AFI KLM E&M and Ascendance Flight Technologies have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore potential collaborations in the coming months in four main areas: line maintenance, component repair, mechanics training and airworthiness management for eVTOL aircraft.
According to the press release:
“Ascendance is working on one of the most promising vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) projects in Europe. Called Atea, it consists of a 5-seat aircraft with a 400 km range thanks to the Sterna propulsion architecture also developed by the start-up: a distributed hybrid electric motorization, with a modular energetic approach to accept conventional fuel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) up to Hydrogen. The certification activities regarding these technologies have officially started and an Atea prototype is expected to achieve its first flight in 2023.”
Jean-Christophe Lambert, co-founder and CEO of Ascendance, said: “We are honored to receive this signal of interest from a major player in the field of aircraft maintenance. In parallel with our efforts to develop a new type of aircraft, it is very important for us to prepare the future of its operations today, in conjunction with the best experts in our industry. Maintenance is obviously at the center of our customers’ concerns and this collaboration with AFI KLM E&M is a major step towards providing them reliable solutions.”
For more information
https://www.afiklmem.com/en/press-release/18102022-afiklmem-and-ascendance-plugged-in-together-to-explore-vtol-maintenance-solutions