Vertical Aerospace and Héli Air Monaco announced a memorandum of understanding on December 9th for the pre-order of the British company’s Valo aircraft, marking a potential shift towards electric aviation on the French Riviera. The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft was unveiled in London the same day.
Héli Air Monaco plans to operate the Valo across its existing network, connecting Monaco with Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez through what the companies describe as quiet, zero-emission flights. Vertical Aerospace is targeting concurrent regulatory certification with the European Union and UK aviation regulators by 2028.
The partnership positions the Côte d’Azur as a testing ground for electric aviation on some of Europe’s busiest short-haul air routes, particularly around Nice airport. Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and Monaco Heliport are supporting the initiative to develop the necessary infrastructure adaptations.
Aircraft specifications and safety standards
The Valo is designed to initially seat four passengers, with plans to expand to six. The cabin features panoramic windows, generous personal space, and capacity for six cabin bags and six check-in bags. Vertical Aerospace is designing the aircraft to meet Europe’s 10-9 safety standard, which represents the highest level of commercial aviation safety globally.
The aircraft represents an evolution from Vertical’s VX4 prototype, incorporating insights from the company’s piloted test programme and feedback from airline and operator customers.
Industry perspectives
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said the partnership reflects a shared vision for cleaner and quieter travel along the coastline. “This partnership builds on today’s launch of Valo, our new aircraft, and accelerates our momentum toward bringing electric flight to market,” he stated.
Jacques Crovetto, CEO of Héli Air Monaco, described the move as reimagining travel across the Riviera. “By decarbonising our fleet of helicopters and dramatically reducing our noise footprint, we will be delivering a flight experience for our passengers that respects our neighbours, our environment, and shapes a sustainable future,” he said.
Franck Goldnadel, chairman of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur’s management board, noted that electric vertical take-off aircraft extend ongoing efforts to transform and decarbonise air mobility, particularly over short distances. He highlighted the region’s unique opportunity to fly over the sea to connect major destinations, positioning eVTOL as an alternative to conventional helicopters.
Context and timeline
The memorandum of understanding represents a pre-order arrangement that is non-binding and conditional. The planned deployment depends on regulatory certification, infrastructure development, and operational readiness by 2028.
Vertical Aerospace holds approximately 1,500 pre-orders for its eVTOL aircraft globally. The company is also developing a hybrid-electric variant of the Valo to offer increased range and mission flexibility for different market segments.
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Image source: Vertical Aerospace