Vertical Aerospace and Bristow expand AAM solutions

Above: Vertical Aerospace and Bristow’s ‘ready-to-fly’ model mirrors existing operating models adopted by regional airlines.
Courtesy Bristow

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.

Vertical and Bristow’s ‘ready-to-fly’ model mirrors existing operating models adopted by regional airlines

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 utilise 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.