Honeywell And Vertical Aerospace Join Forces To Support Development Of The Urban Air Mobility Segment

Honeywell and Vertical Aerospace combine expertise to address regulatory, technical and safety challenges by applying advanced aerospace technology to electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

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Honeywell Aerospace

Jun 03, 2019, 13:00 ET

PHOENIX, June 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Vertical Aerospace have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address the technical, regulatory and business challenges of the emerging urban air mobility segment. The companies plan to integrate Honeywell avionics, navigation, fly-by-wire and other products and advanced technologies that leverage the company's technologies into future Vertical Aerospace vehicles for use in urban environments.

The agreement will provide Vertical Aerospace's vehicles with Honeywell's latest flight systems for urban air mobility. These include Honeywell's new compact fly-by-wire system, which offers the critical redundancy needed to meet the safety and certification requirements for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, all in a package the size of a paperback book. Urban air mobility vehicles promise to reduce urban congestion and provide new ways for people to travel around cities and rural areas.

"Overly congested, polluted cities continue to be an issue, and to combat this urban air mobility will be a key feature of cities of the future," said Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO and founder of Vertical Aerospace. "Combining Honeywell's technology and experience in next-generation avionics with Vertical Aerospace's aircraft will allow us to make carbon-free, on-demand air mobility a reality."

Honeywell has extensive aviation hardware and software offerings, including advanced navigation technologies and flight controls. The company's experience can help companies of all sizes meet the regulatory requirements for urban air mobility.

"Honeywell's expertise in integrated avionics, systems integration, certification and manufacturing, combined with Vertical Aerospace's capabilities in developing eVTOL vehicles, will spur the advancement of urban air mobility," said Carl Esposito, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace. "Through years of working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency, Honeywell is well equipped to help Vertical Aerospace navigate the civil airspace landscape and develop their vehicles."

This is the third agreement Honeywell has signed with urban air mobility companies to develop avionics, navigation, flight control systems, connectivity and other products for their vehicles. Building on their MOU, Honeywell and Vertical Aerospace are working towards a formal agreement by mid-year 2019.

Urban air mobility is an aviation industry term for on-demand and automated passenger or cargo-carrying air transportation services, typically flown without a pilot. Urban air mobility services will bring new and innovative ways for people to travel around cities and rural areas, while reducing congestion.

About Honeywell

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell Aerospace