Safran Helicopter Engines and AURA AERO signed a definitive agreement on July 27, 2026, to develop and integrate TG600 turbogenerators into the prototype of the Electric Regional Aircraft (ERA). The contract secures the critical power-generation architecture for the 19-seat hybrid-electric aircraft, advancing the program toward its first flight and industrialization.

Announced in a joint press release, the agreement transitions a June 2023 Memorandum of Understanding into a binding development phase. The ERA will utilize a distributed hybrid-electric Propulsion system, relying on two Safran TG600 turbogenerators to supply power to eight ENGINeUS electric motors mounted along the wings.

Propulsion architecture and technical specifications

The integration of the propulsion system is a joint effort between Safran Helicopter Engines, Safran Electrical & Power, and AURA AERO. Each TG600 turbogenerator is capable of delivering 600 kilowatts of electrical power output. These units will generate the electricity required to drive the eight ENGINeUS motors during flight phases that demand sustained power, enabling the aircraft to achieve its maximum range of 900 nautical miles (1,500 kilometers).

Cédric Goubet, President of Safran Helicopter Engines, stated that the TG600 will be an essential element of the ERA’s hybrid propulsion system.

“We are particularly pleased to reach this important milestone in our Partnerships with Aura Aero and thus contribute to advancing the decarbonization of aviation alongside this up-and-coming French aircraft manufacturer. Our teams will now work with those of Aura Aero towards the first flight of a prototype.”

The turbogenerator agreement follows a related announcement on July 20, 2026, in which Safran Electrical & Power and AURA AERO expanded their strategic partnership. That agreement focused on the serial production of the fully electric INTEGRAL E trainer aircraft and confirmed the selection of the ENGINeUS motors for the ERA. Jérémy Caussade, President and Co-founder of AURA AERO, noted that strengthening the partnership with Safran Electrical & Power consolidates the technological and industrial roadmap for both aircraft programs.

Market momentum for the ERA and TG600

The definitive agreement with Safran provides industrial backing for the ERA as AURA AERO works to convert its initial market interest into a firm backlog. In March 2026, French private airline Pan Européenne Air Service placed the first firm Orders for the ERA. Prior to this firm order, AURA AERO had secured approximately 700 Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the aircraft, representing an estimated total value of $12 billion.

The TG600 turbogenerator is also gaining traction beyond the ERA program. On July 15, 2026, Safran Helicopter Engines secured a life-of-program production agreement with United States-based Manufacturers Electra. Under that Contracts, Safran will supply the TG600 for Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft, demonstrating broader industry adoption of the 600 kW power generation architecture for next-generation regional platforms.

AirPro News analysis

We view the July 27 agreement as a critical de-risking milestone for AURA AERO. Transitioning from a Memorandum of Understanding to a definitive development contract with a Tier 1 aerospace supplier like Safran provides the ERA program with necessary industrial credibility. The sequential announcements throughout July 2026, including the INTEGRAL E production agreement and the Electra TG600 contract, indicate that Safran is aggressively positioning its turbogenerator and electric motor portfolios as the default propulsion solutions for the emerging sub-20-seat hybrid-electric market. Securing firm hardware commitments is essential for AURA AERO to convert its substantial $12 billion backlog of Letters of Intent into firm orders, following the initial commitment from Pan Européenne Air Service.

Sources: AURA AERO

Eve Air Mobility and Shearwater Global Capital signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for up to 16 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on July 19, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow. The agreement introduces a dedicated leasing model to the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector, allowing future operators to launch electric air taxi services without the capital burden of outright aircraft purchases.

Announced via a company press release, the deal marks a significant step for institutional aviation finance entering the AAM market. Shearwater Global Capital, which joined Bay Point in April 2026 to establish an aviation finance vertical, intends to purchase the Eve 100 aircraft and lease them downstream to carriers.

Leasing model lowers barriers for operators

By acting as a lessor, Shearwater aims to provide financing solutions that reduce the upfront capital requirements for airlines and operators looking to integrate eVTOLs into their fleets. This approach mirrors traditional commercial aviation finance, where leasing companies hold significant portions of the global fleet to distribute financial risk and enable operator growth.

“This order reflects our confidence in Eve’s technology, leadership team, and vision for advanced air mobility,” said Chris Miller, Managing Director of Aviation at Shearwater Global Capital. He noted that the firm intends to play a leading role in supporting the global growth of the sector through these leasing structures.

Eve Air Mobility expands Farnborough footprint

The agreement with Shearwater is a non-binding LOI, and specific delivery dates and financial terms have not been disclosed by the companies. The announcement coincided with a separate LOI signed on July 19, 2026, between Eve Air Mobility and Moov Airways for up to 30 eVTOL aircraft intended for tourism and regional mobility in Cabo Verde.

Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, welcomed the partnership, stating that the company looks forward to supporting Shearwater as it brings leasing solutions to the market. The commercial momentum at Farnborough was accompanied by regulatory progress, as Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) published proposed noise certification criteria for the Eve 100 on the same day.

AirPro News analysis

We view the entry of established aviation finance entities like Shearwater Global Capital into the eVTOL space as a critical maturation point for the AAM industry. While manufacturers have accumulated thousands of conditional orders, the transition from non-binding LOIs to firm, funded contracts requires robust financing mechanisms. The lessor model will likely be essential for AAM adoption, as many early operators will lack the balance sheet strength to acquire fleets of Eve 100 aircraft outright. The concurrent progress on ANAC noise certification criteria provides a necessary regulatory foundation to support these future financial commitments.

Sources: Eve Air Mobility / Embraer

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate in the Experimental Category (SAC-EC) to Heart Aerospace for its X1 demonstrator, clearing the path for immediate test-flights of what is expected to be the largest electric-aviation aircraft ever flown.

The authorization was announced in a company press release on July 23, 2026. The X1 serves as a full-scale testbed for the manufacturers‘s planned 30-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner, the ES-30. Testing operations will be conducted at Heart Aerospace’s dedicated flight-test facility at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York.

Demonstrator specifications and testing progress

The X1 demonstrator features a wingspan of 106 feet and a fuselage length of 76 feet. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 25,000 pounds. These dimensions make the X1 a critical platform for validating electric propulsion systems at a scale relevant to commercial regional transport.

Prior to receiving FAA clearance, the X1 completed an extensive ground testing campaign. This program evaluated structural integrity, propulsion systems, and onboard avionics. The aircraft successfully concluded low-speed taxi testing at Plattsburgh International Airport in late May 2026.

Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, noted that earning the FAA flight authorization brings the program to the threshold of its first-flight.

“This achievement reflects the rigor of the work completed by Heart’s engineering and flight-test teams, as well as the close working relationship we have built with the FAA. With our certificate now in hand, our full focus is on flight. We are ready to get X1 in the air,” Forslund stated.

Program timeline and strategic shifts

The regulatory approval follows a revised development timeline for the X1 program. Heart Aerospace originally scheduled the maiden flight for 2025. The company delayed the first flight to early 2026 after a structural test required engineers to replace a composite wing component. While the FAA has now authorized immediate flight operations, Heart Aerospace has not yet published a specific date for the maiden flight.

The manufacturer has also restructured its corporate footprint to align with its target market and investor base. In April 2025, Heart Aerospace relocated its corporate headquarters from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Los Angeles, California. The relocation was executed to consolidate operations, accelerate development, and position the company closer to its primary United States customers.

The ES-30 commercial pathway

Flight data gathered from the X1 demonstrator will directly inform the certification and production of the ES-30. The planned production aircraft is designed to accommodate 30 passengers with an all-electric, zero-emission range of 200 kilometers. When utilizing its hybrid-electric system with a payload of 25 passengers, the aircraft’s range extends up to 800 kilometers.

The ES-30 has generated commercial interest from regional operators. Icelandair, which holds a seat on the Heart Aerospace advisory board, has signed a letter of intent to acquire five ES-30 aircraft. The airline is targeting commercial service entry for the hybrid-electric airliner in 2031.

AirPro News analysis

Securing the SAC-EC from the FAA is a mandatory regulatory hurdle for any novel aircraft architecture. For Heart Aerospace, this certification validates the company’s ground testing data and structural redesigns following the 2025 composite wing component replacement. As the aviation industry monitors the transition from sub-scale models to full-scale hardware, the upcoming X1 flight test campaign will provide critical real-world data on battery thermal management, electric motor reliability, and aerodynamic performance at a scale previously untested in electric aviation. We anticipate the flight test results will heavily influence the final design freeze for the production ES-30.

Sources: Heart Aerospace