en.Wedoany.com Reported - Vertical Aerospace has adjusted its type certification target for the Valo electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to 2029, from a previous goal of 2028. The company stated that this adjustment stems from an assessment of remaining technical work and regulatory procedures, including the construction and evaluation of certification-compliant units.
The New York Stock Exchange-listed company (ticker: EVTL) noted that the new timeline reflects the complexity of certifying a new aircraft within the current regulatory framework, as well as the necessity of completing testing, design reviews, and manufacturing a certifiable configuration prototype. Vertical Aerospace stated that its certification path submitted to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) remains clear and is supported by both regulators.
Vertical Aerospace said that globally, only one other company has previously achieved the same level of technical validation, and that it is the first to do so under the supervision of a Design Organization Approval issued by the CAA. The company expects to complete the critical design review by the end of 2026, a process that will determine the aircraft's basic certifiable configuration and allow the start of construction and testing of regulatory-compliant units.
Vertical Aerospace plans to activate the assembly facility for its first production aircraft in the third quarter (Q3) of 2026. In the fourth quarter (Q4), the company plans to expand the Vertical Energy Centre, which is used for the development and manufacturing of the company's proprietary batteries. Vertical Aerospace considers this technology crucial to the performance, range, and safety of the Valo.
Vertical Aerospace CEO Stuart Simpson stated that the company has successfully completed multiple manned transition flights, made progress on hybrid projects, and expanded its aerospace ecosystem and commercial partnerships. In addition to the fully electric version, Vertical Aerospace is developing a hybrid version of the Valo, which can achieve a range of up to 1,000 miles and transport payloads weighing up to 1,100 kilograms over shorter distances. The company believes this configuration can meet applications in defense, logistics, and special missions that require greater range, payload capacity, and low acoustic and thermal signatures.
Vertical Aerospace reported approximately 1,500 conditional orders, valued at an estimated $6 billion, with customers across four continents. Companies associated with its commercial product portfolio include American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, GOL, and Japan Airlines.
