Helicopters Inc signs letter of intent with Eve Air for 50 eVTOL

Manufacturer of electric aircraft, Eve Air Mobility, has signed a letter of intent with Helicopters Inc, a US based vertical lift operator, for up to 50 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, marking a significant partnership

In a significant development for the urban air mobility sector, Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, has signed a letter of intent with Helicopters Inc for the latter to purchase up to 50 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In a press statement, Eve Air Mobility says that the order was announced during the Revolution.aero Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) conference, where Eve was participating in the event discussing how to support and scale the future of air mobility. It adds that this partnership highlights Eve’s commitment to advancing sustainable urban transportation solutions.

According to the statement, Helicopters Inc will access Eve TechCare, an all-in-one solution offering streamlined eVTOL operations, expert support and advanced services.

Eve Air Mobility says that the agreement includes Vector, an adaptable software solution designed to streamline current and future advanced air mobility operations.

It adds that Eve and Helicopters Inc will further work together to refine potential launch cities, aircraft maintenance, and servicing needs, while also collaborating with ecosystem partners to assess infrastructure requirements for safe and efficient operations. Target use cases may include airport shuttles and point-to-point connections across the United States.

The statement adds that Eve’s partnership with Helicopters Inc began with a 2022 simulation in Chicago, where it used a Helicopters Inc helicopter to replicate eVTOL operations, transporting passengers between Vertiport Chicago and two nearby helistops.

It adds that Eve’s first eVTOL production facility will be at Taubaté, in São Paulo, Brazil, with the company unveiling its full-scale prototype at the Farnborough Air Show in July. Eve also has nearly 3,000 letters of intent from global customers.

“We appreciate Helicopters Inc’s confidence in Eve by purchasing up to 50 of our eVTOL aircraft. Helicopters Inc is a recognised leader, safely operating aircraft in more than 30 metropolitan areas throughout the US and we are excited to add such a credible vertical lift operator to our list of customers. We look forward to working with them on deploying our all-electric eVTOL aircraft as part of their extensive US operation,” says Megha Bhatia, Chief Commercial Officer, Eve Air Mobility.

“Eve Air Mobility’s maturity and reliability, backed by Embraer, was a key factor in our decision to select Eve for our future eVTOL aircraft. The aircraft will provide numerous advantages including competitive cost of operation, fewer parts and optimised structures and systems, not to mention a lower noise footprint and environmental benefits,” says Tom Wagner, President of Helicopters Inc.