Oshkosh, WI., US. Piper Industrial Manufacturing Company (PIMCO), the dedicated manufacturing division of Piper Aircraft, on July 20 announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with French sustainable aviation pioneer AURA AERO. This landmark collaboration brings together PIMCO’s extensive aerospace manufacturing capabilities and AURA AERO’s expertise in next generation aircraft development to support the industrialisation and scalable production of ERA, AURA AERO’s Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft.
As the aviation industry accelerates its transition toward decarbonisation, the partnership bridges nearly 90 years of proven aerostructure fabrication and certification expertise with next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion technology. The alliance is designed to optimise the manufacturing supply chain and ensure robust industrial readiness for the 19-seat ERA, AURA AERO’s revolutionary hybrid-electric regional aircraft engineered to drastically reduce emissions, acoustic footprint, and direct operating costs (DOC) without compromising range or operational flexibility.
The collaboration underscores PIMCO’s strategic expansion into the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and
sustainable aviation sectors, providing turn-key, high-volume manufacturing solutions to innovative OEMs. For AURA AERO, the agreement strengthens the industrial foundations required to scale ERA production.
Backed by an order book of approximately 700 aircraft, ERA entry into service is scheduled for 2030 from AURA AERO’s manufacturing facilities in Daytona Beach, Florida and in Toulouse, France.
“Industrial readiness is as critical as aircraft development. With PIMCO’s long standing experience in aluminium aerostructures, we are strengthening the manufacturing capabilities behind ERA and taking another important step toward delivering commercial aviation’s first hybrid-electric passenger aircraft,” said Jérémy Caussade, co-founder and President of AURA AERO.
“We are thrilled to partner with a visionary industry leader like AURA AERO to advance their hybrid-electric ERA platform,” said John Calcagno, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft. “By leveraging our legacy of proven aerostructure manufacturing and rigorous certification processes, we are uniquely positioned to help bring the future of eco-designed, sustainable commuter transport to the global market.”
AURA AERO designs, develops and manufactures a new generation of aircraft to connect communities, accelerate aviation decarbonisation and strengthen industrial and technological sovereignty. Combining aeronautical excellence, digital technologies and next-generation propulsion systems, the company develops certified civil and defence aircraft, including the INTEGRAL family of training aircraft and ERA, the 19-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft. AURA AERO’s development in the US is supported by the State of Florida, Space Florida and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
With 87+ years of precision manufacturing history, Piper Aircraft’s Piper Industrial Manufacturing Company (PIMCO) provides world class, turn-key manufacturing solutions. Piper Aircraft, Inc., headquartered in Vero Beach, Fl., offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single and twin-engine aircraft and is the first general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the world to certify Garmin® Emergency Autoland.
The single-engine M-Class series – the M700 FURY, M500®, and M350® – offers businesses and individuals elegant performance, value and a superior ownership experience. The Personal Class Archer® LX and Archer DLX balance proven performance, efficiency, and simplicity in a piston-powered light aircraft.
The Trainer Class Pilot 100i, Archer TX, Archer DX, Seminole and Seminole DX aircraft form the most complete, technically advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
