- Strategic partnership will accelerate global eVTOL adoption by
combining Vertical’s category leading aircraft with Bristow’s
global vertical lift operational and safety track record and
experience
- "Ready-to-fly" model provides Vertical’s customers with turnkey
access to aircraft, pilots, maintenance, and insurance – lowering
barriers to entry
- Bristow places pre-order for up to 50 VX4, with option to
purchase up to 50 more
- Companies exploring Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
services, including battery swapping and field maintenance
solutions
Vertical Aerospace (Vertical) [NYSE: EVTL], a global aerospace
and technology company pioneering electric aviation, and Bristow
Group Inc. [NYSE: VTOL], the leading global provider of innovative
and sustainable vertical flight solutions, today announced an
expansion of their strategic partnership to bring advanced air
mobility (AAM) into commercial operation.
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Vertical and Bristow’s "ready-to-fly"
model mirrors existing operating models adopted by regional
airlines.
The companies will develop a scalable, capital-light eVTOL
operations platform, designed to reduce barriers to adopting these
aircraft by providing Vertical’s current and future customers with
fully integrated solutions to launch services without building
operational infrastructure from scratch.
This "ready-to-fly" model, which mirrors existing, successful
operating models adopted by regional airlines, includes access to
certified aircraft, trained pilots, maintenance, and insurance –
allowing VX4 customers to focus on customer experience, sales, and
network integration, while Vertical and Bristow manage aircraft
operations on their behalf.
Under the memorandum of understanding between the companies,
Bristow has also placed a pre-order for up to 50 VX4, with the
option to purchase up to 50 more. This expanded pre-order builds on
the strategic partnership launched in 2021 and reflects Bristow’s
confidence in the potential of Vertical’s VX4 aircraft, including
its commercial viability, certification path, and delivery
roadmap.
Chris Bradshaw, President and CEO of Bristow Group,
said:
“We are excited about expanding our relationship with Vertical
and helping move the future of advanced air mobility forward.
Bristow has over 75 years of providing critical safety,
operational, certification, and logistics expertise, and this
agreement outlines a framework to help scale these new aircraft
globally, offering customers a seamless path from concept to
revenue.”
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said:
“This strategic partnership is about execution and mirrors what
already successfully works in aviation today. It will lower
barriers to market entry and accelerate the adoption of eVTOL
services worldwide. Together, we’re making it easy for customers to
adopt electric flight, allowing them to focus on what they are best
at – customer service, loyalty and sales.”
Bristow will leverage its global operational footprint,
including multiple Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) and Bristow’s
global MRO network approvals, to offer fully managed operations for
Vertical’s current and future customers. Target customers include
airlines, logistics operators and rescue services – sectors where
Bristow has over seven decades of mission-critical experience
across the world.
As part of the strategic partnership, the companies will
harmonize their respective safety management systems and utilize
the VX4’s cloud-connected architecture to deliver predictive
maintenance, enhanced reliability, and data-driven fleet insights.
The companies are also exploring Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul
(MRO) services, including battery swapping and field maintenance
solutions
This agreement is a key enabler of Vertical’s Flightpath 2030
strategy - its roadmap to delivering scalable, certified, and
commercially viable eVTOL operations globally. It also builds on
Vertical’s recent completion of the first-ever wingborne flight of
a winged eVTOL in European open airspace - a critical step toward
certification and commercial launch that reflects growing
regulatory confidence in the capabilities of the VX4.
About Vertical Aerospace
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company
pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner
and quieter way to travel. Vertical’s VX4 is a piloted, four
passenger, Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
with zero operating emissions. Vertical will also be launching a
hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission
flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility
market.
Vertical combines partnering with leading aerospace companies,
including GKN, Honeywell and Leonardo, with developing its own
proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s
most advanced and safest eVTOL.
Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers
across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan
Airlines, GOL and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are
expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered
in Bristol, the epicentre of the UK’s aerospace industry,
Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top tier
automotive and aerospace companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM
and Leonardo. Together they have previously certified and supported
over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion
systems.
About Bristow Group
Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global provider of innovative
and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily
provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy
companies and government entities. Bristow’s aviation services
include personnel transportation, search and rescue (“SAR”),
medevac, fixed-wing transportation, unmanned systems and ad hoc
helicopter services. Bristow’s business is comprised of three
operating segments: Offshore Energy Services, Government Services
and Other Services. Bristow’s energy customers charter its
helicopters primarily to transport personnel to, from and between
onshore bases and offshore production platforms, drilling rigs and
other installations. Bristow’s government customers primarily
outsource SAR activities whereby we operate specialized helicopters
and provide highly trained personnel. Bristow’s other services
include fixed wing transportation services through a regional
airline and dry-leasing aircraft to third-party operators in
support of other industries and geographic markets.
Bristow currently has customers in Australia, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, the Dutch Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, India, Ireland,
Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname,
Trinidad, the United Kingdom (“UK”) and the United States
(“U.S.”).
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that relate to Vertical’s current expectations and views of future
events. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as
contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and 21E of the
Exchange Act. Any express or implied statements contained in this
release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to
be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements regarding the expected benefits of the strategic
partnership between Vertical and Bristow disclosed herein,
Bristow’s purchase of aircraft from Vertical, the design and
manufacture of the VX4, the features and capabilities of the VX4
and the hybrid-electric variant, expectations surrounding
pre-orders and commitments, business strategy and plans and
objectives of management for future operations, including the
building and testing of Vertical’s prototype aircrafts on timelines
projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases,
selection of suppliers, certification and the commercialization of
both the VX4 and the hybrid-electric VX4 variant, and Vertical’s
ability to achieve regulatory certification of Vertical’s aircraft
products on any particular timeline or at all, Vertical’s ability
to integrate hybrid technology into the VX4 on any particular
timelines or at all, the ability of the hybrid-electric VX4 variant
VX4 to be applied in defense, cargo, logistics and emergency
services sectors, Vertical’s ability to scale the hybrid-electric
VX4 upon the VX4, the transition towards a net-zero emissions
economy, Vertical’s future results of operations and financial
position and expected financial performance and operational
performance, liquidity, growth and profitability strategies,
business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future
operations, Vertical’s ability and plans to raise additional
capital to fund Vertical’s operations, Vertical’s plans to mitigate
the risk that we are unable to continue as a going concern,
Vertical’s plans for capital expenditures, as well as statements
that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,”
“project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,”
“will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” and
similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These
forward-looking statements reflect Vertical’s current views with
respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future
performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the
information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result
of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the
important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in
Vertical's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2025,
as such factors may be updated from time to time in Vertical’s
other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof and
accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Vertical disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or
revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
other than to the extent required by applicable law.
This Press Release also contains "forward-looking statements"
representing Bristow Group Inc.'s ("Bristow") current expectations
or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate,"
"believe," "project," or "continue," or other similar words, and
include statements regarding the expected benefits of the fleet
support and training agreements disclosed herein. These statements
are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, reflect Bristow management's current
views with respect to future events and therefore are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such
forward-looking statements include statements regarding the
capabilities, development, certification, marketing, and future
operations of Vertical’s VX4 aircraft, Bristow’s purchase of
aircraft from Vertical, and the anticipated benefits of the
collaboration between Bristow and Vertical. Bristow's actual
results may vary materially from those anticipated in
forward-looking statements. Bristow cautions investors not to place
undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they
are made. Bristow disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement
to reflect any change in Bristow's expectations or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking
statement is based that occur after the date hereof, except as may
be required by applicable law. You should not place undue reliance
on Bristow's forward-looking statements because the matters they
describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and
other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Bristow's
control. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and
it is impossible for Bristow to predict these matters or how they
may affect Bristow. Bristow has included important factors in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in Bristow's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "Annual Report")
which Bristow believes over time, could cause Bristow's actual
results, performance, or achievements to differ from the
anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed
or implied by Bristow's forward-looking statements. You should
consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Annual Report
and in Bristow's filings with the SEC, all of which are accessible
on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250612656867/en/
For more information about Vertical Aerospace: Justin
Bates, Head of Communications justin.bates@vertical-aerospace.com
+44 7878 357 463 Samuel Emden, Head of Investor Affairs
samuel.emden@vertical-aerospace.com +447816 459 904
Investors Bristow Group Inc. Jennifer Whalen
jennifer.whalen@bristowgroup.com
Media Bristow Group Inc. Adam Morgan
adam.morgan@bristowgroup.com
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