worldwide deliveries, providing customers with fully integrated solutions from acquisition through entry into service.

Working closely with Airbus and leading MRO partners, Rotortrade has supported some of the market’s most demanding Super Puma projects, including return-to-service programs following the H225 fleet grounding, humanitarian aircraft supporting the World Food Programme, VIP and government aircraft, firefighting platforms in Europe and Asia, EMS and hoist conversions, multi-mission conversion and management programs across Africa, and complex repossession, storage, and asset management programs for financial institutions.

Today, these aircraft support an exceptionally broad range of missions, including offshore transport, passenger transport, search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS), firefighting, humanitarian operations, troop transport, VIP and presidential transport, and government missions.

“From the very beginning, we have believed in the Super Puma family, and particularly the H225. We continue to believe it is the world’s leading commercially successful heavy multi-mission helicopter, combining exceptional versatility, payload, reliability, and long-term value. Reaching 30 Super Puma transactions reflects not only our confidence in the platform, but also the trust that operators, governments, leasing companies, and financial institutions around the world place in Rotortrade to deliver some of the industry’s most complex projects,” said Aurelien Blanc, Rotortrade EVP Head Of Region APAC, MEA & Africa.

As global demand for heavy multi-mission helicopters continues to grow across commercial, government, and humanitarian sectors, Rotortrade remains committed to delivering tailored acquisition, trading, and asset management solutions that maximize aircraft availability, operational capability, and long-term asset value.

Over the past decade, Rotortrade has consistently demonstrated that its role extends well beyond aircraft transactions. By combining commercial expertise with deep technical knowledge and global execution capabilities, the company continues to strengthen its position as the global leader in the pre-owned Super Puma market.

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For more than sixty years, Elfan devoted his life to documenting, preserving and promoting the history of rotary-wing aviation. As the founder of Avia Press Associates and The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, his influence extended across publishing, historical research, aircraft preservation and the international helicopter community.

After joining Westland Helicopters in Weston-super-Mare in 1960, he founded Avia Press Associates in 1964. Through publications including Helicopter International, HeliData News and HeliData Classified, he became one of the world’s best-known specialist aviation publishers. His magazines were read throughout the civil and military helicopter industries and earned a reputation for their technical accuracy, comprehensive reporting and meticulous historical research.  That said, his outright rejection of the internet and online publishing contributed to these titles becoming “faded glory” some years ago – and it is no surprise that the Avia Press Associates website is flagged up today as “blocked due to riskware” by malware vendors such as Malwarebytes.

Alongside his publishing work, Elfan built one of the world’s most significant private archives relating to helicopter history, becoming a recognised authority frequently consulted by manufacturers, operators, museums, authors and fellow historians.

His greatest legacy was the creation of The Helicopter Museum, officially opened in 1989. What had begun as an ambitious preservation project – known by 1978 as the British Rotorcraft Museum – grew into the world’s largest museum devoted exclusively to helicopters and autogyros, with a collection exceeding one hundred aircraft spanning the development of vertical flight.

The museum’s collection includes numerous historically important and unique aircraft, among them the Hafner RII Revoplane, the world’s oldest surviving helicopter, the record-breaking Westland G-LYNX, holder of the absolute helicopter world speed record, the remains of Fairey Rotodyne, Bristol Belvedere, Saunders-Roe Skeeter, Westland Dragonfly and many other rare British and international rotorcraft that might otherwise have been lost.

His collecting habit also extended to occasional exercising of his private pilot’s licence on the one airworthy aircraft in the collection, a Brantly B2 which carried the registration G-OAPR and first registered with the UK CAA in 1989.  The last airworthiness certificate on this helicopter expired in 2015, by which time it had become a museum exhibit rather than Elfan’s runabout.  His flying activities extended to his penchant to appear with four shoulder bars at every possible opportunity.

One aircraft, however, perhaps best illustrates Elfan’s determination to preserve aviation history. In 1974 he acquired Bristol Belvedere XG452, then little more than a fire-training hulk at RAF Ternhill, after years of unsuccessful attempts to save a surviving example. What followed became one of British aviation preservation’s most remarkable restoration stories. Former Bristol helicopter engineers volunteered their expertise, the Royal Navy transported the aircraft to Weston-super-Mare, and after an international search for missing components, including a personal appeal by Elfan to Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, more than three tonnes of irreplaceable Belvedere parts were eventually recovered and returned to Britain aboard an RAF Hercules. The restoration became a defining project of the museum and embodied Elfan’s belief that no historically significant aircraft should be abandoned while there remained any possibility of saving it.

His expertise and standing within the helicopter world were recognised through numerous appointments. He served as Chairman and later President of the Helicopter Club of Great Britain, President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Rotorcraft Commission, later becoming President of Honour, and Vice-President of Aviation Heritage UK. He was also a qualified helicopter pilot, bringing practical flying experience to complement his historical knowledge.

He co-founded and directed Weston Super HeliDays, helping to develop it into one of Europe’s leading civilian helicopter events. The annual show, which ran for. 20 years, attracted aircraft and visitors from around the world, promoting the helicopter industry to the public and raising significant sums for charity.

His contribution to aviation was recognised internationally through numerous awards, including the Helicopter Association International Excellence in Communications Award, a Winston Churchill Fellowship to study the Russian helicopter industry, the Eric Brown Award from the British Helicopter Association, the Historical Achievement Award from the American Helicopter Society, the Les Morris Award from the International Organisation of Pioneer Helicopter Pilots (the Twirly Birds), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Aviation Heritage UK.

Beyond aviation, Elfan served his local community for more than fifty years, beginning as a parish councillor in Locking before becoming Deputy Leader of North Somerset District Council, where he held responsibility for planning, highways, transport, housing and economic development.

Few individuals worldwide have done more to preserve the industry’s helicopter heritage. The aircraft he rescued, the history he published and the museum he created will continue to tell that story long after his lifetime.

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Officially registered as VDX under the GCAA certification process, the facility is the world’s first purpose-built commercial vertiport to receive regulatory certification, paving the way for the future commencement of commercial Air Taxi services in Dubai.

VDX will serve as the first and primary hub within Dubai’s planned Air Taxi network, with three additional vertiports currently under development. The network and vertiports are being developed by Skyports in collaboration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The certification followed a comprehensive GCAA assessment covering the vertiport’s infrastructure, physical characteristics, operational procedures, safety management arrangements, emergency preparedness and regulatory compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

This landmark achievement reinforces the UAE’s position as a global leader in aviation, innovation and Advanced AirMobility. It reflects the country’s ability to translate ambitious national visions into safe, regulated and future-ready infrastructure.‍

The certification supports the objectives of“We the UAE 2031” and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by advancing innovation, attracting investment, supporting economic diversification and enabling sustainable mobility solutions.

His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said: “The certification of the world’s first purpose-built commercial vertiport is a historic achievement for the UAE and a defining moment for the future of aviation. It reflects the vision of our leadership, the maturity of our regulatory system and our national capability to enable innovation while maintaining the highest levels of safety. The UAE is not only preparing for the future of aviation; it is actively shaping it and establishing new internationa lbenchmarks for Advanced Air Mobility.”

Eng. Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General – Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, said: “The certificationof VDX represents far more than the approval of a new aviation facility; it demonstrates the UAE’s ability to establish a robust regulatory framework for emerging aviation technologies while maintaining the highest standards of safety and oversight. This achievement reflects the GCAA’s commitment to enabling innovation through proactive regulation, rigorous certification processes and close collaboration with industry partners.”

Duncan Walker, CEO, Skyports Infrastructure, said: “This certification is a defining moment for Advanced Air Mobility, demonstrating that the infrastructure, operational standards and regulatory frameworks required for commercial eVTOL services are now a reality. With VDX now certified and construction of the wider Dubai Air Taxi Network progressing at pace, we are one step closer to launching commercial air taxi operations, and unlocking a new era of safe, efficient and sustainable urban transport.”

VDX includes two dedicated take-off andlanding areas, rapid charging infrastructure for electric aircraft and high throughput passenger facilities. The four-storey facility spans approximately 3,100 square metres and can accommodate up to 170,000 passengers annually once commercial operations commence.

The certification reflects the strong collaboration between the GCAA, Dubai’s RTA, Skyports and other strategic partners involved in developing Dubai’s future Air Taxi ecosystem.

Through this milestone, the UAE continues to demonstrate its commitment to aviation safety, sustainable mobility and responsible innovation, while strengthening its role in shaping the future of global transportation.

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The move reflects OZARK’s continued commitment to providing direct access to OEM backed parts, technical expertise, and customer support.

As the OEM of the T53 engine platform, OZARK brings decades of product knowledge, engineering experience, and long-term fleet support directly to customers. By moving to a direct distribution model, operators will have direct access to the OEM for parts procurement, technical support, engineering resources, and fleet sustainment expertise.

“This transition allows us to collaborate more directly with operators and support partners around the world,” said Ken Essary, President/CEO Ozark Aeroworks. “Our focus is on building closer relationships with operators and support partners around the world while providing direct access to our technical expertise and OEM resources. As the OEM, we are uniquely positioned to support operators through direct access to engineering expertise, product knowledge, and long-term fleet sustainment resources.”

Beginning July 1, 2026, all new requests for quotes and purchase orders for T53 spare parts will be managed directly through Ozark Aeroworks, with certain limited exceptions. Existing purchase orders currently placed with NorcaTec will continue to be fulfilled through NorcaTec.

OZARK appreciates NorcaTec’s longstanding support of the T53 operator community and is working closely with NorcaTec to ensure a smooth transition for customers.

About Ozark Aeroworks:

Founded in 2013, Ozark Aeroworks is the OEM and global support authority for the T53 engine, supporting one of the industry’s most proven platforms. With approximately 19,000 T53 engines produced and thousands still operating worldwide across military, utility, firefighting, and commercial missions, Ozark Aeroworks delivers industry leading overhaul, repair, parts support, and fleet sustainment solutions to their operators. The company also provides comprehensive Rolls-Royce M250 MRO support, helping customers maximize performance, reliability, and operational readiness across diverse rotary-wing applications. Ozark Aeroworks is part of the Eagle Copters group of companies, further expanding support capabilities and service offerings for helicopter operators worldwide.

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Seamlessly connected to onboard systems such as FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared), helmet-mounted displays and multifunction displays, it enhances situational awareness, streamlines crew coordination and supports faster, more confident decision-making in demanding environments.

Search and Rescue (SAR)
​In complex night-time search-and-rescue missions – whether across mountain ranges, forests or snow-covered terrain – the SLL enables rapid area scanning and precise survivor detection. One or multiple lights can be controlled by the pilot, co-pilot or hoist operator, ensuring full coordination throughout the mission. Its 360° coverage allows crews to continuously illuminate survivors, rescue teams and landing zones without repositioning the aircraft, accelerating rescue operations in challenging conditions.

During rescue, medical evacuation or maritime recovery missions, the SLL provides precise, stable illumination of the hoist area. Independent control by the winch operator allows lighting to follow the rescue operation in real time, improving visibility and enhancing the safety and efficiency of hoisting operations, particularly in degraded visual environments.

Night Tactical Operations
​In military environments, the SLL enhances mission effectiveness during infiltration, exfiltration, and special operations missions. The system’s covert operating modes, featuring extremely low infrared detectability, help reduce the aircraft’s visual and infrared signature while maintaining the illumination capabilities required for mission success. This allows crews to maintain tactical awareness and operate more discreetly in contested environments.

Thales is responsible for the design of the complete optical assembly for the high-power LED-based lighting subsystem, as well as the integration, assembly, and testing of the complete system at its facilities in Dourdan, France.

“Helicopter crews operate in some of the most demanding environments, often making critical decisions in seconds and under extremely challenging conditions. Our new Search & Landing Light was developed with those operators in mind, giving them greater flexibility, enhanced mission effectiveness and the ability to adapt to a wide range of operational scenarios from a single system. It illustrates our commitment to delivering solutions that evolve with our customers’ missions.” Nicolas Bonleux, Vice President, Aerospace Communications, Thales.

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The proposed transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approval. The transaction values Elroy Air at $800 million pre-money, and has more than $165 million in committed PIPE capital, which is expected to fully fund commercial scale production of the Chaparral with U.S. manufacturing partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. $65 million of the more than $165 million PIPE is funding in connection with the execution of the BCA. Post-transaction, Elroy Air is expected to have an enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion.

Elroy Air is redefining autonomous heavy-cargo transport with Chaparral — an advanced vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone designed to carry 500+ pounds of cargo. The aircraft was engineered with a hybrid-electric powertrain to deliver the reliability of electric propulsion but with extended range of up to 450 miles and with no charging infrastructure required. Designed for maximum operational flexibility, Chaparral features multi-mission pods that enable rapid reconfiguration across diverse payload types and customer needs, unlocking a significant global total addressable market spanning defense, commercial logistics, and rapid response.

Key highlights include:

• A demand pipeline exceeding 1,400 aircraft and over $5 billion in potential revenue opportunity from leading logistics and aviation companies, including Bristow Group, Barq Group, SLI, and FedEx.
• 6+ years of active defense programs with the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force.
• A manufacturing partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions as the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of the Chaparral, with first production aircraft planned for late 2026.
• A $200M joint venture initial agreement signed with Barq Group to establish an international manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi serving the MENA region. Elroy Air and Barq Group plan to begin initial flight operations in the UAE in 2027 using U.S.-built aircraft followed by the start of local production in Abu Dhabi in 2028.
• The only OEM with a purpose-built, heavy-payload uncrewed cargo drone selected for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), established under the Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order. USDOT’s announcement specifically calls for the start of operations in 2026.
• Completed testing by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) in which the Chaparral passed all 22 test items for inter-island logistics capabilities.
• Backed by premier defense and venture investors, including Lockheed Martin Ventures, Shield Capital, Marlinspike Partners, Snowpoint Ventures, DiamondStream Partners, and Catapult Ventures.

“As a public company with access to significant capital, Elroy Air will be ideally positioned to meet the rising demand for Chaparral, our heavy-cargo drone,” said Elroy Air Chief Executive Officer Andrew Clare, PhD. “Autonomous flight is the next great logistics revolution — and Elroy Air intends to lead it. The U.S. has made drone dominance a national strategic priority, and that priority is only meaningful if American industry can actually deliver. This transaction ensures we can by rapidly scaling production for U.S. and allied forces and commercial markets alike. I’m excited to partner with Inflection Point, a firm with a track record of successfully scaling high-impact technology companies in order to satisfy significant market demand.”

Inflection Point’s prior and pending transactions in the national security and Aerospace & Defense sectors include Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR), USA Rare Earth (Nasdaq: USAR), Merlin Labs (Nasdaq: MRLN) and Quantum Space (Nasdaq: IPFXU).

“Elroy Air is emerging at the intersection of two massive secular shifts: the modernization of defense technology and the automation of global supply chains,” said Michael Blitzer, Chief Investment Officer of Inflection Point. “Through a combination of proprietary autonomous aviation technology and recurring software licensing revenue streams, Elroy has established a highly defensible flywheel across defense and commercial markets. The company’s multi-billion dollar demand pipeline and strategic partnerships with Bristow and Barq underscore the urgency of the market opportunity and Elroy’s growing strategic importance within the industry.”

Transaction Overview

The business combination is expected to deliver gross proceeds of at least $165 million from the committed PIPE, with up to $230 million additional proceeds depending on redemptions. Elroy Air currently intends to use these proceeds to accelerate its technology and platform development, ramp its ability to deliver its systems to customers, enable strategic acquisitions, and ensure top technical talent across areas, including software and hybrid-electric systems, continue joining Elroy Air.

The Boards of Directors of both Elroy Air and CMII have unanimously approved the proposed transaction. The deal is expected to close in late 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by CMII’s shareholders and regulatory review. Upon closing, the combined company will use the Elroy Air name and expects to be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “ELRY.”

Advisors

Barclays is acting as exclusive financial advisor and exclusive capital markets advisor to Elroy Air. Barclays is acting as Lead Placement Agent on the PIPE, with Cantor and Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, also acting as Placement Agents. Cantor and Cohen & Company Capital Markets are serving as financial and capital markets advisors to CMII. DLA Piper LLP (US) is serving as legal advisor to Elroy Air. White & Case LLP is serving as counsel to CMII and Inflection Point. Kirkland and Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to the Placement Agents.

Webcast Details

Elroy Air and Inflection Point will host an investor presentation today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the announcement. The webcast will include a slide presentation and participants are encouraged to view the presentation via webcast at: https://app.webinar.net/LKXrVzLOoEz.

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Through these demonstration flights, we have not only assessed the aircraft’s performance, we have also amassed a large volume of flight data which will, once our aircraft is on the market, help support regular, on-time, commercial operations and decisions over when the aircraft can fly.

While SkyDrive has test facilities both in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and at the Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, SkyDrive has flown its aircraft in a wide range of different environments to gain experience outside our facilities in airspaces where conditions are closer to the aircraft’s future commercial operations, enabling us to improve the reliability and safety of our aircraft as we look to accelerate steadily forward toward commercialization in 2028.

SkyDrive has published a video on its official YouTube channel of the path toward the successful completion of 300 test flights.

■ The Significance of Reaching 300 Flights
SkyDrive is developing eVTOLs with the mission of “leading a once-in-a-century mobility revolution”. Our goal is to make simple and convenient air travel a regular part of city life. As we develop the SKYDRIVE, we have not only flown test flights within our own test facilities, we have also demonstrated the capabilities of the aircraft in public, including through flights from vertiports built by third parties, giving stakeholders and local people the opportunity to see the aircraft in operation.

The major demonstration flights performed by SkyDrive are as follows: (*2)

• 2025: Demonstration flights at the Osaka Expo and the Osakako vertiport
• 2026: Demonstration flights in Tokyo

Through a total of 48 flights outside SkyDrive’s test centers, SkyDrive has collected a wealth of operational data that will support on-time operations following the aircraft’s commercialization.

■ SkyDrive’s Path Forward
Around the world, manufacturers are competing to develop eVTOL aircraft. The industry has already gone beyond the stage of “proving that these aircraft can fly” and is now entering a new phase that includes the flight demonstrations required to confirm commercial viability and the advanced data collection required to accumulate evidence for certification.

The aircraft and operational data accumulated by SkyDrive through 300 completed flights provides a solid foundation to support the regulatory testing required for type certification and the further aircraft development needed for commercialization. As we target the launch of commercial operations in 2028, we will continue to move forwards while always making safety our absolute priority.

■ Comments
Yugo Fukuhara, Vice President, Director, Project Management Department
The achievement of 300 completed flights is the result of cumulative efforts by our engineers, pilots and operations team, who have all worked continuously with a priority on safety. Throughout the flight test campaign, we have approached each flight with the appropriate degree of caution, ensuring that we can safely complete the flight profile and record the data that we require. We will keep working toward certification and commercialization, making sure we continue to uphold our ongoing focus on safety.

Christopher Rennie, Director, Test Department, Vehicle Development Division
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the SD-05 flight test campaign. Flight testing is never easy, and reaching 300 safe flights is a meaningful achievement made possible through teamwork, discipline, and commitment across the entire organization. We have faced technical, operational, and schedule challenges, but each flight has strengthened our knowledge, improved our aircraft, and moved us closer to certification. As we look ahead to type certification and the production units coming next year, we recognize that greater challenges are ahead. However, with the same dedication and one-team mindset, we are ready to face them.

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The package includes grant funding of up to £10m ($13.5m) in connection with Vertical finalising the down-selection of UK sites for its aircraft and battery facilities.

Vertical is now working toward a final siting decision, expected before the end of the year. Locating production in the UK will also streamline certification, with Vertical’s design and production organisation approvals located under the same regulatory framework with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The package also includes a commitment to establish a broad, cross-government programme to back Vertical’s transition from prototype development to industrial scale-up, including:

• confirmed interest from the Ministry of Defence in the defence applications for Vertical’s eVTOL, hybrid-electric and autonomous capabilities, with ongoing engagement to explore dual-use opportunities
• signed Memorandum of Understanding between Vertical and UK Export Finance to establish a framework for offering export-linked and customer financing facilities as Vertical fulfils its commercial pipeline
• continued support from Innovate UK, as part of the UK’s future of aviation, focusing on high-potential businesses like Vertical and helping the transition from prototype to commercialisation and growth

Vertical’s first full-scale aircraft final assembly and battery manufacturing facilities are expected to support around 700 direct jobs by 2030, alongside wider benefits for the UK aerospace supply chain, industrial capability and future aviation ecosystem.

The announcement builds on longstanding UK Government backing for Vertical through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme and the Future Flight Challenge, which have helped the Company progress from early-stage technology development toward certification and industrialisation. With this package, direct UK Government grant support awarded to Vertical would total up to £48 million ($64 million).

Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:

“This is a major vote of confidence from the UK Government in Vertical, in our aerospace sector and in the UK’s opportunity to lead the next generation of aviation. The UK has backed us from the earliest stages of the programme, and today’s proposed support helps create a clear pathway from innovation to industrial scale-up. It means we will continue to create high-value jobs, strengthen Britain’s advanced manufacturing base, and build aircraft that will be exported to customers around the world. We are grateful for that backing and committed to building the future of electric flight here in the UK.”

The aircraft is expected to be the first all-new aircraft designed and built in the UK in more than three decades. The UK is uniquely well-placed to benefit from the growth of advanced air mobility, with strong aerospace capability, a supportive regulator in the CAA, world-class engineering talent and a deep supply chain.

The Department for Business and Trade grant of up to £10 million remains subject to the completion of legal, subsidy control, due diligence and ministerial approval processes, and the Memorandum of Understanding with UK Export Finance is not legally binding.

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“The SUBARU Bell 412EPX is a modern and capable multi-mission solution that continues to deliver the power, flexibility, and dependability that operators need for critical missions,” said Lane Evans, Bell managing director, North American sales. “We’re proud to support Texas A&M Forest Service as they expand their aviation abilities to protect communities and natural resources across the state of Texas.”

The Texas A&M Forest Service provides air support to homeowners, forest landowners, local communities, and fire departments across Texas. As conservationists, the agency is dedicated to preserving forests and natural resources while protecting lives and property. The addition of these SUBARU Bell 412EPXs will support this mission by delivering rapid response and reliable performance. Each aircraft will also be equipped with a hoist for rescue operations and a belly tank for firefighting.

“Protecting lives and property is a priority in Texas,” said Jared Karns, Fire Chief for Texas A&M Forest Service. “This agreement is the first of many steps to develop a state-managed wildfire aviation program that will give Texas greater control over the timing, positioning, and deployment of fire suppression aircraft, helping keep Texas prepared.”

The SUBARU Bell 412EPX is a medium-twin engine helicopter designed to offer operational flexibility. It features an advanced avionics suite, an adaptable cabin, and capabilities suited for missions including public safety, firefighting, law enforcement, and medical operations. With a combined maximum internal weight of 12,200 lbs., external weights of 13,000lbs., and ability to carry 5,000 lbs. with a cargo hook, the aircraft has the ability to transport various mission equipment and brings great capability to operators around the globe.

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The fleet raced to its latest 5,000 flying hours four months faster than the previous 5,000-hour milestone.

The achievement means Victoria Police has retained the top spot internationally for average flight hours per year for law enforcement operations across the three Leonardo AW139 helicopters.

The high usage rate was enabled by extensive maintenance work by dedicated and experienced StarFlight Victoria engineers and logistics support.

In the past six years they have completed 66 heavy maintenance inspections, 69,000 work cards, 31,500 engine starts and clocked up over 100,000 engineering hours to support fleet availability.

For every flying hour, five hours of engineering is required across structural, mechanical and avionics disciplines.

The aircraft are equipped with advanced infrared cameras, mapping systems, and object detection software to support marine and land-based search operations.

StarFlight Victoria Chairman Tony Fraser said the 20,000 hours reflected the strength of the long-term operational partnership with Victoria Police.

“VicPol is the global leader in cutting edge surveillance aviation and search and rescue in Australia,” Mr Fraser said.

“As such, StarFlight’s engineers play a vital role because without their round-the-clock maintenance and repairs, the flight hours achieved here would not be possible.”

StarFlight Victoria Director Ashley van de Velde said there were few fleets worldwide able to maintain such high usage rates.

“These helicopters perform an extraordinary workload to help keep Victorians safe and it’s something we are immensely proud of,” Mr van de Velde said.

“When we launched in 2020, the objective was to deliver a step change in aviation capability for Victoria Police. Reaching 20,000 hours demonstrates the maturity, resilience and reliability of that capability.”

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A Topping Out ceremony was held by construction partner Tilbury Douglas to mark the building reaching its highest point.

Funded by the New Hospital Programme (NHP), the £100million building will provide two floors of clinical space and help transform the way the Trust provides emergency care.

The new Emergency Department will allow DCH to treat more patients and will include a dedicated area for children and young people, as well as space designed for people experiencing difficulties with their mental health. The Critical Care Unit will expand from 11 to 16 beds with the potential to increase further in the future and it will also include a paediatric space. The building will be connected to the main hospital by a link corridor and the space freed up will be re-purposed to support same day emergency care.

Members of the national NHP team, local partners and scheme supporters joined Trust teams to celebrate this milestone, which was marked by the unveiling of the £2million rooftop helipad courtesy of the HELP Appeal – the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.

The new building is also being supported by Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal, which is raising £2.5million for enhanced facilities in the new building, including overnight accommodation for relatives and staff.

Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital, said:

“This new building is the biggest change in healthcare facilities in Dorchester for a generation. It will transform the way in which we are able to deliver care and will help us bring together expertise in physical and mental health, as well as integrate hospital and community-based services so that they can work together to provide emergency care.

“Today marks a major milestone in the construction of these facilities. Thank you to the New Hospital Programme and the HELP Appeal for this major investment in the helipad that will make a huge difference to patients, their relatives and our staff for many years to come. Thank you also to all those who are supporting the Dorset County Hospital Charity’s Emergency and Critical Care Appeal.”

Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, said:

“Patients and NHS staff in Dorset deserve modern facilities that are safe, efficient and fit for the future.

“This major milestone at Dorset County Hospital shows our New Hospital Programme delivering for local communities, with a new Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit and rooftop helipad that will help patients get faster access to life-saving care when every second counts.

“Backed by the government’s long-term investment in the NHS estate, we are rebuilding and modernising hospitals across the country, so staff have the buildings, equipment and technology they need to deliver better care for patients, closer to home.”

The new helipad is made from aluminium and was brought over from the Netherlands and installed by Bayards. The helideck is approximately 284 square feet (26.4 square meters) and can hold a massive 8,600kg.

Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal Robert Bertram said:

“Completing the construction of this state-of-the-art hospital helipad is a truly significant moment for Dorset and the whole region.

“As the only rooftop hospital helipad in the county, it will transform the way critically ill and injured patients receive emergency care. By enabling air ambulances to land directly at the hospital, precious minutes can be saved when every second counts, giving patients the very best chance of survival and recovery.

“We are immensely grateful to everyone who has supported the HELP Appeal. This milestone belongs to every donor and fundraiser who has helped make this life-saving project possible.”

Joint Senior Responsible Owner of the New Hospital Programme Paul Mustow said:

“I’m thrilled to have been able to join the topping out ceremony for Dorset County Hospital’s Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit and see the progress first hand. The installation of their rooftop helipad is a significant milestone for their New Hospital Programme scheme.”

“I want to thank everyone at the Trust for all the hard work that has made this possible and look forward to continuing to work closely to deliver their scheme, so that patients and staff can benefit from these excellent modern facilities.”

Paul Gale, Regional Director – South West at Tilbury Douglas, commented:

“Reaching this milestone is a significant moment for everyone involved in delivering this vital healthcare facility. The installation of the rooftop helipad not only marks the building reaching its highest point but also highlights the transformative impact this development will have on emergency and critical care services across Dorset. We are proud to be working in partnership with Dorset County Hospital, the New Hospital Programme and the wider project team to deliver a modern, resilient and patient-focused environment. Once complete, this facility will support clinical teams to provide faster, more efficient care and improve outcomes for patients for many years to come.”

The building is due to open in 2027.

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“We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnerships, expanding industrial capacity and deepening our long-term presence in Europe,” said Dr. Dennis Goege, Lockheed Martin chief executive for Europe. “Local production supports a highly skilled regional workforce, reinforces Europe’s defence industrial base and enhances NATO readiness.”

Strategic Benefits

• Enhanced Alliance Readiness – Locating development, production and component manufacturing in Europe improves logistics and strengthens NATO’s rapid response posture.
• Industrial Growth & Workforce Development – The initiative will generate highskill jobs, stimulate local supply chains and provide training opportunities for the next generation of aerospace engineers.
• Global Innovation Network – By integrating insights from global partners and leveraging multinational expertise, Sikorsky aims to deliver a truly global NGRC solution that meets the highest standards of performance, safety and cost effectiveness.

Key Highlights 

• Ongoing Studies & Concept Development – The company is engaging in various studies on advanced airframe configurations, open architecture avionics systems and mission capabilities that satisfy NATO’s evolving deterrence concepts.
• European Industry Partnerships – Sikorsky will partner with leading European aerospace firms, industry, and suppliers as part of a robust, locally sourced NGRC production line. These collaborations will foster technology transfer, job creation and sustainment capabilities throughout the region and world.
• Global NGRC Variant – X2 – Parallel to the European effort, Sikorsky is expanding its work in Asia, where growing interest has led to a joint program with industry leaders to develop an international X2 variant. This initiative leverages global expertise to deliver a truly next generation, versatile rotorcraft platform adaptable to diverse operational environments.

The NGRC program initiative began in 2022 and includes France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada. The United States and Spain are currently acting as observers. Under the NGRC program, NATO is seeking to develop a medium-class, multi-role rotorcraft aimed to replace medium multi-role helicopters currently in service. NSPA, through its dedicated NGRC Support Partnership, will lead the effort to fulfill this upcoming requirement, in a timely and cost-effective manner, while concurrently leveraging a broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods, and operational concepts.

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Eve and Moov will explore use cases including sightseeing and shuttle services between airports, ports and resorts, as well as regional mobility across São Vicente, Santo Antão, Sal, Praia and Boa Vista. The companies have also identified potential in medical transport services and infrastructure inspections.

According to the World Bank^[1], Cabo Verde’s tourism sector continued to expand in 2024, with tourist arrivals reaching an estimated 1.18 million, up 16.5% year over year, marking tourism’s role as one of the country’s key economic drivers. As the archipelago continues to invest in connectivity and visitor infrastructure, companies see an opportunity to explore how eVTOLs can complement existing transportation networks and enhance mobility offerings.

“This LOI with Moov reflects Eve’s continued commitment to working with customers and partners that are building practical, high-value advanced air mobility use cases,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “Cabo Verde offers a compelling combination of tourism demand growth, geographic diversity and infrastructure investment momentum, making it an exciting market to explore how eVTOLs can complement existing transportation networks and develop new segments.”

Moov is a Switzerland-incorporated aviation company based in Lugano, building the Atlantic Gateway: a new intercontinental aviation network connecting Europe, Africa and Latin America. As part of its broader vision, the company is also assessing how AAM technologies may support local connectivity and premium travel experiences within its network ecosystem.

“We believe Cabo Verde is uniquely positioned to benefit from innovative mobility solutions that enhance the visitor experience while supporting long-term connectivity and economic development,” said Captain Alvaro N. de Oliveira, Founder and CEO of Moov. “By working with Eve, we are exploring how eVTOL aircraft could complement our broader vision for aviation in the mid-Atlantic and open new possibilities for premium, efficient and sustainable transportation.”

Moov’s leadership team brings decades of aviation and business leadership experience, including airline launch expertise and senior roles across global carriers, air cargo operators, procurement, finance, operations and strategy. The founding and advisory team includes executives with experience at companies such as Azul, Modern Logistics, Swiss International Air Lines, Etihad Airways, FedEx and ASL Aviation Group.

The LOI comes at a time of continued investment in Cabo Verde’s transport, tourism and strategic infrastructure. Recent airport modernization programs and broader public-private sector investments are reinforcing the country’s long-term growth outlook and strengthening the case for new mobility solutions to support tourism, connectivity and sustainable development.

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This landmark collaboration marks a critical step forward in SkyDrive’s transition from prototype demonstration to scalable mass production. Following its successful flights at Expo 2025 Osaka etc., SkyDrive is leveraging Kineco’s advanced manufacturing capabilities to secure its global supply chain, targeting full-scale commercial operations by 2028.

■ Key Highlights of the Partnership Include：

• Full-scope production support: Kineco’s role spans tool design, prototype development, certification support, and serial production readiness.
• Industrial-Scale Infrastructure: Production will leverage Kineco’s newly installed 3-meter x 12-meter Scholz Autoclave in Goa, one of India’s largest aerospace composite processing systems, ensuring capacity for future production scale-up.

■ Securing a Scalable Manufacturing Ecosystem
With more than three decades of expertise in advanced composites, Kineco is one of India’s leading composite engineering and manufacturing companies, serving the Railway, Aerospace, Defence, Marine, and Renewable Energy sectors. Kineco has an established track record of supporting leading OEMs and Tier-1 Customers, delivering complex, flight-critical composite structures that meet the highest standards of aerospace quality and certification.

SkyDrive’s mission is to “lead the once-in-a-century mobility revolution” by developing eVTOL aircraft that seamlessly integrate air mobility into everyday transportation.

As eVTOL aircraft incorporate high-voltage electric propulsion systems and increasingly complex airframe architectures, advanced composite structures become essential to meeting demanding requirements for lightweight performance, structural integrity, safety, manufacturability, and regulatory certification. Kineco’s advanced composite manufacturing capabilities will play a pivotal role in delivering these next-generation airframe solutions, supporting SkyDrive’s vision of bringing safe, efficient, and commercially scalable air mobility into everyday life.

By combining SkyDrive’s innovative aircraft development with Kineco’s proven expertise in advanced composite aerostructures, SkyDrive aims to further strengthen the maturity, reliability, manufacturability, and industrial readiness of the SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft while establishing a robust manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting future production scale-up as SkyDrive progresses toward commercialization.

This collaboration also marks Kineco Aerospace’s first dedicated production eVTOL programme, representing a significant milestone in the company’s expansion into the rapidly growing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector and reinforcing its position as a trusted global partner for next-generation aerospace platforms.

The agreement underscores the growing momentum behind Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and highlights the increasing collaboration between Japanese aircraft innovators and India’s advanced aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in the growth of next-generation aviation programmes that are shaping the future of sustainable air mobility.

■ Comments
Vivek Srivastava, CEO, Kineco Group, said:
“We are pleased to formalise our partnership with SkyDrive on this pioneering eVTOL programme through the signing of this strategic development agreement. This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of India and Japan to advance sustainable aviation technologies, while reinforcing Kineco’s capabilities in delivering complex, flight-critical composite aerostructures that meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and manufacturing excellence. We look forward to supporting SkyDrive as it progresses toward commercialisation of the SKYDRIVE aircraft, and to further establishing India as a globally competitive destination for high-value aerospace manufacturing.”

Arnaud Coville, CTO, SkyDrive, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with Kineco, one of India’s leading aerospace composite manufacturers, for the development and production of the SKYDRIVE (SD-05) aerostructures. Kineco has developed a breadth of experience serving various OEMs across the globe and is investing significantly to increase capacity and capability. With a large engineering organisation and strong network, we are able to industrialize at an accelerated pace. This collaboration not only strengthens our manufacturing ecosystem but also deepens the technological and industrial bonds between Japan and India in the cutting-edge Advanced Air Mobility sector.”

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The agreement converts the partnership announced in 2025 into a binding, multi-year commercial framework, establishing Virgin Atlantic as Joby’s exclusive airline partner for air taxi services in the UK. The collaboration builds on Joby’s existing partnership with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic, bringing together three brands focused on faster, more convenient travel across the UK.In 2022, Joby and Delta announced a multi-city partnership to pioneer community-to-airport transportation, which is mutually exclusive across the US and UK. Delta and Virgin Atlantic operate as partners across a shared transatlantic network, and Joby’s UK partnership with Virgin Atlantic complements and expands its partnership with Delta.

“This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in our partnership with Joby and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK,” said Corneel Koster, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. “Together, we’ll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities and our airports. Innovation has always been part of Virgin Atlantic’s DNA, and we’re proud to partner with Joby to help shape the future of travel while delivering the premium customer experience we’re known for.” 

“Virgin Atlantic’s dedication to a world-class customer experience makes them the right partner to represent Joby in the UK, and this agreement reflects the next step in that relationship,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. ”The UK is one of the most exciting markets for this technology, and this partnership could drive significant opportunities for Joby as we bring air taxi service to some of the country’s busiest cities.”

Under the agreement, Virgin Atlantic will offer Joby’s air taxi service through its booking platforms, including mobile app and website. This will allow travelers in the UK to book a seamless air taxi connection alongside their long-haul flights.

Joby plans to launch service at Virgin Atlantic’s hubs in London and Manchester, with Manchester anchoring Joby’s connections across the North of England. Early routes are expected to include Manchester Airport to Leeds in approximately 15 minutes and Heathrow to Central London in as little as 8 minutes, journeys that take over an hour by car today.

Joby will retain sole responsibility for aircraft operations, route management, and securing UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulatory approvals, while Virgin Atlantic will support infrastructure integration and customer acquisition at both hubs. Over time, Joby expects to expand this network to a wide range of cities and communities across the UK.

Earlier in July, members of the public had the chance to experience Joby’s aircraft firsthand when a full-scale model was displayed at Potters Fields Park in London, directly across from Tower Bridge. Visitors were able to sit inside the aircraft and imagine a future flight that could take just minutes to Heathrow from that location.

Joby’s aircraft uses six tilting propellers, allowing it to take off and land vertically with a fraction of the noise produced by today’s helicopters. It is optimized for rapid, back-to-back flights and is expected to be deployed on routes of up to 100 miles. Joby has completed thousands of test flights, including recent demonstrations in San Francisco and New York City, where the company flew point-to-point between JFK Airport and Manhattan. Joby’s aircraft certification is progressing under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement between the FAA and UK CAA, building on the Company’s 2022 validation application.

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Turning Rock is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of an asset-backed financing tied to a diversified portfolio of Airbus, Bell, Leonardo and Sikorsky helicopters. “The portfolio provided stable lease income from a wide variety of quality counterparties and benefitted from strong collateral value,” said Turning Rock Chief Operating Officer John Hamilton. “SMFLH and RIVE are excellent partners and we look forward to ongoing partnership.”

The portfolio of helicopters will continue to be managed by SMFLH.

“This transaction underscores the strength of our partnership with TRP, which shares our conviction in the value and resilience of critical transportation assets,” said RIVE Private Investment Partner Camille Brunel. “Drawing on our complementary expertise on both sides of the Atlantic and our strong financial structuring capabilities, we share a common ambition to invest in specialized, underserved segments of the real assets market.”

Alan O’Rourke, Head of Capital Markets at SMFL Helicopters, said, “Helicopters are a proven, income-generating asset class, and the successful completion of SMFLH’s of this latest portfolio financing partnership provides a clear demonstration of the strong trading activity and deep liquidity evident in the helicopter finance market.”

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For Indocopters, the leading specialist helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organization in the Indian subcontinent, the installation marks a natural extension of its safety role. The company supports operators across the region, helping keep helicopters airworthy, available and mission-ready. With Loft Dynamics’ simulator, Indocopters will also help prepare the pilots who fly them.

The installation also comes as Airbus Helicopters and Tata Advanced Systems begin producing the H125 in India at the country’s first private-sector helicopter final assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. More than 80 H125 aircraft are already in service across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and as more enter service, operators will need pilot training infrastructure that can scale with the fleet.

“The H125 is the backbone of multi-mission helicopter operations across the Indian subcontinent, supporting missions ranging from utility and corporate transport to emergency medical services, disaster response and high-altitude operations, often within the same fleet,” said Ajay Shah, CEO of Indocopters Private Limited. “These demanding missions therefore require a very high level of pilot preparedness. The Loft Dynamics H125 flight training device will enable us to deliver realistic, safe and repeatable training for critical scenarios such as emergencies, adverse weather, confined-area landings and high-altitude operations. This project reinforces our commitment to enhancing pilot proficiency, improving flight safety and advancing helicopter training standards in the country.”

“The next leap in aviation safety will not come only from better aircraft. It will come from giving pilots better ways to prepare,” said Sebastien Borel, CEO of Loft Dynamics. “Advanced helicopter simulation has spent too much time out of reach — something pilots had to travel to, schedule around and use too rarely. That model does not match how operators fly today. Indocopters’ investment shows where the industry is going: toward training that sits closer to the fleet, happens more often, reflects real missions and helps operators build readiness before the aircraft ever leaves the ground.”

Indocopters will use the simulator for Airbus H125 family type-specific training, emergency procedures, safety training tailored to the region’s topography and operating challenges, and selected basic training. The system is expected to support pilots across Indocopters, its affiliates — including Global Vectra Helicorp Limited, India’s largest private helicopter company — and other operators across the region. It will be installed at Indocopters’ headquarters in Greater Noida, near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), the main international airport serving New Delhi and the National Capital Region.

“The H125 plays a leading role in helicopter operations across India and South Asia, and its next growth chapter in the region depends on more than aircraft availability,” said Sunny Guglani, Head of Airbus Helicopters, India and South Asia. “It depends on the ecosystem around the aircraft — maintenance, parts, training and pilot readiness. With the H125 final assembly line now operational in Vemagal, India is building more local capability around one of Airbus Helicopters’ most successful aircraft. Indocopters’ investment in Loft Dynamics’ simulator adds an important training capability to that ecosystem and offers critical safety benefits by allowing pilots to safely rehearse high-risk or impractical flight scenarios. As a result, the simulator gives operators the ability to enhance flight safety in the region.”

Indocopters’ H125 TXi VR full-motion simulator will feature a six-degree-of-freedom motion system and an integrated glass cockpit. The system pairs full-motion simulation with a 360-degree 3D VR environment, force-feedback controls and a compact footprint, helping pilots practice normal operations, abnormal events, emergency procedures and mission-specific conditions in a controlled setting. Loft Dynamics’ flight simulation training devices are much smaller than traditional full-flight simulators, making advanced training easier to place closer to operators and pilots.

The announcement comes as India’s helicopter sector continues to build local aviation capacity, from aircraft operations and maintenance to training. Through Indocopters and Global Vectra Helicorp Limited, the Vectra Group combines large-scale flight operations with deep technical and maintenance capabilities across the region.

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Sikorsky and BETA formally agreed to this initiative earlier this month and within two weeks MATRIX autonomy was successfully integrated and flying BETA’s CX300 conventional takeoff and landing aircraft leading directly into MV250 development. The ALIA family of aircraft share a common flight control architecture and MATRIX autonomy is an open-architecture system designed for easy integration with other flight control frameworks.

Ongoing flight testing will expand the flight envelope and prove the reliability of the MATRIX autonomy suite paired with BETA’s in-house built flight control system.

MATRIX: Industry Standard Autonomy

MATRIX autonomy enables advanced autonomous modes for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft in challenging civil or military environments.

“Integrating the MATRIX autonomy stack into the MV250 is another step forward in providing a range of solutions for contested logistics missions, which we have demonstrated in autonomous operations since 2021,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky. “All platforms equipped with MATRIX autonomy can be commanded using the same interface, giving operators the ability seamlessly manage various systems with just a few taps. MATRIX technology represents an opportunity to get safe, reliable, certifiable autonomy into a range of platforms as quickly as possible.”

“Sikorsky has spent years proving that autonomy is safe, reliable, and operationally useful,” said Kyle Clark, founder and chief executive officer of BETA Technologies. “The MV250 is low cost, high speed and simple and designed for autonomous integration. Bringing MATRIX autonomy onto the MV250 combines those investments into a platform that can do high-risk missions without putting personnel at risk. Pairing Sikorsky’s proven autonomy with our aircraft gives defense customers a low-cost, fast, credible path to uncrewed logistics in contested environments.”

Strategic Impact

The MV250 fills the middleweight logistics gap for customers, handling rapid, uncrewed resupply in contested environments. The MV250 leverages the commercial investment and pedigree of the ALIA family of aircraft combined with a hybrid powertrain. The MV250 leverages a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to systems architecture which enhanced the speed to MATRIX autonomy integration while offering an inherently multi-mission, utility platform.

Sikorsky has been building on its contested logistics expertise utilizing autonomous systems since 2021. In 2025, the company successfully demonstrated that an Army operator using a MATRIX autonomy-equipped Black Hawk can execute several types of cargo delivery (internal carry, sling load, parachute air drop) and personnel recovery.

From helicopters and drones to fighters and cargo aircraft, MATRIX autonomy has flown them all. The system has become the industry standard for autonomous flight, accumulating more than 1,000 flight hours, 500 successful tests and demonstrations and training 100+ operators across the Department of War and firefighting communities. To date, MATRIX autonomy has been integrated on 20+ different platforms, proving its flexibility and robustness in the most demanding environments.

The MATRIX autonomy system forms the core of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) program.

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The order marks a step in Shearwater’s strategy since joining Bay Point in April 2026 as a lessor to invest in transformative aviation technologies, expand its business aviation portfolio, and align with the future of sustainable transportation. As a financial institution focused on aviation investments, Shearwater and Bay Point intend to leverage Eve’s industry-leading backlog to offer leasing solutions that will advance air mobility operators access aircraft and accelerate fleet deployment. The companies will also explore additional financing opportunities as demand grows for advanced air mobility and efficient, lower-emissions transportation solutions.

“We are pleased to welcome Shearwater to Eve’s growing network of customers and partners,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “We believe advanced air mobility will play an important role in shaping the future of transportation, and we look forward to supporting Shearwater as it offers leasing solutions to the market.”

Eve’s eVTOL aircraft is designed to deliver an efficient, sustainable, and customer-centric transportation experience. Backed by more than five decades of Embraer’s aerospace expertise, Eve’s aircraft and service ecosystem are positioned to support operators seeking to introduce advanced air mobility services safely and efficiently.

“This order reflects our confidence in Eve’s technology, leadership team, and vision for advanced air mobility,” said Chris Miller, managing director – Aviation, Shearwater Global Capital, a Bay Point company. “We believe advanced air mobility will become a global market, and Shearwater intends to play a leading role in supporting that growth through innovative leasing solutions. By leveraging Eve’s industry-leading backlog and integrated ecosystem of aircraft and services, we see a compelling opportunity to help operators expand and create long-term value.”

The agreement adds to Eve’s industry-leading backlog of aircraft commitments from customers and investors worldwide and highlights continued momentum in the advanced air mobility sector and the growing commercial value of its ecosystem.

As the AAM industry advances toward commercialization, Eve continues to work with operators, investors, lessors, and infrastructure partners worldwide to develop practical, scalable use cases that enable safe, efficient, and sustainable air transportation.

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This agreement, which builds on prior use case analysis and the Letter of Intent signed by 7A Drones for the future purchase of SkyDrive aircraft, clarifies the division of responsibilities and future timeline for the operation of medical transport services flown in Taiwan by eVTOL aircraft.

■ Background to the Current Agreement
Cooperation between the three parties began in May 2025 with the signing of a partnership agreement that committed the signatories to work towards the commercialization of eVTOL services in Taiwan’s Penghu Islands, located in the Taiwan Strait. This work began with efforts to define potential eVTOL use cases in the field of medical transport. Subsequently, in February 2026, a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 10 SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive model SD-05) aircraft was signed between SkyDrive and 7A Drones, with both parties also developing a proposed emergency medical evacuation route connecting Magong City on Penghu’s main island with Hujing Island, a more remote island within the Penghu Islands (*2).

Remote Taiwanese islands face chronic medical access challenges including restricted inter-island transportation during rough winter weather when ferry services are frequently cancelled. With these challenges leaving significant scope for SkyDrive’s eVTOL aircraft to make a meaningful social contribution, SkyDrive is focusing on Penghu Island as a high priority project.

7A Drones, which develops drone solutions for a wide range of applications including logistics, disaster prevention, and post-disaster relief, is also deeply engaged in the development of future autonomous flight technologies. 7A Drones is participating in the Penghu Islands project as SkyDrive’s commercial and operational partner, taking responsibility for a wide range of roles including on-site feasibility studies, aircraft operations, aircraft maintenance and repair, negotiation with governmental and medical institutions, and preparations for entry into service.

■ Summary Details of this New Agreement: Shift from Conceptual to Preparatory Phase
With this new agreement, the project moves from the conceptual and exploratory phase into the preparatory phase. The three parties have agreed on the concrete milestones to be met in the run-up to entry into service from 2028 or later, leading and supporting the various aspects of the project as per the below:

• Defining and expanding initial routes: SkyDrive, 7A and ITRI will finalize further details of the planned Magong-Hujing route, while also adding further candidate routes within the Penghu Islands.
• Cooperation with medical services and other related organizations: The project will identify candidate hospitals, clinics and emergency medical services, as well as local authority public health centers, with 7A Drones and ITRI taking the lead in specific, practical discussions with the local related parties.
• Identifying and readying vertiports (takeoff and landing sites): 7A Drones will make use of their local networks to identify candidates for permanent vertiport sites, and temporary emergency landing sites, in Magong, Hujing, and other locations, engaging in advance discussions with land owners and administrators.
• Clarifying technical requirements: By harnessing a combination of SkyDrive’s technical knowledge of eVTOL and 7A Drones’ track record of experience in operating and maintaining drones, including the operation of large cargo drones, both parties will establish the technical and operational requirements that will govern the systems needed to operate and control unmanned aircraft, as well as related control, communications, power supply and charging infrastructure.
• Building frameworks for public-private collaboration: ITRI and 7A Drones will work together to examine possibilities for the launch of combined public-private teams that include the central and local government officials involved in overseeing medical treatment, transportation, electricity supply and communications, with the goal of harnessing such teams for the resolution of cross-domain issues including systems design, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure readiness.

■ Comments
Dr. Pei-Zen Chang, President of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
We believe that the use of eVTOL for emergency medical transportation in the Penghu Islands will represent an important step towards demonstrating the social utility of eVTOL aircraft. I am delighted that our cooperation with SkyDrive and 7A Drones has moved forward into this new phase. At ITRI, we have been working for many years to support the development of industry in Taiwan through technical innovation. As an applied R&D institution, we are working not only to develop and demonstrate eVTOL technology, we are also striving, through collaboration between administrative, industrial and academic organizations, to contribute to the future development of technical and industrial cooperation between Japan and Taiwan. We hope that this project, alongside its contribution to new modes of mobility for residents of remote islands, will also deepen the cooperative relationship between Japan and Taiwan, and spur the development of the eVTOL industry across Asia.

Hsu Hsin-Sheng, CEO, 7A Drones Co., Ltd.
We at 7A Drones warmly welcome the advancement to the next stage of this project, which is designed to provide eVTOL-driven emergency medical transport in the Penghu Islands. Since signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the purchase of SkyDrive aircraft, 7A Drones has continued various investigations into the future commercialization of eVTOL in Taiwan. This latest agreement is a highly significant development which allows us to work together with all related stakeholders to put in place specific preparations for the future launch of eVTOL services. In cooperation with SkyDrive and ITRI, we will now move steadily forward, one step at a time, to assess the specifics of aircraft and service operations, while working together with related organizations to build the necessary eVTOL infrastructure. Our goal is to establish this project as a core model case for the commercialization of eVTOL in Taiwan, while also harnessing the project as an opportunity to further deepen relations between Japan and Taiwan.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO and Founder, SkyDrive Inc.
SkyDrive is honored to have this opportunity to contribute to improved emergency medical services in Taiwan’s Penghu Islands through the use of our aircraft to provide emergency medical transport. We consider this an extremely significant project and, with the strong support of our partners ITRI and 7A Drones, we are pleased to move this project vigorously forward from the conceptual to the preparatory phase.

Focusing on the route linking Magong and Hujing as our core service, we will address each of the individual elements required to achieve our goals including coordination with hospitals and emergency medical services, preparation of vertiports (takeoff and landing pads), systems for operating and controlling unmanned aircraft, readiness of charging infrastructure, the development of the necessary legal frameworks, and coordination between the public and private sectors. This project will only be possible with the powerful support of ITRI, a leading Taiwanese research institution, and 7A Drones. We will continue to work closely with our Taiwanese counterparts to make these plans a reality. We are all committed to developing medical eVTOL transport in the Penghu Islands as a first model case for the successful commercialization of eVTOL in Taiwan, and as a foundation for further contributions to future medical services in remote islands elsewhere in Asia and around the world.

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