France-based aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero has opened an 11,000 sq ft facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, Florida, that will serve as its United States headquarters and first production site.
The campus will host the North American delivery and customer support center for the Integral R program and establish the groundwork for the company’s hybrid-electric ERA aircraft. The initial production line will build the Integral R family of two-seater, aerobatic-capable training aircraft, offered first with a Lycoming piston engine and subsequently in a fully electric version.
The Integral family recently received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification currently underway. The United States represents the largest training market globally, with nearly 600 FAA-approved flight schools, more than 75,000 pilots, and growing demand for modern, cost-effective training aircraft with aerobatic capabilities.
In 2028, Aura Aero plans to open a 500,000 sq ft assembly line for its 19-seater ERA aircraft. The company aims to become the first manufacturer globally to produce a hybrid-electric regional aircraft, operating assembly lines in France and the United States.
The United States has emerged as one of the strongest markets for ERA, accounting for more than one-third of orders worldwide. The company expects United States volumes to approach half of its global total as additional commitments are finalized.
The current letter of intent (LOI) book stands at more than 650 ERA aircraft, representing more than US$10.5 billion. The Florida facility follows a partnership signed two years ago with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development agency, played a key role in supporting the project. The facility is expected to create more than 1,000 high-skill jobs in the region.
“Today’s announcement by Aura Aero and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a shining example of the Governor’s leadership in growing Florida’s aviation industries, focus on fostering the talent to support innovative aviation job creators, and development of a market in which innovators can invest capital confidently,” said Florida secretary of commerce J Alex Kelly.
“Florida has long been a leader in aeronautics and space, and the technical expertise of its workforce is a tremendous asset in asserting our leadership in the electric and hybrid-electric aviation sectors,” said Jérémy Caussade, president and co-founder of Aura Aero.
