Toulouse-based Ascendance, which was founded in 2018 is developing the Atea hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft to have a range of 400km (250 miles) while carrying four passengers or up to 400kg (881 lbs) of payload.
Ascendance is targeting applications such as passenger transport, medical, logistics and surveillance in regional aviation markets for Atea. The company is also developing a patented modular hybrid-electric propulsion system called Sterna for Atea.
The partnership between Ascendance and Airbus aims to develop and certify the Sterna hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion systems.
Ascendance said it will bring its hybrid-electric expertise to the partnership, while Airbus will contribute its industrial scale and experience as an established aircraft manufacturer.
“This partnership with Airbus validates our vision – delivering practical, realistic technology that meets the demands of modern aviation. It marks a new milestone in our commitment to making cleaner, more accessible air travel a reality,” said Jean-Christophe Lambert, CEO and co-founder of Ascendance.
Karim Mokaddem, head of aircraft of tomorrow technologies at Airbus, said, “Ascendance embodies an innovative and pragmatic approach. Their ability to turn disruptive concepts into certifiable, real-world solutions is a real asset for accelerating aviation’s energy transition. This partnership aligns with our decarbonization roadmap and reflects our ambition to invent the future of flight.”
