Supernal From Hyundai Motor In Partnership With Honeywell To Develop Air Taxi Avionics System

JAKARTA - Supernal, the air taxi unit of the Hyundai Motor Group, has selected aerospace supplier Honeywell International Inc to develop the avionics system for their production eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft to be announced next week.

Under the collaboration, Honeywell will work closely with Supernal, Hyundai's US-based eVTOL company, to explore the integration of the aerospace supplier's 'Anthem' flight deck into air taxis, which are slated to enter commercial service in 2028.

Electric air taxi makers around the world have established themselves as a clean alternative to decongested cities. They attract investment from heavyweight airlines such as Delta Air Lines Inc, although they are far from operating commercially.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still in the process of drafting certification rules for this futuristic aircraft, given that the jet functions as a helicopter during takeoff and landing, and as an airplane during flight.

"We would like to see the FAA come out with its set of certification rules, quickly. Well thought out, but quickly (and) that the rules are aligned with EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)," said Honeywell vice president Urban Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems, Stephane Fymat, told Reuters in an interview.

The challenges of obtaining certification and funding innovations such as new battery technologies have weighed on the new sector this year.

Honeywell's collaboration with Supernal is the first with an air taxi company founded by the South Korean automaker. The company, which is a major supplier to Boeing Co and Airbus SE, also has investments in other eVTOL companies - Lilium, Vertical Aerospace and Volocopter.

“Honeywell will consider investing further in the eVTOL sector,” said Fymat. Honeywell expects the overall market for air taxis to be around $120 billion annually by 2030.