Eve Air Mobility, Embraer’s subsidiary, signed a letter of intent with Helicopters Inc., a helicopter and vertical transport operator in the United States, for the acquisition of up to 50 eVTOL aircraft, in addition to support services and the urban air traffic management software, Vector. The announcement was made during the Revolution.aero Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) conference in San Francisco.

According to the company, this agreement includes the supply of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, technical support, and the use of Vector, a software designed to manage current and future advanced air mobility operations.

Eve and Helicopters Inc. have a previous relationship dating back to 2022, when both companies conducted joint simulations in Chicago to replicate future operations with eVTOLs. These tests included simulated flights from Vertiport Chicago to helipads in Schaumburg and Tinley Park, in the outskirts of the city.

“The maturity and reliability of Eve, backed by one of the largest commercial aircraft manufacturers in the world, was a key factor in our decision,” said Tom Wagner, president of Helicopters Inc. “eVTOL aircraft offer advantages such as competitive operating costs, fewer parts, optimized structures, and environmental benefits, as well as reduced noise impact,” he added.

The companies will work together to define launch cities in key markets, identify maintenance requirements, and analyze the infrastructure needed to support these operations. Possible uses include transport services to airports and point-to-point connections across the United States.

Eve details that its eVTOL aircraft uses a «lift+cruise» configuration, with eight propellers dedicated to vertical flight and fixed wings for cruise displacement, along with redundant electric motors to ensure high levels of safety and performance.

The agreement also includes Helicopters Inc. access to Eve TechCare, a suite of solutions to streamline eVTOL operations, and reinforces the commitment to a broader urban air mobility ecosystem.

Eve, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 2022, is developing its first full-scale prototype, presented at the Farnborough Airshow. The company has letters of intent for nearly 3,000 eVTOL units from customers on nearly every continent.

With this new agreement, Helicopters Inc. seeks to leverage its more than 40 years of experience in vertical transport to take a step forward in urban air mobility, as highlighted by its representatives.