Ascendance Flight Technologies, the French start-up specializing in low-carbon aviation, has opened its order book. It has received its first purchase intentions from operators in the US, Asia and Europe for a total of 245 units of Atea, its five-seat hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. These Letters of Intent (LOI) confirm the sector’s interest in the hybrid technology, endurance and versatility of the aircraft. Atea is a low carbon alternative to the helicopter, intended for regional use, and will go into production in 2025.
Hybrid-electric technology and distributed propulsion: for Ascendance Flight Technologies, these technical choices are the safest and fastest solution to move towards a new, cleaner and more sustainable air mobility. They are the centerpiece to its strategy and the development of its high-performance solutions dedicated to a new generation of aviation: Atea, a multi-use hybrid-electric aircraft and Sterna, its patented modular hybrid propulsion system. With its focus on decentralized aviation or decarbonization of existing aircraft, Ascendance anticipates and develops agile solutions that will impact the future of mobility. Since its founding in 2018, the young company has steadily and rigorously met several key milestones of its ambitious development schedule.
“Our project to decarbonize aviation had to be anchored in reality, we built it around the cornerstones of our industry, which are safety, efficiency, resilience, comfort and cost effectiveness. These imperatives are at the heart of our customers’ demands and guide our innovations. With Atea, we can now offer our customers an easier transition to a low-carbon fleet, with a high-performance, competitive aircraft available at very short notice.”
Jean-Christophe Lambert, co-founder and CEO of Ascendance.
International customers
Both aircraft and engine manufacturer, Ascendance Flight Technologies designs solutions in response to the concrete expectations of the aviation industry’s players and users. This aim is reflected in the design and architecture of Atea, which has convinced demanding customers across three continents. The Letters of Intent registered today reflect the suitability of Ascendance solutions to the operational needs and business model of players with varied profiles: helicopter operator, air carrier, aircraft charterer or cargo specialist. While further negotiations are still underway, Ascendance is pleased to announce that 6 companies have signed LOIs for 245 Atea. Located in Europe, the United States and Asia, they cover several areas of activities :
EVFLY (SINGAPORE) – FLYSHARE (USA/CALIFORNIA) – HELIFIRST (FRANCE) – JET SYSTEMS HELICOPTÈRES SERVICES (FRANCE) – PHILJETS GROUP (PHILIPPINES) – YUGO (SINGAPORE).
The company currently has around 50 employees and is expected to double its workforce by 2023. The delivery of its new facilities at the Muret-Lherm airfield, as well as its next full-scale prototype test campaign, are also scheduled for next year. Demonstration flights will be held in Paris during the 2024 Olympics. The production launch of the aircraft is scheduled for 2025.
