Eve Air Mobility has named Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), as supplier for its eVTOL pylons, reports a press release. Pylons are a key component of the airframe that provide support for the aircraft’s electric power units and eight lift propellers.
During the past 30 years, KAI has supplied major aerostructure components to aviation manufacturers around the world, including Embraer for its E‑Jet E2 model. The agreement “marks KAI’s formal entry into the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market,” explains the release.
Last year, Goo Young Kang, CEO of KAI, designated Space and Future Air Mobility as the company’s core future business via its 2050 Vision Declaration. KAI recently announced a significant investment in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure with the goal of increasing its market share in this rapidly growing new industry.
Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve, remarked, “KAI has an excellent reputation for quality, technology and business performance supplying numerous aerostructure components for a variety of aircraft including Embraer’s E‑Jet E2 model.”
He continued, “We are excited to have this company join a strong and diverse list of suppliers who will work with us to supply components from prototype through to production.”
Korea Aerospace Industries HQ (Credit: KAI)
In February, Eve named Aciturri (wing skin, spars and leading/trailing edges of the wing) and Crouzet (pilot controls) as suppliers. And in January, the eVTOL company announced that Thales would supply sensors and a computer while Honeywell is to provide guidance, navigation and external lighting. Meanwhile, RECARO Aircraft Seating was selected to furnish the eVTOL’s seats and FACC to deliver the horizontal and vertical tail including the rudder and elevator.
Last year, Eve selected Garmin to supply the aircraft’s avionics; Liebherr-Aerospace to provide the flight controls actuators; and Intergalactic to fulfil the thermal management system. The company also named Nidec Aerospace, a joint venture between Nidec and Embraer, to produce the electric propulsion system; BAE Systems to deliver the energy storage system; and Duc Hélice Propellers to purvey the rotors and propeller.
In 2023, Eve announced its first eVTOL production facility would be located in the city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The company has begun assembly of its first full-scale eVTOL prototype which will be followed by a test campaign.
The eVTOL aircraft is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2026.
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