Aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO* cut the ribbon yesterday on an 11,000 sq. ft facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park that will serve as its U.S. headquarters and first production site. The campus will host the North American Delivery and Customer Support Center for the INTEGRAL programme and lay the groundwork for the company’s hybrid-electric ERA aircraft.
The initial production line will build the INTEGRAL family of two-seater, aerobatic-capable training aircraft – offered first with a Lycoming piston engine and subsequently in a 100% electric version, said the company in a press release. “The U.S. is the largest training market in the world, with nearly 600 FAA approved flight schools, over 75,000 pilots, and a growing demand for modern, cost-effective training aircraft with aerobatic capabilities, and is therefore a major market for INTEGRAL. Recently certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and with FAA certification underway, the INTEGRAL family offers an advanced, efficient solution for both traditional and electrci flight training, making it a strong contender in the U.S. market.
“In 2028, AURA AERO plans to open a 500,000 sq.ft assembly line for its 19-seater aircraft ERA, and intends to be the world’s first to manufacture a hybrid-electric regional aircraft, operating assembly lines in France and the U.S. The United States has emerged as one of the strongest markets for ERA, now accounting for more than one third of the orders worldwide. The company expects U.S. volumes to approach half of its global total as additional commitments are finalized.
“The current LOI book stands at over 650 ERA aircraft, for more than USD10.5 billion. Florida’s site follows a partnership signed two years ago with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development agency, played a key role in supporting the project, which is expected to create more than a thousand high-skill jobs in the region.
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https://www.aura-aero.com/en