European aviation giant Airbus has signed a deal with authorities in Saudi Arabia that will update and expand the fleet of traditional helicopters in the Kingdom, while also preparing it for the operation of future urban air mobility (UAM) craft and services like air taxis.
Airbus signed the agreement with The Helicopter Company (THC), a state-owned and operated entity that holds the exclusive rights to providing chopper flights in the country. While the memorandum of understanding will expand the number of Airbus helicopters THC already owns, it also lays the foundation for work to ready Saudi Arabia for vehicles, infrastructure, navigational systems, and other requisites for eventual UAM activities like air taxis.
The accord comes at a time when Airbus has shifted its development of hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles into higher gear. With airlines and other operators of aircraft around the globe pledging carbon reduction or…
