Embraer's Eve reaches first deal to provide air traffic control software

Lilium NV

18/07/2022 01:00

By Gabriel Araujo
    SAO PAULO, July 17 (Reuters) - Eve Holding Inc  EVEX.N , the
electric aircraft unit of Brazil's Embraer SA  EMBR3.SA , on
Sunday announced its first deal to provide a software for air
traffic management, and is in talks with other potential
customers in the sector.
    The company signed a letter of intent with UK-based Halo
Aviation Ltd to develop and launch its air traffic solution,
with operations expected in both the United Kingdom and the
United States.
    Halo had ordered 200 electric vertical take-off and landing
vehicles (eVTOLs) from Eve last year, in a bid to enhance the
development of the so-called Urban Air Mobility sector.
    The software will not be focused only on Eve's aircraft as
its eVTOLs will share airspace with drones, helicopters,
commercial airplanes and other flying taxis, co-chief executive
Andre Stein said.
    "It is an agnostic solution," he told Reuters in an
interview from Great Britain, where Eve is participating in the
Farnborough Airshow.
    Eve and Halo did not disclose how much the deal was worth.
    Stein said Eve is talking to other potential customers to
expand its footprint on air traffic management. He did not
provide details, but noted such negotiations include both eVTOL
operators and air traffic controllers.
    Eve currently has a backlog of 1,910 orders, the largest in
the industry, and sees Embraer's successful certification record
as an advantage over its competitors.
    "We are one of the few companies that can say we've done it
before," Stein said, noting that Embraer obtained certification
for 30 aircraft models in the last 25 years.
    Stein said Eve, which expects to launch its flying taxis by
2026, doesn't have a target for orders but hopes to be a leader
in the market it sees reaching 50,000 aircraft by 2035 and
100,000 by 2040.
    Peers include Joby Aviation Inc  JOBY.N , Vertical Aerospace
Ltd  EVTL.N , Lilium NV  LILM.O  and Archer Aviation Inc
 ACHR.N .
    Eve debuted on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this year
after combining its business with Zanite Acquisition Corp,
raising $377 million in the process to manufacture its flying
taxis. 
    Sunday's announcement came as the firm also unveiled its
first full-sized eVTOL cabin mock-up in Farnborough.
    Stein had told journalists in May the company was not
rushing to launch its prototype, but "doing it right".
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 (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; editing by Diane Craft)
 ((Gabriel.Araujo2@thomsonreuters.com; +55 11 5644 7745;))