Lucky Seven

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)—an industry trade association representing general aviation aircraft manufacturers—announced on 27 April 2023 that its membership roster had been graced by the additions of MedAire, Inc. and VSE Aviation as Members; and Elroy Air, H55, “And” Battery Aero, Reliable Robotics, and Transcend Air as Associate Members Electric Propulsion & Innovation Committee (EPIC).

MedAire, Inc.: Founded in 1985 and based in Phoenix, Arizona, MedAire is an International SOS company. International SOS is a health and security service firm dedicated to helping organizations and their personnel reduce exposure to and mitigate health, wellbeing, and security risks. SOS’s services include providing diversified services such as rapid dissemination of world events, health consultancy and programs, education, and medical equipment. MedAire provides integrated travel risk management solutions, including onboard medical kits and the ground-based medical advisory service MedLink. The company’s services also include security, intelligence, crew support, real-time health and security consultancy, training, and medical equipment for commercial and private aircraft. MedAire’s mission is to provide expert medical, security, and operational support to ensure the safety of travelers and assets.

VSE Aviation: Founded in 1959 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. VSE Aviation provides aftermarket services for aerospace, defense, and fleet customers. VSE Aviation’s largest business segment supports global aftermarket customers with parts distribution and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) services for components and engine accessories for business, general aviation, commercial, cargo, military, and rotorcraft customers.

Elroy Air: Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, Elroy Air is developing the Chaparral—an uncrewed, transitioning lift-plus-cruise Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft intended to deliver three-to-five-hundred pounds of air cargo rapidly and flexibly across a distance of 260-nautical-miles. Elroy Air's mission is to improve quality of life around the planet by expanding the reach of express logistics via air cargo at a cost and environmental impact lower than that of contemporary conventional aircraft.

H55: Sion, Switzerland-headquartered H55 is a provider of electric propulsion solutions and battery pack systems. The company is about the business of enabling the aviation industry to attain net-zero CO2 emissions by the year 2050. H55’s global customers comprise primarily OEM component manufacturers and operators. H55’s modular systems have proven functional, robust, and reliable in real flight conditions and are currently being integrated in the designs of numerous aircraft in the CS-23 and CS-25 certification categories, as well as new aviation designs, such as VTOLs, featuring high power distributed electric propulsion systems.

And Battery Aero: Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, And Battery Aero builds advanced battery systems for electric aviation and is part of a federally funded ARPA-E program developing battery systems for eVTOL aircraft. Modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funds inchoate and revolutionary energy technologies speculative beyond the pale of private-sector investment.

Reliable Robotics: Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Reliable Robotics is developing safety-enhancing automation systems compatible with myriad aircraft types. The company strives to provide safer, more convenient, and more affordable air transportation solutions, thereby transforming the means by which goods and people are moved about the planet.

Transcend Air: Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Carlisle, Massachusetts, Transcend Air designs and manufactures a family of high-speed tiltwing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft based on the company’s Vy 400 platform. Transcend Air’s mission is to democratize access to fast (350-knots-plus), affordable, and safe civil VTOL flight, thereby enabling a new regional city-center to city-center Aerial Regional Transport (ART) service.

FMI: www.gama.aero