The German manufacturer announced it will build a vertiport network for the zero-emissions aircraft in the French Riviera, connecting Monaco, Marseille, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence, and Sophia Antipolis. It aims to launch flights in 2026.

Lilium signed a partnership with Italian vertiport network operator and Airbus partner UrbanV as well as Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur (ACA), which manages Cannes Mandelieu Airport (LMFD), Golfe de Saint-Tropez Airport (LFTZ), and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (LMFN): the country’s second-largest airport, transporting an estimated 14 million passengers annually. UrbanV is a subsidiary of Aeroporti di Roma, SAVE Group, Aeroporto di Bologna, and ACA, which has committed to achieve carbon neutrality without offsetting its own emissions by 2030.

Lilium’s French Riviera ecosystem will include vertiports at these locations and others under consideration. It is in discussions with local partners to construct additional takeoff and landing sites in Sophia Antipolis, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille, with the expectation that those agreements will be finalized by year’s end.

“Our territory offers a unique opportunity to fly over the sea to directly connect the main economic, cultural or tourist destinations,” said Franck Goldnadel, chairman of the board of ACA. “A complementary alternative to the helicopter, the eVTOL has its place in the air transport offered from Nice Côte d’Azur.”

Lilium’s flagship jet, combined with electric ground infrastructure from UrbanV, should help remove some emissions from France’s premium and business aviation segments.

Unveiled to the public for the first time last week at the European Aviation Business Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, the aircraft is designed to cruise at 162 knots on city-to-city trips spanning 25-125 sm (22-109 nm). Thirty-six electric ducted fans embedded in the aircraft’s fixed wings provide vertical propulsion and are shielded by flaps during forward flight.

Lilium on Tuesday said it is in talks with several operators interested in purchasing and operating the Lilium Jet in the French Riviera, which accommodates millions of tourists every year. Already, it has an agreement with Austrian private jet operator GlobeAir for the intended purchase and operation of 12 aircraft in the South of France and Italy.

“As a truly European company based in Munich, Germany, with flight testing in Spain and with nascent roots in France, Lilium is extremely proud to be able to assist in the creation of the first regional eVTOL network in the South of France and the first commercially viable network in the E.U.,” said Sebastien Borel, chief commercial officer of Lilium. “We see an enormous potential in this region and cannot wait to see our Lilium Jet fly there soon.”

The multifaceted partnership comes after Lilium entered “advanced” talks with the French government to add a high-volume aircraft production facility in the country. The company is considering several locations and expects to invest up to 400 million euros (about $432 million) into the site over several years. In addition, it already sources aircraft components from French suppliers Saint-Gobain Aerospace, Michelin, and Expliseat.

Lilium in December began building the first of seven production prototype Lilium Jets at its final assembly line in Wessling, Germany. Both it and the French facility are intended to supply fleets globally.

In the U.S., the manufacturer is working alongside newly formed operator UrbanLink Air Mobility, Orlando International Airport (KMCO), and other stakeholders to build an initial eVTOL network in South Florida. It is collaborating with FBO network Atlantic Aviation to electrify more than 100 Atlantic terminals nationwide.

Lilium also hopes to introduce its flagship aircraft in China, the Philippines, the Middle East, South America, and across Europe, the latter in partnership with Lufthansa.

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The German manufacturer says it is in “advanced discussions” with the French government to add a high-volume aircraft production facility in France, citing it as an attractive market for its flagship Lilium Jet. The company plans for the aircraft to enter service in 2026.

Lilium says it is evaluating several sites for a manufacturing hub in the country, including in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, which it describes as a “hotbed” for aerospace and battery production. The company estimates it will invest up to 400 million euros (about $432 million) into the site over several years, creating as many as 850 jobs.

Discussions on site selection—as well as potential French government subsidies and loan guarantees for the project—were announced Monday at the Choose France Summit in Versailles and are expected to conclude “in the coming weeks,” per Lilium.

The manufacturer says it picked France because of the country’s “well-established aerospace industry, expertise in electric mobility, highly skilled workforce, and supportive government environment.” It added in a post on social media platform X that it is already sourcing Lilium Jet components from French aerospace suppliers Saint-Gobain Aerospace, Michelin, and Expliseat.

Lilium in December began production of the first Lilium Jet prototypes at its final assembly line in Wessling, Germany. However, the company intends for the aircraft to be operated worldwide, including in the French Riviera in partnership with private jet operator GlobeAir.

Adding a manufacturing hub in France positions those operations closer to the company’s service areas, which could simplify its supply chain, for example. However, it says its French facilities are intended to serve the global market.

Lilium on Monday said it has more than 780 binding orders and memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreements from operators for its flagship aircraft, which it will debut publicly at the European Aviation Business Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva later this month.

The company’s most recent agreement includes 20 firm aircraft orders and options apiece from U.S. operator UrbanLink Air Mobility, which intends to fly the aircraft out of Lilium vertiports in South Florida.

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The German firm announced the first public unveiling of its full-scale Lilium Jet will take place at the annual European Aviation Business Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), which runs from May 28-30 in Geneva.

The company says its showcase, which will also feature the aircraft’s charging infrastructure and a flight simulator for visitors to try out, will be its largest presence yet at the event. It expects to be one of the show’s largest exhibitors.

At EBACE 2023, Lilium debuted a new cabin design for its Pioneer Edition Jet: a four-passenger configuration of its flagship model that is on sale in the U.S. for a hefty $10 million.

“We are delighted to return to EBACE this year, a year that represents a major milestone for Lilium as we gear up for the first piloted flight of the Lilium Jet targeted for the end of the year,” said Sebastien Borel, chief commercial officer of Lilium. “Consequently, it is fitting that we are returning to EBACE in a very big way, with our largest presence at the show to date.”

Borel and Andreas Pfisterer, the manufacturer’s head of flight operations and crew training, each will participate in panels at the event.

Lilium at the end of 2023 began production on the first seven Lilium Jet models, which the company intends to deploy in for-credit testing with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Those evaluations will follow the aircraft’s first piloted flight. The move marked a key step toward type certification of the model, which Lilium expects to obtain by the end of 2025.

Though often lumped in with eVTOL air taxi manufacturers such as Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, Lilium has a slightly different use case in mind for its aircraft: regional air mobility (RAM).

The Lilium Jet is expected to cruise at 162 knots on city-to-city trips spanning 25-125 sm (22-109 nm). While Archer’s Midnight and Joby’s air taxi are capable of flying those distances, the companies are more focused on urban air mobility (UAM) services within metro areas, such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles.

Accordingly, Lilium’s design employs a configuration seldom seen on eVTOL air taxis, with 36 electric ducted fans embedded in the aircraft’s wings. By contrast, Archer, Joby, and several others are building fixed-wing tiltrotor or tilt propeller aircraft in which the rotors and propellers provide both vertical lift and forward cruise.

Lilium says its design sacrifices some efficiency in hover in exchange for significantly greater efficiency in cruise, since the airframe is not bogged down by tilting rotors or propellers. EBACE 2024 in Switzerland will be one of the first times an aircraft with the unique fan-in-wing configuration is on display to the public.

While the event will take place in Europe, where Lilium is based, the manufacturer plans to sell aircraft to operators in the U.S. market as well.

Already, it has opened sales for Pioneer Edition Jets to individual U.S. buyers, while fractional aircraft ownership firm NetJets in 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 150 of the company’s flagship aircraft.

In February, Lilium designated a planned 56,000-square-foot vertiport at Orlando International Airport (KMCO) as the hub for its operations in Florida, which is expected to be one of the company’s earliest launch markets.

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The German aircraft developer said it is excited about appearing at the show and gaining exposure among the event’s more than 2,450 exhibitors. Lilium in May appeared at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exposition (EBACE), where the company unveiled its Lilium Pioneer Edition Jet interior display.

• READ MORE: Lilium To Deliver 6 Pioneer Aircraft to Business Jet Operator

“After the positive response at EBACE, the Lilium team is looking forward to welcoming more visitors from the industry and the general public,” Lilium said in a blog post. “Lucky visitors will be able to see the full-scale 6-passenger interior mock-up getting a glimpse inside the world’s first all-electric jet.”

Having confirmed up to 11 new orders from ASL Group and Air-Dynamic at EBACE in Geneva in May, Lilium said its order list “has grown to potential sales of up to 645 Lilium Jets from multiple customers across Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the United States.”

Lilium will not be alone in bringing attention to the eVTOl category in Paris. Rival Archer Aviation recently announced it would display its Midnight eVTOL aircraft at the show.

• READ MORE: Lilium Agrees To Deliver Up to 5 eVTOLs to Charter Company Air-Dynamic

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Importantly, Embraer has set broad enterprise goals for sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions with its global enterprise. It seeks to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2040, net-zero emissions in its aviation operations by 2050, and use of 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2030. 

This week at the European Business Aviation Conference and Expo in Geneva, Embraer Executive Jets reported progress with the carbon offsetting program it launched at last year’s EBACE with 4AIR, a hub for industrywide sustainability efforts, among other key milestones.

• READ MORE: The ‘Last Mile’ for SAF Presents an Achievable Challenge

In a setting in which the company displayed three of its business jet offerings—including the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600, and the Phenom 300E—the commitment hummed in the background. According to the company, “Once arriving in Geneva, the aircraft will be fueled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for departure from the show. The company has continued to increase its use of SAF, including at its headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, while investing in the development of low-to-zero emission alternative propulsion technologies, such as electrification, hybrid electric, and hydrogen.”

4AIR Carbon Offsets

Embraer also announced it had enrolled customers in its Embraer Executive Care Program. Upon enrollment, participants receive 25 complimentary carbon-neutral flight hours via 4AIR to offset their operations during the first year. 

4AIR delivers the offsets through a series of projects it funds, including renewable energy programs, the enhancement of carbon-absorbing forests, and the support of local projects that reduce deforestation, generating social and economic benefits. As of this week, more than 30 certificates have been issued through the program, according to Embraer.

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How ironic that the Gulfstream G800 one pair handcuffed themselves to had indeed flown across the Atlantic from Savannah, Georgia, on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a regular part of its flight testing—not as a publicity stunt?

In fact, it’s easier to count those OEMs that haven’t implemented SAF and other short- and mid-term measures than those who have—because it’s a straightforward, here-and-now step most are happy to take. Many OEMs, from Embraer to Textron Aviation, fueled at their headquarters with SAF for the journey, and topped off with more on arrival. SAF is for the moment normally blended with regular jet-A, with testing toward blends up to 100 percent SAF in various stages depending on the airframe and powerplant manufacturers.

Getting to a 100-percent blend aside, SAF is not without its challenges—particularly in its boutique pricing and distribution to FBOs and other airport service providers that can deliver it to those operators wishing to use it.

A Case Study

At EBACE this week, Daher presented its experiences in covering that “last mile” between the delivery of SAF and distribution to its fleet. The company began the project to use SAF at its Aircraft Division facilities in Tarbes, France, in its operations, which include production, testing, training, and ferrying/delivery flights. Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the division, related that, though the company is eager to set an example, availability of the fuel has been sporadic. 

“Therefore,” said Chabbert, “we took the initiative of going a step further by joining with the Spanish airline Volotea—a carrier that connects small and mid-sized cities in Europe which flies from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport (LFBT) as part of its route network—to convince the fuel provider World Fuel Services to supply SAF on the platform. We expect our example will bring other operators to use renewable energy on (their) airplanes.”

The SAF in question is a blend with 30 percent of Neste MY SAF delivered to the airport by World Fuel Services, provider of jet fuel and other FBO/airport solutions in France, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. Neste’s MY SAF is produced from sustainably sourced renewable waste and residue raw materials and, in its pure form, is calculated to reduce emissions by up to 30 percent over the fuel’s life cycle.

“With Daher’s adoption of SAF for its needs at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport, all users at this facility can now benefit from our supply of Neste-blended jet-A fuel,” said James Hardacre, World Fuel Services’ vice president of sales for business aviation in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. 

This collaboration with commercial aviation at an airport made the sourcing and reliable delivery possible—but other business aviation operators in both Europe and North America have not been as successful in connecting the dots. It looks simple on paper, but it takes persistence and commitment to bring the fuel to the pump.

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“Vienna is the ideal location for CAE’s new business aviation training center in central Europe,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s group president, civil aviation. “This new center will be a game-changer for business aviation training in the region, offering programs on the region’s most sought-after aircraft platforms in an immersive learning environment. CAE Vienna is another example of the significant investments we are making to bring business aviation training closer to where our customers operate their aircraft.”

In addition to the Global 7500 and Global 6000 full flight simulators, four other FFSs will be installed, their types yet to be determined. The 8,000-square-foot center will have the ability to flex up to accommodate nine FFSs total in the space.

The center is planned to open in the second half of 2024.

Other expansion plans were completed in 2022, with CAE Singapore launched in November with a Gulfstream G650 FFS. And in April, CAE opened its first center on the West Coast of the U.S.  in Las Vegas. Others set to open in 2023 include Lake Nona, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia.

The training and simulation company joins others in the industry in sharing its plan to reach net-zero emissions and sustainable aviation goals. Read CAE’s FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report here.

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G700 Flight Test, Speed Record

The G700—set to enter service this year—has finished several more key steps in its flight testing program, including performance trials at Cecil Airport (KVQQ) in Jacksonville, Florida, and water ingestion testing at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (KWAL) in Wallops Island, Virginia. Those tests include touchdown and taxi maneuvering at speeds between 60 to 120 knots. Flyover noise testing has also proven the airplane registers less than the maximum permitted by FAA regulations.

• READ MORE: Textron Aviation Unveils Citation Ascend at EBACE

“The G700 continues to exceed our expectations throughout all facets of the flight test program,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, in a news release. “At the same time, even more customers around the globe are seeing the real-world performance features and benefits the aircraft provides in terms of efficiency, speed, and safety, while experiencing the immense comfort of the cabin firsthand.” 

On its way to the static display at EBACE, a test article G700 set a city-pair record from Mumbai, India, to Geneva with an elapsed time en route of 8 hours and 34 minutes, averaging Mach 0.90. This brings the total number of speed records set by the G700—and recognized by the National Aeronautic Association—to more than 40.

The G700 is also performing some of its flight test operations on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), using a variety of blends. One notable record recently set came on a flight from the company’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, to Tokyo, clocking in at 13 hours and Mach 0.89. Gulfstream has committed to use of SAF as well as other initiatives to bring it toward net-zero targets in 2030 and beyond, being the first business aircraft manufacturer to sign the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Ambition Statement—signaling its intent to “accelerate the supply and use of SAF technologies to reach 10 percent of the global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030,” according to the company.

• READ MORE: A Look Ahead at EBACE 2023

The G800 Arrives on the Continent

While the G800 has crossed the pond before, EBACE 2023 marks the first time that the model has gone on display in continental Europe. With a SAF blend on board—like all of the G800 test flights originating from Savannah—the G800 flew from KSAV to LSGG.

With four living areas and seating for up to 19 passengers, the G800 is scheduled to enter service later this year. According to Gulfstream, the G800 can range out to 8,000 nm at Mach 0.85 and 7,000 nm at Mach 0.90. 

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The $16.725-million Ascend will be the fifth-generation Citation 560XL when it arrives in 2025, and its refreshed appearance heralds dozens of improvements aimed at sustaining demand for the best-selling business jet in the last quarter century. Almost 1,100 Excel, XLS, XLS+ and XLS Gen 2 Citations have been delivered since 1998. The Ascend has plenty of qualities aimed at extending this sales performance.

“The Cessna Citation Ascend builds upon more than 20 years of the 560XL series success in the market,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, global sales and flight operations for Textron Aviation. “It’s designed to outperform and take our customers further in style.” 

Under New Power

​Most noticeably on the outside, it has a new and larger flight deck and cabin windows, giving it a sleeker, more contemporary appearance. Under the cowls, Pratt & Whitney Canada’s 4,213 lb thrust PW545D engines offer a modest 1 percent thrust increase, but they’ve been upgraded with more efficient high-pressure cores that boost flow rate and improve durability, compared to the PW545C powerplants that propel the Ascend’s predecessor, the Citation XLS Gen2.

The PW545Ds also have enhanced deep-fluted mixer nozzles to mix hot core gas and cold bypass air flows in the exhaust section with less turbulence, resulting in better fuel efficiency and reduced noise. Mid-life inspection and overhaul intervals have been extended to 3,000 hours and 6,000 hours respectively for operators enrolled either Textron Aviation’s pay-per-hour PowerAdvantage or PowerAdvantage+ program, or PWC’s private-label Eagle Service Plans tailored for Textron Aviation’s requirements.

The turbofans’ full authority digital engine controls (FADECs) are specifically designed to link up with PWC’s Flight, Acquisition, Storage, and Transmission (FAST) system that allows all engine perimeters to be monitored and analyzed by the engine manufacturer to spot trends and to identify maintenance actions before they become serious problems.

Into the Interior

Inside the Ascend, there’s a new flat floor made possible by filling in the 8-inch dropped center aisle. The new model has upgraded passenger chairs and beefier acoustical insulation to sop up more sound. Interior sound levels now approach those of Textron Aviation’s super-midsize jets.

The inflight entertainment package features a Bongiovi Acoustics speakerless, surround-sound system and upgraded WiFi connectivity package, including standard Iridium SATCOM and GoGo L3 air-to-ground communications.

READ MORE: Textron’s Citation XLS Gen2 Achieves FAA Certification

The Ascend has dozens of other improvements likely to be appreciated by passengers, including electrically actuated dual-mode translucent / opaque window shades, 19 USB-C charging ports—including at least one for each seat—and 6 wireless PDA charging stations, along with electric push-button release of seat movement mechanisms that make for easier adjustment and a cell phone or PDA app to control the Clairity cabin management system.

Options include a higher speed GoGo L5 internet transceiver, “luxury vinyl” or stone flooring for the galley and lavatory, adjustable lumbar supports for seat backs, and choice of soft, medium or firm bottom seat cushions. Available illuminated cabin window frames create soft halos around the transparencies that make them appear even larger than they are. For customers needing 8 inches more headroom in the main cabin, the previous dropped center aisle configuration is available in place of the flat floor.

On the Flight Deck

The ​Ascend promises to reduce pilot workload in many ways. The APU now is approved for unattended operation, so one pilot can look after passengers while the other focuses on preflight preparations. There’s a new light on the bottom of the left engine pylon to illuminate the aft baggage compartment loading zone at night. Up front, the flight deck has the latest version of the Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck, including autothrottles (all-engine only), four touchscreen control units, and high-resolution synthetic vision.

The Ascend’s G5000 avionics package will be the first to offer Garmin’s 3D exocentric view airport diagrams on PFDs, including runway and taxiway signs, obstacle symbols, and building images. A few years ago, this feature only was available on $50-million-plus jets equipped with Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. Garmin’s plans call for upgrading the 3D airport diagram system to display ADS-B In imagery of proximate aircraft, fuel trucks, and service vehicles. No longer will taxiing safely between the ramp and runway in low visibility conditions be more challenging than flying from takeoff to touchdown in solid IFR.

Textron Aviation confirmed the Citation Ascend will achieve a range of 1,900 nm at high-speed cruise, and 2,100 nm at long-range cruise—the same performance as the last-generation XLS. It will also retain the ability to link city pairs such as London City, England, to Athens, Greece; Helsinki, Finland, to Porto, Portugal; or La Mole, France, to Prague, Czech Republic, with four passengers at high-speed cruise.

EBACE attendees can see the Citation Ascend interior mock-up for themselves at Textron Aviation booth T-26 during the show.

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At Palexpo and the Geneva International Airport (LSGG) on Monday, the show opens for the media—and FLYING already has the scoop on a few key tidbits. We can’t say anything more, but watch this space.

For the opening session on Tuesday morning, be prepared to race into action with keynotes from the Formula 1 racing world: Susie Wolff, of F1 Academy, and Toto Wolff, team principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, will talk about how pressure drives innovation in the sport. There’s a definite corollary between F1 and business aviation in that response to a challenge.

And the challenges remain as the show opens—coming as the industry continues to make its own drive toward net-zero emissions. The race is on, indeed. At EBACE, the Sustainability Summit will focus on that commitment to achieve the  International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) long-range goal by 2050.

• WATCH: Learn More About the Sustainability Summit

Many exhibitors have taken the sustainability pledge—managing their practices not just in manufacturing and service facilities but also at the show itself. Look for natural materials, water conservation, and energy management as a theme.

But really, you want to see the airplanes, right? In addition to new aircraft on display, look for the recently redesigned Dassault Falcon 10X mock-up, which will make you truly feel like you’re in the real thing. FLYING had a sneak peak of the modular design before it traveled to the show when we visited the company’s facilities at Le Bourget, France, last month.

• WATCH: Dassault Falcon 10X MockUp

Sustainability highlights the ramp action too, with VoltAero’s Cassio 330 hybrid-electric demonstrator there to explore—one of several examples of advanced air mobility that proposes to transform the short-haul mission.

The show runs through May 25, and there’s still time to register.

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