Vertical Aerospace and Bristow Group have expanded their strategic partnership to accelerate commercial deployment of advanced air mobility services. The companies will jointly offer a managed operations model enabling VX4 customers to access aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance without building infrastructure. This turnkey service aims to replicate the asset-light operating models used in regional aviation, supporting clients in customer engagement and network integration while Bristow and Vertical manage operational elements.

Bristow has also placed a pre-order for up to 50 VX4 aircraft with the option for 50 more. The expanded collaboration builds on a memorandum of understanding first signed in 2021, when Bristow agreed to cooperate on certification and operations planning and placed an initial pre-order for 25 VA-X4 aircraft, with options for a further 25. That agreement also established a joint working group and aligned both companies on topics including regulatory requirements, infrastructure planning and market development.

The latest agreement, “outlines a framework to help scale these new aircraft globally,” says Bristow Group president and CEO Chris Bradshaw. “We’re excited about expanding our relationship with Vertical and helping move the future of advanced air mobility forward.”

Vertical CEO Stuart Simpson adds: “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.”

The partners will integrate safety management systems and exploit the VX4’s digital systems to support predictive maintenance and fleet insights. MRO options under review include battery swapping and field servicing. The agreement supports Vertical’s Flightpath 2030 roadmap, which follows recent success in completing the first-ever wingborne flight of a winged eVTOL in open European airspace.