Electra, an advanced aerospace company, has announced a partnership with the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Smart Airspace Programme to create a pioneering instrument flight rules (IFR) network for advanced air mobility aircraft in the United States. This collaboration aims to establish a scalable model for integrating AAM aircraft into existing airspace, enhancing reliability and safety.
The initiative, led by Virginia Tech's Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, seeks to address the limitations of current IFR procedures, which are not tailored for AAM aircraft. By developing new IFR routing procedures and access points, the programme will enable more direct routing and separate AAM traffic from conventional flights, using GPS navigation to keep costs low.
Electra, known for its hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft, will serve as a technical lead alongside NAVOS Air. The programme is financially supported by the Virginia Department of Aviation and the Virginia Small Aircraft Transportation Systems Lab. "Virginia is helping to define the national blueprint for how Advanced Air Mobility will operate in everyday airspace," said Tombo Jones, Director of MAAP.
The programme will initially connect four strategic nodes in Virginia, including the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport and Shannon Airport. An economic analysis projects that enabling AAM operations could generate over $16 billion in economic activity and create more than 17,000 jobs in Virginia by 2045.
Electra's Direct Aviation model, which uses Ultra Short aircraft capable of taking off and landing in just 150 feet, aims to bring air travel closer to communities, expanding economic opportunities. The company's strategic investors include Lockheed Martin Ventures and Honeywell, with contracted customers such as the US Air Force and NASA
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