New customer deals for three aviation startups

To further optimize its operational performance and enhance a seamless travel experience for passengers, Fiji Airways has partnered with Swiss aviation software provider Assaia, the provider of a TurnaroundControl solution. Powered by computer vision event detection technology, this specialized tool allows airlines and ground handlers to monitor, manage, and optimize their turnaround operations efficiently. To date, 13 airports and 168 airlines have used the solution, resulting in over 455’000 turnarounds monitored. With the solution’s interface providing live videos, facilitating real-time monitoring and decision-making, the Fiji airlines operational team will now be able to closely track and manage all turnarounds. This partnership marks the first customer deal for Assaia in the Asia Pacific region. 

Picterra used to monitor deforestation 
Founded in 2016 in Switzerland, Picterra helps clients worldwide solve some of the most challenging geospatial problems to future-proof and scale their businesses and support a transition to a decarbonized economy. The company aims to bring together Artificial Intelligence, satellite, drone, and aerial data to provide industry users, public sectors, and NGO members with optimized geo-information in order to monitor and anticipate changes in their surroundings. Walter Matter SA, a 1920 founded family company specializing in the selection and sourcing of premium coffee beans, has entered a strategic partnership with Picterra. The startup’s AI-driven solutions will bolster Walter Matter's due diligence process, ensuring adherence to the environmental sustainability and compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements aimed at minimizing the risk of deforestation and forest degradation in supply chains.

“Walter Matter SA's dedication to ethical trading and sustainable agriculture aligns perfectly with Picterra's vision”, said Pierrick Poulenas, CEO and Co-Founder of Picterra. Judith Beyeler, Sustainability Manager at Walter Matter SA adds, “Through this partnership with Picterra, we build innovative solutions to tackle ESG risks. Deforestation is just the beginning, tomorrow geospatial technologies will bring new answers to many other environmental and social issues.”

H55 announces market entry   
BRM Aero, a renowned manufacturer of flight trainers, and Swiss start-up H55, a leading enabler of electric propulsion systems (EPS), teamed up to launch the B23 Energic, a 2-seater full electric aircraft with an hour flight endurance, plus reserves. The B23 Energic will be the first clean and efficient fully electric aircraft in the CS-23 general aviation category. The B23 Energic is now available for order. The first deliveries to a selected group of launch customers — flight schools and pilot training academies — is scheduled early 2025, in parallel to full scale commercialization. The two companies are also partnering on finalizing the certification process with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the airplane and EPS Type Certificate by early next year.

BRM and H55 expect to finalize the certification process quickly. The B23 combustion powered airplane is already certified as a CS-23 aircraft and being flown in many flight schools. Having already secured its production and design certification approval, H55’s propulsion and battery technology has received EASA’s acceptance for its Compliance Check List. This is a significant step towards formal certification of H55’s entire electric propulsion system in the CS 23 general aviation category which includes the motor, motor controller, battery packs and energy management systems and paves the way for aircraft up to 19 seats.