AURA AERO To Build NextGen Aircraft In Daytona Beach
All eyes in the worlds of aviation and aerospace were overseas this week as the UK hosted the 2024 edition of the Farnborough International Airshow, but one of the biggest business deals announced at the show shifted the focus back to Florida.
French aircraft designer and manufacturer, AURA AERO, announced the company will build a $172 million, 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant for next generation aircraft at Embry-Riddle University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach.
Embry-Riddle University’s Research Park is a tech-focused ecosystem where university researchers and students can collaborate with businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, providing a foundation to start or grow their enterprise.
Another Win For Florida's Booming Aviation Industry
Tolouse-based AURA AERO laid the foundation for this week’s announcement by engaging in preliminary partnership talks with Embry-Riddle officials and Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez at the 2023 Paris Air Show.
The official press release today from the Governor’s Office was a well deserved victory lap for Florida which now ranks as the #1 state for aviation manufacturing attractiveness, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Directors said the Florida’s pro-business climate was a major factor in landing the AURA AERO deal.
“Florida’s continuing wins are a clear result of ongoing efforts by the Governor, as well as his amazing team and our legislators, to create and sustain a favorable business climate.” – Chariman Mori Hosseini
In today’s announcement, AURA AERO CEO Jérémy Caussade voiced confidence in his company’s choice of Florida which will become the platform for introducing their next generation aircraft to the U.S. market.
“We are thrilled to unveil AURA AERO’s expansion in the USA with the development of our industrial footprint in Florida…we have the perfect ecosystem to bring a new generation of aircraft to our American customers.” – Jérémy Caussade
What Aircraft Will AURA AERO Build In Florida?
While the official press release does not share specifics regarding the type of aircraft AURA AERO will be building in the Sunshine State, the company’s website shares some clues.
The company is busy developing what they call Electric Regional Aircraft (ERA), and it is very likely that the new Florida manufacturing plant will be the future home of ERA assembly.
Due to enter service before 2030, the company says ERAs “will reduce in-flight emissions by 80% for a 200NM mission, compared with a current 19-seater aircraft, which is 100% SAF-compatible.”
According to Aerotime, AURA AERO just received a large order for 75 freighter versions of the ERA from Utah-based Alpine Air Express. With that order, AURA AERO’s order book stands at 570 units worth an estimated $9 billion.
With the new Florida plant, AURA AERO will occupy a facility 8 times larger than their current 60,000-square-foot plant at the Toulouse Airport where the company assembles its Integral model. The Integral is a side by side, two-seater aircraft which comes in three models (E, R, S) for both training and aerobatic competition.
According to the official press release, when it opens AURA AERO’s new Florida facility in Daytona Beach will also quadruple the company’s workforce by creating 1,030 Florida jobs with an average salary over $70,000.
As we reported earlier this year, Florida recently crossed a significant threshold of 25,000 manufacturing businesses in the state that employ over 420,000 workers making average annual wages of $74,575.
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If you own an established aviation services or manufacturing business in Florida or Georgia and would like to get a better understanding of the current market value of your company and important steps you can take today to maximize that value, get in touch with a CII business advisor today.