French Sportplane Manufacturer Plans for Commuter Factory Stateside

Aura Aero has announced the opening of its first US facility in Embry-Riddle's Florida campus research park, a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to foster US production of the electric aircraft.

Aura Aero had announced a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University last year, but didn't make it sound as if they'd be going as far as making a new factory there. It's great news for Floridians watching the school's 'Research Park' take shape, making good on Embry-Riddle's promises to fill it up with futuristic, next-gen companies. Aura Aero's deployment will be used to produce, assemble, test, and eventually deliver on their ERA, a 19-seater hybrid electric commuter plane.

So far, Aura has been busy enough selling its Integral sport plane from its factory in Toulouse, France, cutting their teeth on a simple, achievable aircraft design and developing a brand name for themselves as quality French aircraft. Much like its experience in France, Aura Aero will start out focused on the light sport plane, using a starting hangar of 10,000 square feet by the end of 2024. Once moved in they'll "host electric aircraft development activities in order to prepare a new generation of trainer aircraft as well as the completion and delivery center of the INTEGRAL family." After that, they'll begin work on the full-size 500,000-sq ft ERA facility, eventually producing the high-wing, 8-motor aircraft.

As always, Florida stakeholders are happy to see fresh development come into the state, especially when they bring high-skill jobs with them. “The Aviation, Aerospace and Defense industry is a leading economic driver for our state, and today’s announcement by AURA AERO is great news for the many talented Floridians who will be employed in these high-wage jobs,” said Florida Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “Congratulations to AURA AERO on their announcement, and congratulations to Embry Riddle on the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility at the University’s Research Park.”

FMI: www.aura-aero.com