The German firm on Wednesday announced it will work with Groupe ADP, which manages 23 airports around the world, including Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport (LFPG) and Le Bourget Airport (LFPB), to prepare eVTOL infrastructure in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Separately, at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., Lilium on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SEA Milan, which operates the Italian city’s airports, and vertiport developer Skyports Infrastructure to build a Lilium Jet network in Italy’s Lombardy region.

These regions are envisioned as early launch markets for the Lilium Jet, a zero-emission, six-passenger design capable of cruising at 162 knots on city-to-city trips spanning 25-125 sm (22-109 nm).

Groupe ADP, working with fellow German eVTOL manufacturer Volocopter, is developing an air taxi network connecting five vertiports across the Paris region, including at Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget.

The original plan was for air taxi public transport and tourism routes to be ready for the 2024 Olympic Games, which open Friday in Paris, though that appears to be out the window. The French government signed off on heavily restricted, nonpassenger carrying flights, but Paris’ city council said it will fight the authorization in court.

Although it looks like the Paris Olympics won’t quite be the eVTOL launchpad for which Groupe ADP had hoped, it could make history by bringing the Lilium Jet to the region. With a projected commercial launch in 2026, the jet—which takes off like a helicopter but cruises on fixed wings—will likely be the first of its kind to hit the market.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that some of the very first eVTOL flights will happen in France, and this partnership brings that milestone closer into view,” said Sebastian Borel, chief commercial officer of Lilium. “Groupe ADP has an impressive portfolio of airports, both in France and around the world, in markets that will be key to Lilium’s commercial operations.”

Earlier this year, Lilium said it was in “advanced talks” with the French government to install manufacturing facilities in the country. It is also collaborating with Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and vertiport developer UrbanV to create a network in the French Riviera.

Groupe ADP will now work to accommodate the six-passenger design, which is significantly larger than Volocopter’s air taxi, at vertiports throughout Paris.

“We are thrilled to officialize the work we have been conducting with Lilium to ensure the development of new services by eVTOL in the Paris region and worldwide,” said Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Groupe ADP.

The partnership will also extend to Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia, where Lilium is planning another network with flag carrier Saudia. The airline this month agreed to purchase 100 Lilium Jets. On Monday at Farnborough, the manufacturer said it signed an MOU with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to prepare eVTOL regulations in the country.

Italy is set to be another important market for Lilium as the company partners with SEA Milan and Skyports to serve the Lombardy region, home to an estimated one-fifth of the country’s population. The manufacturer, airport operator, and infrastructure specialist hope to bring a network online by 2027.

“We’ve been working with our partners at SEA for some time, and we’re excited to prepare to open the doors of our vertiports and see eVTOL aircraft take flight over Lombardy,” said Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.

SEA will manage airport hubs and will operate vertiports jointly with Skyports, which will lead the development and construction of the sites. An initial route will connect Milan Malpensa Airport (LIMC) with the Milan city center.

In 2022, Lilium secured an order for 12 jets from operator Globe Air, which plans to fly them in the French Riviera and Italy—it’s unclear whether these aircraft will be part of the planned network.

The German manufacturer also has plans for the U.S. With newly established operating partner UrbanLink Air Mobility, it intends to fly in Florida, California, and the Caribbean U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

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According to the company, the new design is the result of listening to customer suggestions, which led to “more than 300 improvements of the current P2006T MkII.”

• READ MORE: Continental Unveils CD-170R Rotorcraft-specific Heavy Fuel Engine 

Among the changes, according to the company, is an additional front door for the copilot and external access to the baggage compartment. Windows have been redesigned and are larger for improved visibility.

“The powerplant is now provided by twin fuel-injected Rotax 9121Sc3 engines, offering high-altitude efficiency and reduced fuel consumption of 14 liters per hour, [3.7 gallons per hour] per engine,” Tecnam said.

The aircraft integrates wing position and anticollision LED lights into the winglets. Inside, a central console houses the FMS GCU477 keyboard for management of all Garmin avionics, including the GFC700 three-axis autopilot and the G1000 NXi.

• READ MORE: Caribbean Charter Set to Be Tecnam P2012 STOL Launch Customer

Tecnam is also offering a super-premium version in the form of the P2006 NG Sport. This lux variant borrows heavily from Italian sports cars, featuring a handcrafted black leather interior that includes Alcantara headliners, plush moquette seats, and leather side walls.

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NATO’s 50 million euro ($54.3 million) investment took five years to complete and included renovations to the base’s control tower, runways, hangars, and storage facilities. The project marks one of the alliance’s largest investments in Albania, which joined the alliance in 2009.

The airfield, which is located about 50 miles south of the country’s capital of Tirana, is set to serve Albania while also supporting NATO logistics, training and exercises.

• READ MORE: NATO Conducts ‘Find, Fix, Track, Target’ Exercise Over Poland 

The airbase’s reopening and resumption of aircraft operations was celebrated in a ceremony Monday, marking NATO’s increased footing in the region. During the event, pairs of U.S. F-16s and F-35s flew overhead while two Italian Eurofighters landed on the newly resurfaced runway. Albania, which does not operate fighter jets, participated by landing its Bayraktar TB2 drones.

“This is a base that (will add) another element of security for our Western Balkans region, which we all know that it is a region endangered from the threat and neo-imperialist ambitions of the Russian Federation,” Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama said during the event, according to a Reuters report.

• READ MORE: NATO Air Forces Conduct Aerial Combat Drills Over Estonia

Said Dylan White, NATO acting spokesperson, in a statement: “The airbase will serve as an important NATO air hub. The makeover of Kuçova Air Base is a strategic investment and shows that NATO continues to strengthen its presence in the Western Balkans, an area of strategic importance to the alliance.”

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The manufacturer this week announced it will work with ITA Airways, the flag carrier of Italy, as well as vertiport operator UrbanV and green energy company Enel to build an advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem in the Mediterranean country. UrbanV and Enel are new additions to the partnership, which began between Airbus and ITA in 2022.

Airbus operates 80 aircraft and 240 helicopters in Italy, its largest supplier in the European Union and fourth-largest globally. Alitalia, Italy’s former flag carrier that went bankrupt in 2021, was the company’s largest Italian customer until its dissolution. ITA was created as Alitalia’s successor with sustainability as a core business pillar, and its fleet is composed entirely of Airbus models.

“Since the beginning, we decided to look forward and bet on innovation,” said Francesco Presicce, accountable manager and chief technology officer of ITA. “In this framework, in April 2022 ITA Airways and Airbus started a journey together, which resulted in the development of this ecosystem, today a reality.”

The initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Airbus and ITA called for the creation of urban air mobility (UAM) services and the identification of UAM applications in Italy. The partners also agreed to explore pilot use cases, with the goal of securing public acceptance of novel aircraft such as eVTOL.

Shortly before the deal, ITA purchased 28 aircraft from Airbus: seven A220s, 11 A320neos, and 10 A330neos. That summer, it agreed to lease a further 56 aircraft, including several A350-900s.

This week’s announcement brought in two new collaborators. UrbanV will operate vertiports in the region, while Enel will assist with the transition to electric infrastructure.

“We aim to improve people’s lives by enabling a fast, efficient, safe and clean alternative to existing transport solutions for people and goods over short distances, by air,” said Carlo Tursi, CEO of UrbanV. “We have the ambition to become a major global operator of vertiport networks, and we will be global pioneers in establishing some of the first AAM routes worldwide.”

The new MOU between the four companies will focus on bringing together airline operators, eVTOL manufacturers, energy solutions providers, and vertiport operators. The firms will explore different business models in concert with national stakeholders, whom they believe will be crucial in introducing UAM to Italy.

Specifically, the partnership centers around operations of Airbus’ eVTOL CityAirbus NextGen, unveiled in 2021. The model is designed to fly a pilot and up to four passengers, with an approximately 50 sm (43 nm) operational range and 75 mph (65 knots) cruise speed. The fully electric design features fixed wings, V-shaped tail, and distributed electric propulsion to power eight electric propellers.

Separately, Airbus is working with Groupe ADP, which manages Paris’s international airports, RATP Group, a public transit provider, and regional authorities in France to fly the CityAirbus NextGen at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Other air taxi manufacturers, including Germany’s Volocopter, also intend to fly then.

In addition to aircraft operations, Airbus and its partners will study standardized ground services—such as energy supply, charging infrastructure, and vertiport and network planning—to build out a UAM ecosystem. They’ll also work to define suitable air taxi routes and improve the passenger experience.

“At Airbus, we know that a successful AAM business will require much more than just developing the vehicle, it is essential to co-create the conditions for that vehicle to be operated and supported,” said Balkiz Sarihan, head of UAM at Airbus. “We have some experience in developing AAM ecosystems such as the Air Mobility Initiative (AMI) in Bavaria.”

This week’s announcement comes on the heels of Airbus’ partnership with four Scandinavian firms to study hydrogen infrastructure at airports in Norway and Sweden. The manufacturer is developing four low-carbon ZEROe aircraft concepts, each powered by hydrogen and built to fly 100 to 200 passengers. It hopes to bring a commercial, low-carbon aircraft to market by 2035.

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The agreement was signed by U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Japan defense minister Minoru Kihara, and Italy defense minister Guido Crosetto in Tokyo, coming one year after the formation of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). 

Through the collaboration, the three countries will share in the design and delivery of the stealth fighter, which they say will boost their individual combat air industrial capabilities.

• DOD: China’s Military Catching Up with Western Air Forces

“Treaty signed,” Shapps said on X (formerly Twitter). “Working with our Italian and Japanese allies, we will build the supersonic stealth fighter we need to combat the threats of a more dangerous age.”

Shapps said in a statement: “Our world-leading combat aircraft programme aims to be crucial to global security, and we continue to make hugely positive progress toward delivery of the new jets to our respective air forces in 2035.” 

GCAP will be based in the U.K. and led by BAE Systems in partnership with Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, along with hundreds of companies. The GCAP government headquarters’ first CEO will come from Japan, and the first leader of the counterpart representing industry, which will also be headquartered in the U.K., will come from Italy. 

Each country will have an equal 33 percent stake in GCAP, Reuters reported.

“Months of negotiations have allowed for a balanced compromise,” the Italian Defense Ministry said.

Around 9,000 people are working on GCAP worldwide, and the program will draw on more than 1,000 suppliers from partner nations, BAE Systems said in a statement.

Treaty signed

The UK will headquarter the development of one of the most advanced fighter jets in history.

Working with our Italian and Japanese allies, we will build the supersonic stealth fighter we need to combat the threats of a more dangerous age. pic.twitter.com/IIcugKc0fR

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 14, 2023

In the U.K, more than 3,000 jobs are already focused on future air capability, according to the British Ministry of Defense.

“GCAP is a hugely significant program for the security, political, and economic prosperity for Italy, Japan, and U.K. and through effective knowledge and technology transfer will help to evolve and deliver important sovereign combat air capability in each nation for generations to come,” BAE Systems said.

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Though FAA certification is still pending, the P-Mentor has made it into flight training fleets across Europe, with plans to follow in the U.S. soon. FLYING editor-in-chief Julie Boatman visits the OEM and flies the P-Mentor over the Italian countryside north of Naples (Napoli) in this pilot report.

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Under the deal signed Monday, more than 100 military pilots from Sweden will train in Italy over the coming decade. Basic training will take place at Galatina Air Base (LIBN) near Lecce and advanced training at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Sardinia.

• READ MORE: Cracks Prompt U.S. Coast Guard to Ground Fleet of C-27J Surveillance Aircraft 

Sweden joins a growing list of countries that are choosing to train at IFTS, including Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, Italy’s ministry of defense said. 

The program is a collaboration between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo S.p.A. for advanced/lead-in to fighter training using the next-gen T-346A Integrated Training System capable of simulating F-35s, Eurofighters, and Gripens. IFTS maintains a fleet of 22 T-364A aircraft.

• READ MORE: NATO Ramps Up Maritime Air Patrols in Baltic Sea

“This is a further significant step for the safety of European skies: finding agreements and synergies between countries that share spaces and orientations is always productive,” said General Luca Goretti, chief of staff of the Italian Air Force. “Working with Swedish colleagues will represent an opportunity for growth for both countries.” 

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The Artemis III mission is set to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, marking humans’ first return to the moon’s surface in more than 50 years.

“Prada’s technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed human factors considerations absent from legacy spacesuits,” Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space, said Wednesday.

• READ MORE: NASA Selects Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace To Provide New Spacesuits

Last summer, NASA announced its commercial partnership with Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace to provide the next-generation spacesuits and spacewalk systems for the upcoming Artemis missions. The space agency noted at the time the contract would allow for additional vendors as the “commercial space services market evolves.”

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit design will provide increased flexibility and environmental protection for astronauts. “Using innovative technologies and design, these spacesuits will enable greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before,” Axiom Space said.

• READ MORE: Booster Delivery Marks NASA Artemis II Moon Mission Milestone

Engineers from the Milan-based apparel designer will work with a team from Axiom Space throughout the design process, the companies said.

“We are honored to be a part of this historic mission with Axiom Space,” Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group marketing director, said in a statement. “Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and design know-how—which started back in the ’90s with Luna Rossa challenging for the America’s Cup [sailing competition]—will now be applied to the design of a spacesuit for the Artemis era. It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization.”

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Along with events throughout 2023 to mark the milestone anniversary, Tecnam, the Italian airplane manufacturer, hosted its extended network of vendors, dealers, media, and friends last week at its headquarters at the Capua airfield (LIAU), near Naples—celebrating 75 years of passion for aircraft design.

The gathering featured a historical presentation in the company’s on-site museum, a walk of the production facility, demo flights in the P2012 Traveller, P2010 Gran Lusso, and P-Mentor, and was capped off by a gala dinner at the Castello di Faicchio. “There are people who have come from all over the world,” said Giovanni Pascale, managing director for Tecnam, “so it’s extremely important for us. We appreciate it. It means a lot for us. What we have always been saying is that Tecnam is a big family.” These were clearly not just empty words but were delivered with sincerity and a passion for aircraft design and the people making that happen for the company throughout its timeline.

• READ MORE: Tecnam Introduces P2012 STOL To Serve Challenging, Remote Airports

The Castello di Faicchio made for an elegantly fitting place to honor the memories of the founders, as it was where the Pascale brothers once flew their early model airplanes from its walls as boys. “They were 10 years old when they designed these models—it’s impressive,” said Stefano Mavilio, director of communications for Tecnam, during the museum briefing.

A Passionate Family—and a Little History

From the brothers’ launch in 1948 with the Astore came a series of single-engine airplanes and gliders. Then, history took a turn with the Pascales’ next company, Partenavia, founded on May 22, 1957, which later evolved into a government-driven business to design and produce commercial aircraft, beginning with the twin-engine P68 in 1968—perhaps the most recognizable of the company’s designs from this era.

But the romance of the lighter end of the aviation industry kept calling. The brothers developed the follow-on business—Tecnam— after parting ways with Partenavia in 1986. There, Gino and Nino worked on subcontracted components and assemblies for other manufacturers. “The idea was, ‘we are not your employees; we will be your supplier. So we are free to build the parts you [Partenavia] need, but our time is ours alone,” Marvilio summarized in the tour. Tecnam did just that—until the spark to return to single-engine airplane development returned to them in the early 1990s. 

From this sprung the first true Tecnam model, the P92 Echo, conforming under the ultralight rules of the predecessor to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), JAR—or Joint Aviation Regulations. The new bird took flight from Capua airfield on March 14, 1993, with Gino at the controls.

Tecnam has stayed firmly in family hands after the elder Pascales passed on—Nino in 1999, and Gino in 2017. Since the mid 1990s, the company has been guided by Nino’s son, Paulo Pascale, CEO, and now Giovanni Pascale, Paulo’s son, who is the current managing director, assuming this position in 2019 after a nearly nine-year turn as chief operating officer.

New Era at Tecnam

The company’s history, however, has entered a new era with the transition of the reins to the younger Pascale, and the advent of new models—most recently the twin-engine P2012 Traveller—which secured a FLYING Editors Choice Award in 2020, and has seen recent fleet expansion—and now the P-Mentor. The P-Mentor aims squarely at the training market, and with EASA CS 23 certification on April 7, 2022, Tecnam delivered 17 units last year. 

• READ MORE: Tecnam Unveils P-Mentor Training Aircraft 

While the two-seat, Rotax 912iSc-powered trainer awaits FAA validation, several flight schools have queued up to put them into service as soon as that happens. The design enables the P-Mentor to have passed the latest EASA requirements (CS-23 Amendment) for low speed and stall characteristics without a ballistic recovery system being an essential part of the aircraft configuration, though the BRS ballistic recovery system is an option. With a maximum takeoff weight of 1,587 pounds, it’s more substantial than similar aircraft in the light sport (U.S.) or ultralight (EASA) categories.

Look for a full We Fly report on the P-Mentor and a look back at 75 years of Tecnam in an upcoming print edition of FLYING.

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According to Diamond, the aircraft are equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpits and propelled by the efficient 168-hp AUSTRO AE300 jet-A-powered engines, which burn up to 50 percent less lead-free fuel and operate with a lower noise signature than conventional avgas-powered aircraft.

The acquisition will help the academy meet the demand for pilots, said professor Lorenzo Mezzadri, accountable manager of Urbe Aero Flight Academy.

“The growth of our organization in the last 12 years, and the huge number of young pilots we were able to prepare for the major airlines, is clear evidence of a basic solidity for a high-level service,” Mezzadri said. “With this investment, our fleet will reach 19 Diamond aircraft—seven DA20-C1s, nine DA40 NGs, and three DA42-VIs.”

The new aircraft will allow the flight school “to cope with current and future partnerships with European airlines,” he said.

Urbe Aero Flight Academy has been a factor in Europe’s aviation industry for more than 20 years, first as an aircraft dealer, then as a flight academy and aircraft maintenance organization. The company is based at the Rome Urbe Airport (LIRU). The school is an EASA-approved training organization. The academy operates a fleet of 11 modern single-engine and twin-engine Diamond DA20, DA40, and DA42 aircraft, with Garmin glass-cockpit avionics. The academy also has two flight simulators; one configured as a Diamond DA42, and the other as a Boeing 737NG that is used by airlines for pilot selection.

Urbe Aero Group also includes aircraft maintenance affiliates in Austria, Germany, and Croatia.

“Urbe Aero Flight Academy has been tremendously benefiting from operating aircraft by the same manufacturer for both single-engine and multiengine training,” said Jane Wang, sales director, Diamond Aircraft Austria. “Fleet commonality offers them more advantages, such as minimized instructor standardization, rapid student transition, and reduced parts inventories. We are delighted about their successful development and are proud to be part of this exciting journey to move the aviation industry forward.”

Diamond’s complete line of piston aircraft includes a dedicated flight training concept with single-engine piston (DA40 NG) and multiengine piston (DA42-VI) trainers, along with type-specific flight training simulators and proprietary jet-fuel-powered engines, Diamond Aircraft is the only sole-source provider in the flight training market, according to the company.

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