It has been acclaimed as the first midsize eVTOL to conduct an uncrewed cargo operation at night. View the demonstration here.
The aircraft developer noted it as a critical milestone in solidifying standard operating procedures (SOPs) for night operations and verifying seamless integration with ground crews for loading and unloading the aircraft.
The company claimed the demonstrations further advance its efforts to bring its cargo-focused eVTOL and the piloted AIR ONE to market for both consumer and commercial logistics use, showcasing its suitability for diverse applications.
In a remote, non-airport site with minimal infrastructure, the uncrewed aircraft – which completed its mission in northern Israel – demonstrated its ability to operate in real-world conditions with limited resources, the company said.
This phase was designed to validate the platform’s ability to operate seamlessly in both daytime and nighttime conditions, with a key focus on ensuring that even ground crews previously unfamiliar with it can seamlessly handle the aircraft with minimal training.
Following simple SOPs, ground crews successfully loaded 550 pounds (250 kgs) of cargo into the aircraft and observed its departure via remote operation, demonstrating the eVTOL’s ability to integrate with any ground team.
AIR CEO and Co-founder Rani Plaut commented: “Operations don’t stop once the sun goes down. We recognised early on that ensuring safety and efficiency at night is just as essential as in the daytime. We’re proud to have completed this rigorous round of nighttime flight operations showcasing that AIR’s eVTOL for cargo use is ready for 24/7 use.
“The aircraft adapts to almost any environment due to its simple ground handling requirements and the ease with which any ground crew can quickly get up to speed. The new SOPs we established lay the foundation for a future of uninterrupted, on-demand cargo mobility.”
AIR said its launch customer, which was present during the night flight demonstration, was impressed with the aircraft’s smooth performance and eagerly anticipates the delivery of additional units later this year.
This marks the latest milestone for AIR, which has doubled its team size over the past year and expanded its product line with the introduction of its unmanned variant tailored for enterprise and logistics use, alongside its piloted eVTOL for personal flight.
The piloted AIR ONE is on track for delivery to general aviation customers after certification, with over 2,400 preorders for personal use already secured.