New Horizon Aircraft Ltd. and Great Lakes Helicopter Corp. signed a Letter of Intent on September 29, 2026, to establish maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, pilot training programs, and aircraft purchases for the Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric aircraft. The agreement secures a critical operational pipeline for the next-generation vertical take-off and landing aircraft ahead of its commercial debut.

Announced in a press release issued by Horizon Aircraft, the partnership pairs the aerospace engineering company with an established Ontario-based flight school and commercial operator. By securing Great Lakes Helicopter as a foundational partner, Horizon Aircraft aims to ensure future operators have immediate access to the maintenance and training infrastructure required to integrate the Cavorite X7 into active fleets.

Building the operational ecosystem

As the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector matures, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly prioritizing the ground infrastructure necessary to support their platforms. The agreement with Great Lakes Helicopter addresses this requirement by leveraging an existing Transport Canada-approved flight training school and charter operator based in Cambridge, Ontario.

Established in 2003, Great Lakes Helicopter operates a fleet of Robinson R22, Robinson R44, and Bell 206 Helicopters. The company’s in-house maintenance division, Rotor Services Limited, has maintained helicopters at the Region of Waterloo International Airport for over 30 years. Under the new agreement, this entity will expand its capabilities to support the Cavorite X7.

“We are building a new Rotor Services maintenance facility that will support next-generation platforms like the X7. Aircraft like this could open up faster, more reliable access to critical services for remote and underserved communities, and we want GLH’s maintenance, training, and operations expertise to be part of making that real,” said Chad McIntosh, Managing Director of Great Lakes Helicopter.

Horizon Aircraft Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Brandon Robinson emphasized that establishing this ecosystem is a prerequisite for commercial success. Partnering with an experienced organization gives future customers a defined path toward integrating the hybrid-electric aircraft into their operations.

“Partnering with an experienced MRO and pilot training organisation like Great Lakes Helicopter is an important step as we build the ecosystem needed to support the Cavorite X7 and its future customers. With so many operators and communities poised to benefit from the X7’s capabilities, having reliable maintenance and pilot training in place gives future customers a clearer path toward integrating our next-generation VTOL aircraft into their operations,” Robinson stated.

The Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric approach

The Cavorite X7 differentiates itself from fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) competitors through its hybrid-electric architecture. Designed to carry six passengers, the aircraft utilizes a patented fan-in-wing configuration. Electric fans embedded in the wings provide vertical lift, and panels close over these fans during forward flight to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Forward thrust is generated by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine. This engine simultaneously recharges the onboard battery array during flight, removing the requirement for extensive ground charging infrastructure. Horizon Aircraft estimates the Cavorite X7 will achieve a range of 800 km (500 miles) and a top speed of 450 km/h (280 mph).

This hybrid model targets regional air mobility, emergency medical services, and military applications in areas where electrical grid infrastructure is limited. By partnering with established maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers like Great Lakes Helicopter, Horizon Aircraft ensures the Cavorite X7 can operate within existing aviation networks without demanding proprietary charging or maintenance facilities.

Transitioning from design to manufacturing

Headquartered in Lindsay, Ontario, New Horizon Aircraft Ltd. was founded in 2013 by former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Brandon Robinson and his father, Brian Robinson. The company has steadily advanced the Cavorite X7 program, securing a U.S. Department of Defense Phase 1 High Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing contract in January 2022.

In early 2026, the Cavorite X7 program transitioned from the design phase to manufacturing. Horizon Aircraft locked in the aircraft’s Outer Mold Line design in January 2026. The following month, the company announced manufacturing partnerships, selecting RAMPF Composites to produce the fuselage and North Aircraft to manufacture the wings.

While the September 29, 2026, Letter of Intent includes Great Lakes Helicopter’s intention to purchase Cavorite X7 aircraft, the exact number of airframes and the timeline for commercial production and delivery remain undisclosed.

AirPro News analysis

We view this Letter of Intent as a pragmatic step for Horizon Aircraft, highlighting a critical divergence in strategy within the Advanced Air Mobility sector. While pure eVTOL developers are forced to invest heavily in proprietary charging networks and bespoke maintenance facilities, Horizon’s hybrid-electric design allows it to plug directly into the existing aviation ecosystem. Securing an established MRO and training partner like Great Lakes Helicopter validates this approach, demonstrating that legacy aviation service providers see a viable business case in supporting hybrid platforms. If Horizon can execute on its manufacturing timeline, this plug-and-play operational model could offer a significant advantage in early market adoption, particularly for remote and utility operations.

Safran Corporate Ventures has acquired a minority stake in French test specialist Akira Technologies, securing a key prototyping partner involved in the hybrid-electric development of the CFM International RISE demonstrator engine. The investment, announced on September 22, 2026, aims to scale the production capabilities of Akira for next-generation aerospace and defense Propulsion systems.

In a press release issued by Safran Group, the company confirmed the funding round also included participation from European missile Manufacturers MBDA and the Definvest fund, which is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). Founded in 2003 and based in Bayonne, Europe, Akira Technologies currently generates €13 million in annual revenue and employs 70 people. The capital injection will support the transition of the company from prototyping to small- and medium-batch production.

Advancing the CFM RISE program

Akira Technologies has served as a critical testing partner for Safran, specifically tasked with assessing the hybrid-electric layout of the CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) demonstrator. The RISE program, a joint venture initiative between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines under CFM International, targets a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to current Commercial-Aircraft engines.

The investment aligns with the broader push by Safran into Electric-Aviation propulsion. In July 2026, Safran launched the PHILEAS full-scale hybrid-electric demonstrator test campaign in Istres, France, to evaluate power extraction and injection technologies. Securing a stake in Akira ensures Safran maintains close integration with a specialized partner capable of agile development for these megawatt-class hybrid powertrains.

Defense applications and industrial sovereignty

Beyond commercial aviation, the funding round highlights the growing role of Akira in the defense sector. The involvement of MBDA and the DGA-backed Definvest fund points to strategic interests in the development of Drones propulsion systems and microturbines by Akira.

Florent Illat, CEO of Safran Corporate Ventures, stated that the investment strengthens a longstanding relationship and secures expertise in design and agile prototyping necessary for future aviation and defense needs.

“For a company working in mechanical engineering and engines, receiving such a vote of confidence from Safran is recognition of the expertise and efficiency of the Akira team,” said Sylvain Loumé, Managing Director of Akira Technologies. “It also represents a further tangible commitment on our part to building a French industrial sector that combines technological excellence, sovereignty and competitiveness.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the minority stake taken by Safran in Akira Technologies as a strategic move to insulate its supply chain and secure specialized engineering talent during a critical phase of the CFM RISE program. As engine manufacturers push the boundaries of open-fan architectures and hybrid-electric integration, the bottleneck often lies in rapid prototyping and bespoke test rigs. By bringing a trusted vendor closer into the corporate fold, Safran mitigates the risk of losing the bandwidth of Akira to competing aerospace or defense projects. The co-investment by MBDA and the French government further underscores a national strategy to keep critical propulsion technology development within domestic borders.

Sources: Safran Group

The European Union surpassed its initial Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate in 2025, with SAF accounting for 2.79 percent of all jet fuel supplied to EU airports during the first mandatory reporting year.

According to the 2026 ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on September 17, 2026, fuel suppliers delivered 1.1 million tonnes of SAF against a total aviation fuel supply of 39.3 million tonnes. The 2.79 percent blend rate comfortably exceeded the 2 percent minimum required by the ReFuelEU regulation for 2025. This uptake resulted in an estimated reduction of 3.77 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are pleased to confirm that the SAF mandate under ReFuelEU Aviation was not only met but exceeded,” EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet stated in the agency’s press release.

Compliance and distribution across European hubs

The EASA report indicates high compliance rates across the sector. Ninety-three percent of aircraft operators and 90 percent of fuel suppliers fulfilled their reporting obligations in 2025. EASA noted that noncompliance among aircraft operators was primarily limited to small business jet operators, nonscheduled carriers, and third-country operators that failed to respond to competent authorities.

SAF distribution reached 121 Airports across all 27 Member States, representing 79 percent of all Union airports. Uptake was heavily concentrated at major European hubs. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) accounted for 29 percent of the tracked SAF supply, followed by Frankfurt Airport (FRA) at 8 percent and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 7 percent.

Supply chain dynamics and feedstock dependencies

While the headline blending figures demonstrate regulatory success, the technical report reveals a structural reliance on imported raw materials. Although 86 percent of the SAF supplied at EU airports was refined domestically within the European Union, 85 percent of the underlying feedstocks originated from outside the bloc.

The primary feedstock utilized was Used Cooking Oil (UCO) processed via the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway. Of the imported feedstocks, 61 percent originated from China, with additional volumes sourced from Malaysia and Indonesia. On the refining side, Neste’s Rotterdam facility alone produced 33 percent of all European SAF in 2025.

AirPro News analysis

The successful implementation of the 2 percent mandate in 2025 proves that the logistical framework for SAF distribution at major European hubs is functional. However, the heavy reliance on Asian Used Cooking Oil presents a long-term vulnerability for European aviation. As the ReFuelEU mandate scales to 6 percent in 2030, the Regulations will also introduce sub-mandates for synthetic aviation fuels (e-fuels). With approximately 50 synthetic fuel projects awaiting final investment decisions and no large-scale e-fuel facilities currently operational in Europe, we anticipate significant capital mobilization will be required over the next 36 months to prevent future supply bottlenecks and reduce dependency on imported biomass.

Sources: European Union Aviation Safety Agency