Santa Catarina signs protocol to build an Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in Florianópolis for eVTOL operations in 2028

Public and private organisations in Santa Catarina signed a protocol of intentions on Thursday (21) to accelerate the creation of an ecosystem focused on Advanced Air Mobility in the state.

Advanced Air Mobility in Santa Catarina: aim and timeline

The plan covers the construction of a vertihub, technological development and workforce training. The goal is to ready Florianópolis and the surrounding region for the first commercial operations using electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), forecast for 2028.

Development at Sapiens Parque in Florianópolis

Operations of these eVTOL aircraft will be led by FlyBIS, which has letters of intent in place with Eve Air Mobility. The initiative will be developed at Sapiens Parque-one of Brazil’s leading innovation hubs-where applied research, technology development, university partnerships, technical training and the attraction of companies linked to aviation and emerging technologies will take place.

Partners and each organisation’s responsibilities

The project brings together the state government-through Sapiens Parque and the Secretariats for Science, Technology and Innovation; Ports, Airports and Railways; and International Articulation and Strategic Projects-alongside Fapesc and InvestSC. Also signatories are the Federation of Industries of Santa Catarina (Fiesc), FlyBIS, Global Drones, Celesc, Zurich Airport Brasil and VertiConsulting.

Global Drones will lead the creation of integrated technology solutions using drones, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems for activities such as cargo transport and the inspection of large areas.

The Fiesc system, via Sesi and Senai, will support the training and upskilling of professionals in aircraft maintenance, vertiport operations and new technologies. Celesc will be responsible for structuring the energy infrastructure to guarantee a stable and safe electricity supply, which is essential for eVTOL aircraft.

Zurich Airport Brasil will help integrate advanced air mobility with the infrastructure of Florianópolis International Airport. VertiConsulting will handle the technical designs and the engineering studies required to deliver the vertiports and related structures.