A Texan company, specializing in the design of a new generation of vertical take-off and landing aircraft, is preparing to set up its design and manufacturing activities in the Montreal region and create, in doing so, until 2000 jobs.
At least, this is the intention communicated this week by Jaunt Air Mobility, Dallas, Texas, during an exclusive interview with Le Journal. To carry out this project, the company has just enlisted the services of an old aeronautic truck driver in Quebec.
“There are few places in the world where we find such an important aeronautical ecosystem, and on the other hand, the political will to make its mark in the electrification of transport, explains its new president, Éric Côté. It is this combination that convinced the American leadership to establish itself in Canada. “
Courtesy photo
Eric Côté. President
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Jaunt Air bought the intellectual property for a set of electrically powered rotors developed by Carter Aviation of Wichita two years ago.
With this technology in her pocket, she developed an electric-powered aircraft, which flies like an airplane and takes off vertically like a helicopter.
Its flight range reaches 125 km and its speed 280 km / h.
Besides parcel delivery, emergency transport, and military tasks, it is considered perfect for filling the emerging air taxi market.
Race against time
It is estimated that this market will reach US $ 5.7 billion in the United States by 2030 and will require more than 15,000 devices by 2030. One of the main contributors to the expansion of this type of transport is of course Uber Elevate.
“It’s a race against time,” explains Mr. Côté, a former Bombardier and Soucy Group employee. No less than 125 companies are taking part, and according to experts Jaunt Air is in the top 5. It’s the one who gets their certifications first. “
In this regard, Transport Canada, less called upon than the FAA, is likely to be useful.
2,000 jobs in 2026
The company avoids specifying the size of its future investments. She just talks about “several hundred million dollars”. Discussions are underway with governments, but no aid has yet been announced.
The company is looking for an industrial space of approximately 700,000 sq. Ft. In the Montreal region. New hires will come next.
If all goes well, production will begin in 2023 with a few hundred employees, the number of which would increase rapidly to 2,000 in 2026. Its production rate would then approach 2,000 aircraft per year.
The aircraft
- Propulsion: electric or hybrid
- Payload: 980 kg
- Range: 125 km
- Speed: 280 km / h
Air taxi market
- US $ 5.7 billion by 2030
- 1,500 aircraft by 2025
- 15,000 aircraft by 2030
Renowned partners
- BAE Systems
- FALLS OFF
- Garmin
- Triumph Aerospace Structure
- Walle Mobility
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