French aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero will soon begin construction of a factory in Daytona Beach, Florida, dedicated to producing its ERA hybrid-electric aircraft.
The 500,000 sq ft (46,451 sq m) manufacturing facility will create over 1,000 jobs and has received key support from regional development agency Space Florida with up to US$200m in funding. The Daytona Beach site will be Aura-Aero’s US headquarters as part the company expands into the North American market.
The ERA (Electric Hybrid Regional Aircraft) is a 19-seater designed for regional mobility that will be powered by eight electric motors and two sustainable aviation fuel-compatible turbo-generators. The aircraft automatically alternates between hybrid and electric phases according to flight requirements, with a range of up to 900 nautical miles (1,667km).
“Just seven years after the launch of the company, both our aircraft programs are running high, with several important milestones expected this year,” said Jérémy Caussade, CEO and co-founder of Aura Aero. “We are incredibly proud and excited by the success of INTEGRAL and ERA, particularly as they continue to grow in the US.”
Staff at Aura Aero’s Toulouse factory have begun producing components for ERA, and the company expects to start the assembly phase for the initial prototype in the coming months. The first flight is scheduled for late 2027, and entry into service is expected by 2030.
According to Aura Aero the ERA aircraft reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% compared with thermal aircraft in its class. The versatile aircraft can be configured for passenger transport, business aviation, cargo or special missions. ERA already has an order book of over 650 Letters of Intent, valued at over US$10.5 billion, with five new customers announced at Paris Air Show in June.
Integral aircraft facility
Aura Aero is also opening its first US facility this year, covering 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach. This site will host assembly, delivery and customer support activities for the company’s INTEGRAL trainer aircraft in North America.
The facility will also be home to two prototypes of INTEGRAL E, the all-electric version, which fly in Florida as part of its flight test campaign.
The INTEGRAL family of two-seater side-by-side trainer aircraft with aerobatic capabilities is already flying in Europe. The INTEGRAL R, featuring a thermal 210hp Lycoming engine with tailwheel configuration, received European certification in December 2024. Aura Aero is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration on a fast-track process for US validation by the end of this year, with deliveries having started in Europe in April.
The INTEGRAL S, with a thermal 180hp Lycoming engine and nosewheel configuration, is expected to receive European certification by the end of this year and Federal Aviation Administration certification in 2026. The all-electric INTEGRAL E is expected to achieve both Federal Aviation Administration and European certification by the end of 2026, with first deliveries following in early 2027.
