ABOVE: The all-electric Integral E will be certified under EASA CS-23 rules

The EDF Group (Electricité de France) is to acquire a stake in Aura Aero, supporting the French aircraft manufacturer’s electric aviation ambitions.

EDF’s acquisition of an undisclosed stake in Aura Aero (via the former’s subsidiary SAFIDI, a financing vehicle for development and decarbonisation projects) ‘supports the aircraft manufacturer … on topics related to the electrification of aviation and the deployment of related infrastructures,’ explained Aura Aero.

“We are very honoured to have EDF as one of our core shareholders,” explained Aura Aero President and Co-founder Jérémy Caussade. “The expertise of such a group in implementing decarbonization of energy sources is very precious to us. This decision will largely contribute to helping us rapidly pursue our industrial development in France”.

Alongside the ongoing development of conventionally-powered Integral R and S light aircraft, the all-electric E variant was successfully ‘powered-on’ for the first time in February 2024 (after being unveiled at last year’s Paris Airshow). Following the receipt of an EASA Permit to Fly in April, the manufacturer declared its flight test campaign would begin within a matter of weeks, citing a ‘few technical steps [that] still remain to be reached,’ although no public announcement of a first flight has yet been made.

Aura Aero is also progressing with its clean-sheet all-electric regional aircraft design, the ERA, with the first elements of the test aircraft (due to fly by the end of 2026) currently being machined. Letters of intent have so far been received from 12 airlines for a total of 570 aircraft.

Taking a stake in Aura Aero “marks the [EDF] group’s will to contribute to the decarbonisation of heavy mobility players including in the aviation sector,” concluded Sylvain Vidal, Director of EDF Regional Action in the Occitanie Region. “In the name of the EDF group, I am very proud to support Aura Aero in its industrial take-off and to be able to accompany the company in the  implementation of its projects for a sustainable general aviation”.

IMAGE: AURA AERO