Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, which is owned by Embraer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with national carrier Kenya Airways PLC through its fully owned subsidiary, Fahari Aviation. The collaboration aims to develop operational models for wide accessibility of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to support Fahari Aviation’s key markets.
This partnership will establish the co-creation of a foundation of concepts and procedures to safely scale electric vertical aircraft (EVA) throughout the country in the coming years. Eve will support Fahari Aviation, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) division of Kenya Airways, in establishing its UAM network and collaborate on the required Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) procedures and UAM operating environment.
It is estimated that using UAM from the airport to downtown, EVA can reduce conventional road trips by up to 90%, turning an hour and a half ride into a six-minute flight. Eve is a new independent company founded by Embraer dedicated to accelerating the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
This partnership will also allow Fahari Aviation to support Eve’s aircraft and product development process which will help guide the integration of UAM with Kenya Airways’ operations. Eve’s fully electric aircraft is designed to be accessible to all while being a community-friendly aircraft with a low noise signature and no emissions.
It aims to drastically cut road travel time and it is ideally suited as a UAM aircraft. “The creation of disruptive and widely accessible Urban Air Mobility solutions will help democratize mobility by making it more accessible, affordable and giving communities more options,” aid Mr Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve.
Mr Stein said this partnership will foster long-term mobility strategies throughout the country and region. “With our aircraft and aerospace services backing and Kenya Airways’ innovative approach to air mobility, we are enthusiastic about opening this region to more sustainable and community-friendly air access for all,” he said.
Partnerships are vital in mapping out the future of the airline, said Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka, something which the global crisis has reinforced.
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“Innovation is a critical element of our long-term sustainability,” Mr Kilavuka said. “Fahari Aviation is at the forefront of exploring advanced technologies, with a key focus on aviation, starting with drone technology. With this partnership, we look to develop innovative air mobility solutions for our clients in Kenya and throughout the region.”
He said the partnership will deliver a robust strategy to provide Fahari Aviation’s passengers with a sustainable, accessible, and affordable transportation option.
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