Aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has cut the ribbon on an 11,000 sq. ft facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach that will serve as its U.S. headquarters and first production site.
The campus will host the North American Delivery and Customer Support Center for the INTEGRAL program and lay the groundwork for the company’s hybrid-electric ERA aircraft.
The initial production line will build the INTEGRAL family of two-seater, aerobatic-capable training aircraft – offered first with a Lycoming piston engine and subsequently in a 100% electric version. The U.S. is the largest training market in the world, with nearly 600 FAA-approved flight schools, over 75,000 pilots, and a growing demand for modern, cost-effective training aircraft with aerobatic capabilities, making it a major market for INTEGRAL. Recently certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and with FAA certification underway, the INTEGRAL family offers an advanced, efficient solution for both traditional and electric flight training, positioning it as a strong contender in the U.S. market.
In 2028, AURA AERO plans to open a 500,000 sq.ft assembly line for its 19-seater ERA aircraft, aiming to be the world’s first hybrid-electric regional aircraft manufacturer, operating assembly lines in France and the U.S. The United States has emerged as one of the strongest markets for ERA, now accounting for more than one third of global orders.
The current LOI book stands at over 650 ERA aircraft, for more than $10.5 billion. Florida’s site follows a partnership signed two years ago with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development agency, played a key role in supporting the project, which is expected to create more than 1,000 high-skill jobs in the region.
