Of Education and Undertakings Integral Thereto

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and French air-framer Aura Aero have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) by which the two entities will partner to train student pilots at the school’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus to fly Aura Aero’s zero-emission aircraft.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in Paris during the Florida Activation Event, hosted by Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Enterprise Florida.

Lieutenant Governor Nuñez stated: “Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University plays an important role shaping Florida’s next generation of top-tier talent in aerospace. Their MOU with Aura Aero demonstrates the importance of this event and its ability to create meaningful partnerships between Florida and France in order to enhance our state’s workforce development. Together, we look to strengthen our aerospace sectors by creating a pipeline to meet demand.”

Under the agreement, Aura Aero will launch an internship program for Embry-Riddle students interested in familiarizing themselves with the Integral—the French plane-maker’s two-seat, aerobatics-capable training-aircraft. In keeping with Aura Aero’s green aspirations, the Integral is available in two iterations: a conventional, reciprocating-engine-powered model and a secondary model featuring a full-electric propulsion scheme.

Aura Aero co-founder, chief-engineer, and CEO Jérémy Caussade set forth: “Aura Aero is committed to serving humankind by designing and manufacturing aircraft that accelerate air transport decarbonization. We are excited to partner with Embry-Riddle, a global leader in aviation education, to accelerate innovation and prepare pilots for a more sustainable future.”

Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. called the partnership a unique synergy between two organizations with shared goals, stating: “We look forward to welcoming Aura Aero, a company at the leading-edge of sustainable aviation options, to Embry-Riddle’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, to support their technology development efforts while also enhancing educational opportunities for our students.”

Embry-Riddle senior vice-president and CEO Rodney Cruise added: “Our Research Park offers a creative ecosystem that cultivates transformational business ideas and careers. We are honored to work with Aura Aero to advance sustainable aviation, create high-paying, high-quality jobs, and build workforce capacity.”

Aura Aero—which in addition to the Integral trainer is developing a 19-seat Electric Regional Aircraft (ERA)—looks to commence operations at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Research Park by 2024. The Français company will occupy between three-thousand and ten-thousand square-feet of space in the Research Park’s cornerstone MicaPlex facility and the adjacent Applied Aviation and Engineering Research Hangar.

FMI: www.erau.edu