Australian Hybrid Hydrogen-Electric VTOL Developer AMSL Aero Secures First Civil Order For Up To 20 of its Vertiia Aircraft

By Jessica Fisher

Editor

AMSL yesterday announced its deal with Australia's Aviation Logistics for the purchase of 10 vehicles with an option to purchase 10 more.

(Sydney, Australia) Australian zero emission aircraft designer and manufacturer AMSL Aero yesterday announced that it signed an order and received deposits for ten of its hybrid-electric Vertiia vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, with an option for 10 more, from its first civil customer, Aviation Logistics, the parent company of Air Link, AirMed and Chartair and one of Australia’s largest general aviation and regional airline groups.

Photo of AMSL Aero's Vertiia hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft courtesy of AMSL Aero.

Aviation Logistics intends to fly its forthcoming Vertiia aircraft via its three aforementioned entities - covering passenger services, aircraft charter, air freight and aeromedical flights from its seven bases across Australia - from as early as 2027, subject to regulatory approvals, according to yesterday's press release from AMSL.

“The deal marks a major milestone for AMSL Aero and Vertiia, its world-first passenger capable hydrogen VTOL, the next generation of aircraft that takes off like a helicopter and flies fast and smoothly like a fixed wing aeroplane,” reads the release.

“2024 is going to be a huge year for AMSL Aero as we continue to test-fly the aircraft, and we are thrilled to kick-off with our first civil order for Vertiia,” said Max York, AMSL Aero’s Chief Executive Officer. “This deal catapults Vertiia from world-leading development aircraft to commercial reality.”

AMSL Aero, which is based at Bankstown Aerodrome in Sydney, Australia, was founded by a husband-and-wife team: the company’s Chief Engineering Officer Andrew Moore - an aeronautical engineer, pilot and Vertiia inventor - and Chief Operations Officer Siobhan Lyndon - an experienced technology, telecommunications and related services professional who holds degrees in law and business. In December of 2023, the company appointed board director Max York, the former CEO of GE Australia, as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.

vertiia team photo from vertiia web copy.jpg

L to R: AMSL Aero's Chief Engineer Andrew Moore, Board Chair Chris Smallhorn, COO Siobhan Lyndon courtesy of AMSL Aero.

AMSL’s mission is threefold:

(1) to manufacture a safe aircraft that will ease the burden of traffic congestion on people’s lives, (2) to give people more choice over where they can work and live, and (3) most importantly, to play a role in de-carbonising transport.

AMSL Aero has secured more than $A50 million in funding from major private investors and government programs to develop its Vertiia aircraft, and since inception in 2017 has grown the company to more than 50 employees.

vertiia large team photo from vertiia web copy.jpg