Fifteen Companies Approved For Membership At Recent Meeting

GAMA has announced that at its recent strategic planning session, the Executive Committee approved 15 companies to GAMA membership –– the largest group of new members added at one time in the association's history. The companies are a combination of full and associate members, along with a new category of GAMA membership: Associate Member Full.

“With the addition of our associate member full category, GAMA will be able to facilitate larger players in the simplified vehicle operation and electric and hybrid arenas,” said GAMA Chairman and Garmin Aviation Executive Vice President and Managing Director Phil Straub. “We look forward to continuing to expand GAMA’s membership to ensure the association represents the full breadth and depth of the industry.”

“GAMA’s effectiveness is clear through this large membership addition,” said GAMA Vice Chairman and Gulfstream Aerospace President Mark Burns. “The association’s top-notch advocacy is stimulating a growing interest in this dynamic industry.”

Full member companies include Viking Aerospace, ABS Jets and Signature Flight Support. Associate members full include Eviation, ICON Aircraft, Joby Aviation, Kitty Hawk, Terrafugia and Uber. Associate members include Alakai Technologies Corporation, FARADAY Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, MagniX and Xwing. Read below to learn more about each company.

Full Members

ABS Jets

ABS Jets, headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, is one of the largest business jet operators in Central and Eastern Europe and the leading organization on the Czech and Slovak markets. The company operates a large maintenance and overhaul organization with a Part 145 EASA approval. It is an authorized Embraer Service Centre, which provides 24/7 AOG worldwide support. ABS Jets operates a fleet of eight jets (the midsize and heavy jet categories) under AOC in commercial operations and few other jets in private mode. It provides a complex portfolio of services offered worldwide, ranging from aircraft management, CAMO to ground handling, flight planning and jet charter and brokerage.

Signature Flight Support

Signature Flight Support, Signature TECHNICAirTM and EPIC Fuels provide premium, full service flight and home base support including refueling, ground handling, hangarage and MRO services through the world’s largest fixed base operation network for business and general aviation users covering key destinations in North America, Europe, South America, Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

Viking Air

Viking Air is the manufacturer of the Series 400 Twin Otter and TC holder for de Havilland aircraft DHC-1 through DHC-7 and the Canadair Aerial firefighting fleet. With headquarters in Sidney, British Columbia, and manufacturing in Calgary, Alberta, Viking provides maintenance services, spare parts manufacturing and product support for these global fleets.

Associate Members Full

Eviation

Eviation joined GAMA as an Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee (EPIC) associate member in 2016. An Israeli startup founded in 2015, Eviation develops electric-powered aircraft. The company debuted its all-electric, zero-emissions regional aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June 2017. The plane on display was a model version of a 40-foot long electric aircraft that will be able to travel 800 miles on a single charge with nine passengers onboard.

ICON Aircraft

ICON joined GAMA as an EPIC associate member in 2016. The company, headquartered in Vacaville, California, manufactures the world’s only spin resistant, light sport airplane. ICON is pursuing new concepts, which include increased automation and new forms of propulsion.

Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation joined GAMA as an EPIC associate member in 2016, and is engaged in the development, manufacture and operation of electric aircraft, including electric vertical takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) designs. The company, based in Santa Cruz, California, intends to deliver safe and affordable air travel to everyone, while advancing the transition to sustainable transportation.

Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk recently merged with Zee.Aero, which joined GAMA as an associate member company in 2016. The company has created the Kitty Hawk Flyer, an all-electric aircraft designed to operate over water. Kitty Hawk, located in Mountain View, California, has also designed the “Cora” – an all-electric, autonomous air taxi.

Terrafugia

Terrafugia joined GAMA as an EPIC associate member in 2016. Terrafugia’s team of experienced engineers, designers, certification experts, and business professionals combine aviation and automotive expertise in pursuit of a common vision for the future of personal transportation. The company is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Uber

Uber joined GAMA as an EPIC associate member in 2016. The company plans to develop Uber Air, a network of electric aircraft aimed at providing accessible transportation in congested cities and towns. Uber’s offices are located in San Francisco, California.

Associate Members

Alakai Technologies Corporation

Alakai Technologies plans to build air mobility vehicles for zero-emission eVTOL and air taxi, with the goal of providing on-demand, point-to-point transportation with zero pollution. The company is based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

FARADAY Aerospace

Based in Apremont, France, FARADAY Aerospace is a new company dedicated to designing and certifying electric propulsion systems. Founded by former Airbus and Boeing experts, FARADAY’s team has designed five electric propulsion systems for the Cri Cri, the Boeing fuel cell demonstrator, the Airbus eFan 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2.

Karem Aircraft

Karem Aircraft develops and manufactures advanced fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, including manned and unmanned high-efficiency tiltrotors. Karem’s patented Optimum Speed Tiltrotor (OSTR) technology combines the fast, inexpensive, safe operation of efficient fixed-wing airplanes with the robust hover capability of helicopters. The company is headquartered in Orange County, California, with offices in York, Virginia, and Victorville, California.

MagniX

MagniX is engaged in the design of new, extremely efficient and reliable, electric propulsion units for use in electric aircraft. The company has offices in Arundel, Australia, and Redmond, Washington.

Xwing

Xwing’s mission is to dramatically increase human mobility via autonomous, affordable, and clean aerial vehicles. Xwing, based in San Francisco, California, is developing a suite of technologies necessary for pilotless flight of passenger-carrying aircraft.

(Source: GAMA news release)

FMI: www.gama.aero