“Being selected among 85 projects across 18 countries is a great honor for us, but above all, it’s a mark of trust and a strong signal from the European Union in support of decarbonization technologies,” said Jérémy Caussade, President and co-founder of AURA AERO.

​

We were selected for our HERMES project (Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft Manufactured in Europe for Sustainable Aviation), which is based on our ERA aircraft (Electric Regional Aircraft). The main objective of the HERMES project is to complete the development activities of ERA necessary to obtain its CS-23 type certification, allowing it to enter into service, while simultaneously building the industrial means (AURA Factory — with 1,600 jobs planned) that will support its serial production.

​

* The Innovation Fund, a European Union program, is one of the largest in the world for financing the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies.

​

Located in France, the project aims to bring to market the world’s first 19-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft, named ERA. It is expected to reduce energy and maintenance costs by about 50%, and to achieve a 51% relative reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to a conventional aircraft of similar size.

​

The design of the HERMES aircraft is based on a hybrid-electric propulsion system, in which energy generation and electric propulsion are decoupled. Propulsion is provided by eight electric motors, each driving a propeller distributed along the wings. Energy is generated by a hybrid system combining four battery packs and two turbogenerators compatible with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

​

Thanks to these features, ERA is designed to significantly reduce emissions on the most frequently traveled routes, while offering the flexibility needed to cover a wide range of distances. Hybrid-electric propulsion is also a scalable technological path toward larger aircraft in the future, thereby extending its positive impact. The aircraft will be fully electric in terms of onboard systems, including flight controls — a first in regional aviation — which also enhances safety protections.

​

It is estimated that the HERMES project will prevent approximately 10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over its first ten years of operation, contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal.

​

The project will support the decarbonization and development of the European aerospace sector, which accounts for 4.4% of the GDP of European countries. It will also contribute to making regional air travel more sustainable. HERMES is expected to create more than 1,600 direct jobs by 2036, as well as up to 1,600 indirect jobs thereafter.