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Supernal, the flying taxi branch of Hyundai Motor Group, has formed an operational partnership with a Texas helicopter services company as it aims for the 2028 launch of its electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Supernal made the agreement with Irving-based CHC Helicopter and its Heli-One subsidiary, a provider of helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
David Rottblatt, a high-level Suprenal executive, says the objective is to understand how CHC could operate Supernal’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles for commercial passenger transportation.
The companies also want to check potential applications with CHC’s client base in offshore energy, search-and-rescue and emergency medical services, Rottblatt, senior director of strategy and commercialization, told the Business Journal on March 26.
Tourism, Offshore, Medical
“Our vehicle will be well positioned to serve a lot of different use cases, from tourism and hospitality to urban commuting and airport shuttles. As seen with the CHC partnership, offshore energy, search and rescue, and medical transport could also be early use cases,” Rottblatt said.
In fact, while the futuristic-looking aircraft are generally referred to as flying taxis, Irvine-based Supernal and other developers such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation have been emphasizing that the aircraft will be suited for much more than just ferrying passengers over crowded urban areas.
“We anticipate that our early source of volume will come from large-scale commercial operators,” according to Rottblatt.
Safety has been a major issue, including for those on the ground.
Rottblatt said Supernal aims “to meet the highest safety standards related to type certification from the FAA, which we are targeting to achieve in 2028.”
120 MPH, 60-Mile Range
Supernal plans to deliver its first eVTOL vehicles to operators in 2028, which will cruise at 120 MPH with an initial range of 60 miles. CHC Helicopter offers local expertise across a global network with a focus on safety, reliability and sustainability. The company’s history helps it deliver services across a range of sectors.
The three companies are actively working to identify geographies, use cases, routes and networks for deployment, as well as partnership models for future market development.
Hyundai Motor Group said last year it was moving the Supernal headquarters to Irvine from Washington, D.C., bolstering the local hub of aerospace and aircraft companies.
The Irvine site is at 15555 Laguna Canyon Road.
The company’s eVTOL under development is called the S-A2, which will hold four passengers and a pilot.
CORRECTIONS:
Alignment Healthcare, a Medicare Advantage provider in Orange, has 399 employees based in Orange County. Due to a research error, the employee count published in the March 31 edition of the Business Journal was incorrect.
The Brea population is 48,479, according to the 2023 U.S. Census. In the March 31 edition, the population was incorrectly stated as 8,479.
The Business Journal regrets the errors.