Textron (Cessna, Bell) bygger opp AAM avdeling - AIN

 

October 18, 2022 View in browser   •   Email Editor

Textron Powers Up Advanced Air Mobility Portfolio

This year Textron Aviation has made a big leap forward in executing its strategic plan for a leadership role in the so-called advanced air mobility (AAM) revolution. Alongside rival Embraer, it is the only other mainstream business aircraft manufacturer to be assembling a credible product portfolio of electric and autonomous aircraft.

The U.S. aerospace and defense group sees the new sector gaining serious momentum from around 2030, and by then it could potentially have several new electric aircraft ready to enter service next to a product line that already includes the ubiquitous King Air and Caravan turboprop families and Citation business jets.

In March 2021, Textron signaled its ambitions with the formation of its eAviation division under the leadership of former Textron senior v-p of sales and marketing Rob Scholl, reporting directly to group chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly. Just over 12 months later the surprise acquisition of electric aviation pioneer Pipistrel in April 2022 well and truly turned theory into practice, providing the basis for several new aircraft now in the development pipeline. 

The deal also seems to have breathed new life into the plans being hatched by Textron’s helicopter division Bell for its Nexus eVTOL vehicle.