Embraer’s electric aircraft arm, Eve, has reached a letter of intent with UK-based Halo Aviation to provide air traffic management software, representing the first deal of its kind secured by the company, reported Reuters.
The value of the deal was not shared.
Last year, Halo placed an order to buy 200 electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) from Eve.
As part of the latest deal, Eve plans to deliver software that will cater to the company’s eVTOLs as well as other drones, helicopters, commercial aircraft and flying taxis operating in the same airspace.
Eve co-CEO Andre Stein was quoted by the news agency as saying: “It is an agnostic solution.”
Stein also said that Eve is negotiating similar deals with other possible customers involved in the business.
However, Stein did not give details of those discussions, which are said to involve both eVTOL operators and air traffic management providers.
Stein added: “We are one of the few companies that can say we’ve done it before.”
In the past 25 years, Embraer has secured certification for 30 aircraft models.
In addition, Stein noted that Eve intends to introduce its flying taxis by 2026, and expects the market to reach 50,000 aircraft by 2035 and 100,000 by 2040.
The latest deal coincides with the launch of a full-sized eVTOL cabin mock-up by Eve at the ongoing Farnborough Airshow in the UK.
Separately, Embraer has signed a letter of intent with Brazil-based renewable solutions provider Raízen to support the growth of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production amid the air transport industry’s decarbonisation efforts.
Under the collaboration, Embraer would use SAF that will potentially be distributed by Raízen.
The move aligns with Embraer’s plan to neutralise its operations’ carbon footprint by 2040.
