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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Lilium, manufacturer of the seven-seat Lilium Jet, on Thursday announced that Saudia Group—owner of Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and one of the largest airlines in the region—signed a binding sales agreement for the purchase of 50 aircraft, with an option for 50 more. Saudia expects to receive its first jets in 2026.

The deal follows a 2022 memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the partners, with plans to establish an eVTOL network across Saudi Arabia.

“The Middle East is a priority for Lilium, and Saudi Arabia will be a very large and exciting market for electric, high-speed regional air mobility,” said Lilium CEO Klaus Roewe.

According to Lilium, the purchase agreement is the largest of its kind for the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. Archer Aviation, an eVTOL air taxi manufacturer, earlier this year signed a nonbinding agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Air Chateau for 100 aircraft.

The signing of Lilium’s deal with Saudia, which includes payment schedules, delivery timelines, performance guarantees, and provisions for maintenance, spare parts, and repairs, was attended by Michael Kindsgrab, Germany’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Saudia will operate the jets through its Saudia Private subsidiary, while Lilium will provide fleet maintenance and support through its recently launched customer service offering. The airline will also assist the manufacturer in certification efforts with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

“The eVTOL jets are revolutionizing guest transportation,” said Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia. “Their unique vertical takeoff and landing capabilities open up entirely new routes. Imagine traveling up to [108 miles] at speeds of [155 miles] per hour, saving valuable time compared to traditional options. This technology also tackles traffic congestion head-on. Business travelers and exhibition attendees will benefit tremendously from the ease and speed of electric aircraft, allowing them to seamlessly attend and participate in events.”

Al-Omar said use cases for the aircraft will include tourism, sports, entertainment, business conferences, and events out of Saudia hubs in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.

The companies said they may even ferry worshippers to Mecca during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, which attract millions every year but frequently result in deaths due to heat and crowd density. Lilium and Saudia expect the eVTOL jets will alleviate some of that congestion and reduce travel times by as much as 90 percent.

Other eVTOL manufacturers looking to fly in the country include Joby Aviation, Bristow Group, and Volocopter.

According to Lilium, the company’s order portfolio now includes more than 100 firm orders, 76 options, and hundreds of tentative orders under MOUs. Customers include ASL Group, PhilJets, and UrbanLink Air Mobility, a newly formed company that plans to fly the Lilium Jet in Florida, California, and the Caribbean.

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The manufacturer on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mukamalah Aviation—a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Saudi Aramco that according to Joby operates the world’s largest fleet of corporate aircraft—to introduce its eVTOL air taxi in the country.

Mukamalah serves 13 airports across Saudi Arabia with multiple fleets comprising a total of 55 aircraft. The operator manages nine of these locations in addition to more than 300 onshore and offshore helipads.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, and Captain Khalid Al Natour, CEO of Mukamalah, signed the agreement, which may culminate in the direct sale of Joby aircraft to Mukamalah, at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh.

The MOU builds on Joby’s agreements with the leadership of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to fly in the neighboring United Arab Emirates—which is quickly becoming a hot spot for eVTOL activity—as early as 2025.

“Saudi Arabia presents a remarkable opportunity for our technology, and the scope and scale of Mukamalah’s operations make them a natural partner for us,” said Bevirt.

Joby’s flagship air taxi is designed for a pilot to fly as many as four passengers at up to 200 mph (174 knots), with a range of 100 sm (87 nm). Flights will largely be based out of vertiports installed at locations such as airports and hotels, generating a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters, the manufacturer says.

The company intends to operate its own aircraft in markets such as the U.S. and UAE, contrasting with competitors such as Archer Aviation. But Joby says the direct sale of aircraft to operating partners, such as Mukamalah, is part of its commercialization strategy.

The agreement will include Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and other local aviation stakeholders “to expedite Joby’s entry into the Saudi Arabia market.”

“We are proud to be working together with Joby and Mukamalah on the regulatory framework necessary to support the introduction of eVTOL aircraft,” said a GACA spokesperson. “These initiatives will help the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia meet its climate goals and steer the nation towards a sustainable future.”

Joby first announced its plans to fly in the Middle East in February, signing a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi operations in the UAE as soon as 2025. 

The company said the partnership gives it “exclusive” rights to operate air taxis in the Emirate of Dubai for six years following the start of service. However, competitor Archer Aviation—which has its own plans for Dubai and the UAE—believes it will have no issue operating in the Emirate.

Joby expanded its plans for the UAE to Abu Dhabi in April, partnering with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and other local stakeholders to establish its services nationwide. The company teased the possibility of air taxi routes connecting the nation’s two largest cities, offering 30-minute trips.

ADIO is also collaborating closely with Archer, EHang, and other eVTOL manufacturers eyeing service in the country, offering them financial incentives to localize manufacturing and other operations.

As Emirati leaders push to make the nation a leader in urban air mobility (UAM), it appears the Saudi government may have a similar goal.

The Arab Center Washington DC characterizes the relationship between the two countries as a “rift,” driven by a desire to become the dominant economic power in the region. Both nations rely heavily on their oil industries and have turned to tourism to diversify revenues.

Saudi Arabia made sustainability a pillar of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the country’s oil-dependent economy. Saudi leaders hope to reach net-zero carbon emissions across all industries by 2060 and have already enacted regulations, such as around hydrogen production, to help get there.

“Over the past years, we have already invested in a more sustainable future, including taking steps in sustainable aviation fuel [SAF] testing, supporting the development of hydrogen solutions in the aviation ecosystem, and supporting the Kingdom’s green initiatives by delivering sustainable aviation solutions,” said Al Natour.

Earlier this year, The Helicopter and Jet Company, a Saudi state-owned commercial helicopter operator, partnered with Houston-based Bristow Group to explore the introduction of eVTOL aircraft in the country. Bristow has orders for as many as 50 such models from Vertical Aerospace and as many as 55 from Beta Technologies, as well as up to 50 Electra.aero hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.

German manufacturers Volocopter and Lilium are also eyeing eVTOL networks in Saudi Arabia. The former received an order for 10 VoloCity aircraft to be flown in the planned industrial, residential, and tourist zone of Neom, while the latter agreed to sell as many as 100 eVTOL jets to Saudi flag carrier Saudia.

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The company’s Arabia Aircraft and Maintenance Services subsidiary on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Helicopter and Jet Company (THC), a provider of commercial helicopter services wholly owned by the government of Saudi Arabia, to explore advanced air mobility (AAM) initiatives and “other collaborative vertical lift endeavors” in the country.

The MOU provides a framework for the partners to adopt emerging technologies—such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) or short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft—and grow Saudi Arabia’s aviation ecosystem, Bristow said.

“THC has demonstrated amazing success in a short period of time,” said Chris Bradshaw, president and CEO of Bristow. “We are excited about this new agreement, and our partnership with THC underscores Bristow’s intent to grow our business in the Middle East. Bristow has collaborations with multiple leading AAM manufacturers to provide critical safety, operational, certification, and logistics expertise.”

The partnership with THC is just the latest AAM-related agreement for Bristow, which has steadily pivoted from operating solely rotorcraft. In recent years, the company has shifted focus to vertical flight more broadly, embracing technologies such as eVTOL and eSTOL.

For example, Lilium, which has a deal to sell as many as 100 eVTOL Lilium Jets to Saudi flag carrier Saudia, also signed a nonbinding agreement with Bristow that includes the option to purchase up to 50 aircraft. Under the agreement, Bristow would provide maintenance services for the manufacturer’s planned Florida AAM network.

In addition, Bristow has deals for up to 50 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace, as many as 55 from Beta Technologies, and up to 80 from Volocopter. It also agreed on preorders for 100 Elroy Air Chaparral eVTOL cargo drones and up to 50 Electra.aero eSTOLs.

The new additions will serve customers in the U.S. and other regions within Bristow’s network—including, potentially, Saudi Arabia.

“This agreement will also allow us to help transform Saudi Arabia’s general aviation industry through our forward-thinking work, cementing our role as a regional leader and an increasingly global player,” said Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC.

The Middle East is quickly becoming a hotbed for AAM activity, with manufacturers attracted by the high levels of investment and cooperation by the Saudi government and the companies it backs. Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Lilium, Volocopter, and EHang are among those looking to fly in the region. 

Some are even eyeing Saudi Arabia. Lilium, for example, is working with airline Saudia to launch a nationwide eVTOL network. Another German manufacturer, Volocopter, is looking to build its own network in the planned smart city of Neom.

In addition, Joby this month signed an exclusive six-year deal to operate electric air taxis in Dubai, shutting out competitors such as Archer and Embraer’s Eve Air Mobility that had previously announced plans to fly in the city.

Archer is now looking elsewhere within the United Arab Emirates, working with the city of Abu Dhabi and local operators Falcon Aviation and Air Chateau to bring AAM to the country. China’s EHang also intends to expand operations to Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

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Representatives of Embraer and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)—the country’s state-owned defense company—signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing cooperation in the aerospace sector Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“This is the first step to advance cooperation in defense and security involving production chains between the two countries,” Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, said in a statement. “With this [MOU], Embraer advances further into a strategic market.”

• READ MORE: Czech Republic Sets Eyes on Embraer C-390 for Military Transport

The agreement sets the stage to expand operations for both companies in Saudi Arabia, “with a focus on promoting the capabilities of the C-390,” and supporting the country’s Ministry of Defense, Embraer said.

“SAMI and Embraer will work to establish comprehensive maintenance capability for the Embraer aircraft in the Kingdom. Additionally, both companies will explore a Regional MRO Hub and a final assembly line for the Embraer C-390, as well as a mission system integration in the Kingdom,” Embraer said. 

• READ MORE: Embraer C-390 Completes Flight Tests for Firefighting Missions

The MOU also establishes an aerospace sector training partnership between the two companies in Saudi Arabia, the company added.

The MOU is the latest in a string of international agreements aimed at localizing Saudi Arabia’s defense industry. In recent months, SAMI has entered into an maintenance agreement with France’s Safran Helicopter Engines, as well as with Turkey’s Baykar Tech for drone manufacturing.

• READ MORE: Saudi Arabia Selects King Airs for Weather Mission

“This growth in our business scope and capabilities highlights SAMI’s dedication to advancing and supporting the development of the aerospace ecosystem in the Kingdom,” SAMI CEO Walid Abukhaled said in a statement. “It is another important step in SAMI’s efforts in supporting the Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen the Kingdom’s self-sufficiency in the defense sector and contribution to the localization of 50 percent of the defense spending In the Kingdom by 2030.”

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The specially modified aircraft will be used for cloud seeding.

Cloud seeding involves the deliberate introduction of various substances, often dry ice or silver iodide, that acts as condensation nuclei in an attempt to induce precipitation.

According to Textron, the company was awarded the contract by AvMet International LLC based in Fargo, North Dakota, for one Beechcraft King Air 360CHW and four Beechcraft King Air 260.

• We Fly: Beechcraft King Air 360

AvMet and its partners Weather Modification International (WMI) and Fargo Jet Center (FJC) will equip the aircraft with a cloud water inertial probe (CWIP), data logger with aircraft tracking, and cloud seeding equipment. 

“We’re honored AvMet has chosen a fleet of Beechcraft King Air aircraft to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology cloud seeding program,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, special mission sales for Textron Aviation. “The King Air continues to be selected for a wide range of special mission roles around the world due to the aircraft’s capabilities and reliability.”   

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Joseph Rank, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in Saudi Arabia and Africa, told Arab News on Tuesday that Lockheed plans to work with the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), and other partners to develop missile defense systems to ward off threats.

“The threats today and tomorrow are going to be drones and missiles coming into the kingdom,” Rank said. “So, the focus of our efforts is to help them enhance their defense.”

Rank said there are many ways Lockheed can achieve this. One Bloomberg report includes counter missiles and counter drones that use critical command and control systems that connect sensors to shooters out in the field.

Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ 

Since Saudi Arabia is one of the largest defense buyers in the world, localizing its military manufacturing would save the country lots of money. How much? An April 2021 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicated that Saudi Arabia had the sixth-largest defense budget in the world in 2020, roughly 2.9 percent of all military spending worldwide. 

The report also says that Saudi Arabia spent as much as 8.4 percent of its gross domestic product on its military in 2020. This year, the country plans to spend up to $45 billion to modernize its military toward a plan the Saudi Arabian government calls “Vision 2030,” which calls for the government to spend half of its military budget locally by 2030.

At the same time, Lockheed is also investing in scholarship and internship programs at local colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia to improve research and development efforts.

“We’re an official partner with GAMI that is going to initially start as a vocational-technical school to help teach Saudis young Saudis how to do complex defense, mechanical challenges so that they can sustain and repair and eventually design their systems,” Rand said in the Arab News report.

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It was during EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John and I were seated at a dinner table when a friend brought up a visitor. We were informed the visitor was a prince of Saudi Arabia—and what ensued is the kind of extraordinary conversation that can happen at Oshkosh. I am sorry to say that I did not do a very good job with the conversation; I had no idea what to say to a prince. I later learned he had been a fighter pilot, as well as an astronaut in a space shuttle mission. Had I known those things, I would have done a better job—I do have some idea of what to say to a fighter pilot and an astronaut. Our visitor was His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman, an ardent supporter of general aviation and son of the king.

Prince Sultan told us that in order to help promote general aviation, he was planning on inviting us to Saudi Arabia for an airshow. Months went by before we heard anything more. Then a few weeks before the show was scheduled, we received a fax from Saudi Arabia inviting us to the airshow and asking us to speak. Of course, I wondered how, as a female pilot, I would fare in Saudi Arabia. They asked me to send measurements for a coverall robe called an abaya; I took that as a clue that things would be different than I was used to.

The leg on Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Germany, to Saudi Arabia was interesting. As I followed the flight on ForeFlight, it became apparent we were setting up to fly around Syria and Iraq. That seemed like a very good idea to me.

After deplaning in Riyadh, it was immediately obvious this was a place you’d never confuse with Kansas. Most men were wearing the scarves and robes of traditional Saudi dress, and the female inspectors who worked in security had their faces entirely covered by veils, with only slits for their eyes.

At the airport, John and I met many of Prince Sultan’s aviation friends who were gathering from all over the world to support the airshow. Getting to know them was a great experience.

The Saudi Space Commission, which is chaired by Prince Sultan, was officially sponsoring the airshow. The Space Commission employees who served as our escorts and hosts—Hala, Rana and Fawaz—were extremely thoughtful and well-educated. Everyone we met had master’s degrees from either Europe or the United States. They went to great lengths to ensure that, as much as possible, we understood and appreciated the culture of Saudi Arabia.

They presented us with traditional Saudi dress. Both John and I decided to wear it as a sign of respect. It was expected (though not required) that, as a woman, I would wear a covering abaya, but it seemed to be very much a surprise, and very pleasing to folks, that John wore and even flew in his thobe.

On our first full day in the city, our escorts took us to the Saqr Al-Jazira Aviation Museum, followed by a great get-acquainted lunch. Next were stops at a souk (an old market) and the historic Al Masmak Fortress. The evening was topped off with a traditional Saudi dinner at the estate of Prince Sultan. Everyone we met was warm and hospitable.

The airshow was held at Thumamah Airport, located about 37 miles north of Riyadh with a 13,000-foot runway. The airport was recently designated a general aviation airport, and it’s operated by the Saudi Aviation Club. The club was established by Prince Sultan to encourage public participation in aviation, and is a member of the International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The airshow included a very informative and motivating set of hangar talks given by the many aviation contacts Prince Sultan had nurtured over the years.

The women participating in the airshow were warmly welcomed. Adwa AlDakheel, the master of ceremonies for the event, was a woman who had learned to fly while attending college in Boston and continued her flying in Saudi Arabia as a member of the Saudi Aviation Club. Several of the Saudi women I met told me they felt it was a wonderful time to be a woman in Saudi Arabia because they are on the cusp of great change. Women had just received the right to drive about 18 months prior.

Read More from Martha King: Sky Kings

John and I gave a talk describing our 50-plus-year partnership to help provide access to aviation knowledge. Afterward, we were told by many people that the talk was inspirational. We didn’t really understand that at first—we were just telling our story. But the next day, a man told us that our talk was all his wife would talk about well into the evening. Then we got it. Women were seeking partnership, including in their flying. But from my conversations with Capt. Ayed Al Kasmi, the CEO of the Saudi Aviation Club, and Capt. Farres Moneer, the managing director, I learned that women in aviation have a long way to go in Saudi Arabia. Of the approximately 3,000 nonmilitary pilots, only about 50 (1.7 percent) are women. It appears there are only two female pilots flying commercially—one flies for a major airline and the other flies jets for a private individual.

The leadership of Prince Sultan serves as a wonderful catalyst for the improvement of general aviation’s prospects in Saudi Arabia, and the airshow, with its hangar talks, represented a greatly needed commitment. Unlike in the US, where aviation started with general aviation, in Saudi Arabia, aviation started with the military and airlines. People there aren’t used to individuals flying around in personal airplanes. It seems to many in the government that private flying is simply in the way. Government there, as in many countries, just doesn’t understand the productive role general aviation can play within the community and for the economy.

Another prince, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Khalid, a nephew of the king, has a Mooney that he and his wife, who is also a pilot, keep in the United States. He invited John and me to dinner one evening, along with about 20 high-level government people. Included was Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which is the equivalent of the administrator of the FAA in the US. He was seated next to John and across from the prince, so they could explain how important general aviation is. GACA can profoundly influence many of general aviation’s problems—including the high cost of fees and the complexity of regulations.

Other issues—such as the lack of skilled resources and repair stations, as well as limited availability of avgas, GA airports and FBOs—will take more time to solve. It is a lot to hope for that general aviation in Saudi Arabia will progress quickly, but because of the many very influential pilots we met who care so deeply, there is hope. It is fun to see these passionate aviators in action, and we certainly wish them the best.

This story appeared in the May 2020 issue of Flying Magazine

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