Flight systems provider Honeywell Aerospace and Regal Rexnord, a global manufacturer of electric motors, have announced a multi-year collaboration to address the manufacturing and technological demands of Advanced Air Mobility.
The partnership aims to integrate Honeywell’s flight control systems with Regal Rexnord’s automated manufacturing expertise to support the scalability required for the emerging industry.
One of the key challenges for eVTOL manufacturers is scaling production while maintaining aerospace-grade quality. David Shilliday, Honeywell’s Vice President and General Manager for Advanced Air Mobility, told Zag Daily: “The manufacturing capacity required for AAM volumes will require a shift in traditional aerospace scaling. Producing aerospace quality components at volumes approaching automotive requires a change in how you design-for-manufacturing – Regal Rexnord has agreed to partner with us on that journey.”
At the core of this collaboration is electro-mechanical actuation, a flight-critical component that plays a vital role in the operation of eVTOLs, including tilt-rotors and other complex effectors.
While the immediate focus is on the AAM market, Shilliday suggested that the technological advancements from this collaboration could ripple across other aerospace sectors, stating: “We anticipate that these core products will be applicable in future defense, business, and commercial aircraft.”
The partnership also aims to address the pressing need for high-volume manufacturing processes in AAM, which currently represents a significant bottleneck for the industry. By combining Honeywell’s expertise in flight control system integration and certification with Regal Rexnord’s capability to automate production, the companies hope to accelerate the timeline for eVTOL certification and deployment.
“By leveraging our complementary skills and expertise, we will deliver exceptional value to our customers in the aerospace industry,” added Louis Pinkham, CEO of Regal Rexnord. “This partnership also underscores our mutual commitment to sustainability and innovation, which are core values for both companies. By working together, we aim to develop advanced solutions that enhance performance while promoting a more sustainable future in aerospace.”
This collaboration reflects a broader trend in the AAM sector, where traditional aerospace companies are increasingly aligning with manufacturing specialists to meet the demands of scaling production.
