10 Flying Vehicles Sold to Australian Regional Airport Group

A regional airline group has placed an order for 10 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles with an option to purchase 10 more.

The Vertiia vehicles from AMSL Aero are being sold to Aviation Logistics, one of Australia’s largest general aviation and regional airline groups.

Aviation Logistics is the parent company of Air Link, AirMed and Chartair, which offers passenger services, aircraft charter, air freight and aeromedical flights from seven bases across Australia.

Flights using the electric aerial vehicles (EAV) could start in 2027, once approved by regulators.

Max York, CEO of AMSL Aero, said “2024 is going to be a huge year for AMSL Aero as we continue to test-fly the aircraft and we are thrilled to kick-off with our first civil order for Vertiia. We are honored to have Aviation Logistics as a partner – with 50 years’ pedigree flying aircraft across Australia’s vast terrain and operating in three of our core target market segments: aeromedical, logistics and passenger transport. This deal catapults Vertiia from world-leading development aircraft to commercial reality.”

The Vertiia is hydrogen powered and takes off like a helicopter and then flies as a fixed-wing aerial vehicle. It has a range of 620 miles and can travel at 186 mph, according to the company.

Targeted uses of the Vertiia are aeromedical, cargo and passenger carrying.

AMSL Aero has raised $32 million from private investors and government programs to develop flying vehicles.

“Over the past decade Air Link, AirMed and Chartair have carried thousands of Australians on our regional airline services, charter operations and aeromedical flights and we look forward to deploying this new aircraft across our passenger and freight network to support our future operations,” said Aviation Logistics director Mark Wardrop. “We believe it is only a matter of time before electric and hydrogen powered aircraft are transporting people across Australia and Vertiia has the potential to change the way people living in rural and regional communities access services such as education and health care located in major centers.”

Like what you've read? For more stories like this on flying cars and emerging technologies, sign up for our free daily email newsletter to stay updated!