Avincis, a well-established European helicopter operator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to collaborate on the development of advanced air mobility (AAM). This partnership will explore opportunities for operating electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft throughout Europe.
Through the agreement, Avincis and Airbus will focus on defining the concept of operations for eVTOLs in Europe and beyond. Both companies will work together to determine mission profiles for eVTOL operations in Europe and other target regions. This agreement marks another step towards the creation of an AAM ecosystem and builds on Avincis' longstanding relationship with Airbus.
John Boag, CEO, Avincis, said: “Our partnership with Airbus is an important milestone for Avincis, as we look to the future of emergency air services and the platforms that will support our missions for generations to come. eVTOLs will play an important role in our long-term fleet strategy as these technologies continue to evolve to give us further reach and capability in the field. Airbus is at the cutting-edge of this evolution, and we are excited to be working with their team in understanding how we can harness the latest technology to bring more sustainable solutions to emergency services globally.”
Avincis' global fleet currently includes around 60 Airbus aircraft, which are crucial for delivering safe, reliable, and consistent operations from its bases across Europe, Africa, and South America. The strong and trusting relationship between Avincis and Airbus, developed over many years of successful cooperation, will underpin this new eVTOL collaboration.
Airbus remains committed to expanding its network of partnerships worldwide to build an ecosystem that promotes a viable AAM market. The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype was presented to the public in March 2024, following the vehicle's final assembly and power-on in December 2023. The vehicle is now undergoing testing at the company's AAM test centre in Donauwörth, Germany, prior to its initial flight later this year.
