Eve Air Mobility signs long-term supply agreements

Eve Air Mobility has named four additional suppliers for its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Thales will supply a proven air data solution, comprising sensors and a computer while Honeywell will supply guidance, navigation, and external lighting for the aircraft. RECARO Aircraft Seating will supply the eVTOL’s seats and FACC will supply the horizontal and vertical tail including the rudder and elevator.

“We continue to be on schedule with our master plan and we are building a strong and reputable list of qualified suppliers for our eVTOL aircraft,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. “We have been very deliberate in establishing a long-term working relationship with each of our suppliers. Each agreement covers the aircraft’s life cycle including prototype, production, and aftermarket service and operational support. We look forward to working with Thales, Honeywell, RECARO, and FACC as we progress toward entry into service in 2026 and well into the future.”

Honeywell will supply guidance and navigation products including magnetometers, GPS-aided attitude & heading reference systems, and inertial reference systems built upon decades of engineering and manufacturing experience. These systems will relay and aid the pilots and other onboard systems to ensure safe and efficient flight. The company will also supply external lighting for the aircraft.

“Honeywell has decades of experience engineering and manufacturing high-performance navigation and sensors products for commercial, defense, industrial, and space applications,” said David Shilliday, vice president and general manager, Advanced Air Mobility, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “These products are also critical to enabling the next generation of electric aircraft, and we’re excited to help build the future of aviation and advance Eve Air Mobility’s goal to make air travel more sustainable.”

Thales will supply a proven air data solution, comprising sensors and computer, which gather critical data such as airspeed, altitude, and environmental conditions. The solution then relays the information to pilots and onboard systems to ensure safe and efficient flight in all weather conditions.

RECARO Aircraft Seating, a global supplier of premium aircraft seats for airlines, OEMs, and eVTOL aircraft, was selected to design, certify, and produce the four passenger seats and one pilot seat for the aircraft. RECARO is widely recognized for product innovation, award-winning customer service, and commitment to reliability, efficiency, and sustainable practices.

This is a historic milestone for RECARO Aircraft Seating as it ventures into the world of eVTOL aircraft for the first time in its 51-year history, demonstrating its commitment to advancing aviation technology. The company is set to deliver a total of 75,000 seats, organized in shipsets of five seats each, with deliveries commencing in the first quarter of 2025.

Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding, said, “eVTOL aircraft represent an exciting new chapter for air transport, and I am confident that RECARO is well-equipped to navigate it, as our strengths in lightweight design, superior quality, and outstanding ergonomics fit perfectly into the eVTOL segment."

FACC was selected to lead the development and production of the eVTOL’s horizontal and vertical tail including its rudder, elevator, and the aircraft’s aileron. FACC is recognized for its production of lightweight components relying on innovative manufacturing techniques and technology.

These new suppliers are in addition to Garmin, Liebherr Aerospace, and Intergalactic that were announced in October and Nidec Aerospace LLC, a joint venture between Japan’s Nidec Corp. and Brazil’s Embraer, BAE Systems, and DUC Hélices Propellers which were announced at the Paris Air Show this past summer.

Eve’s eVTOL aircraft uses a lift+cruise configuration with eight dedicated propellers for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, with no change in the position of these components during flight. The latest concept includes an electric pusher powered by dual electric motors that provide propulsion redundancy while ensuring high performance and safety. While offering numerous advantages including lower cost of operation, fewer parts, optimized structures and systems, it has been developed to offer efficient thrust with low sound. Eve’s eVTOL is 100% electric and has a range of 100km (60 miles) allowing it to complete a variety of urban air mobility missions. It will be piloted at launch but evolving towards uncrewed operations in the future.

In July, the company announced that its first eVTOL production facility will be located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The company has begun assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype which will be followed by a test campaign in 2024. Eve’s eVTOL is scheduled to begin deliveries and enter into service in 2026.

Concurrently, Eve continues to develop a comprehensive portfolio of agnostic service and operations solutions, including a unique Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software to optimize and scale Urban Air Mobility operations worldwide.

Backed by Embraer S.A.’s more than 50-year history of aerospace expertise, and with a singular focus, Eve is taking a holistic approach to progressing the UAM ecosystem, with an advanced eVTOL project, comprehensive global services and support network, and a unique air traffic management solution. Since May 10, 2022, Eve is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.