PT Vela Prima Nusantara, or Vela Aero, unveiled the full-scale prototype of its Vela Alpha electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Cengkareng Heliport, Jakarta, during Heli Expo Asia (HEXIA) 2026 (21/08). The company is targeting Entry Into Service (EIS) for the aircraft in early 2029.

The unveiling marks an important transition for the Vela Alpha from the conceptual design stage toward official flight testing and airworthiness certification.

Vela Aero developed the Vela Alpha to address connectivity challenges across more than 17,000 Indonesian islands, reduce urban road congestion and provide zero-emission air transportation.

Vela Alpha Prototype Marks Manufacturing Milestone

The full-scale physical prototype also strengthens Vela Aero's position as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector in Southeast Asia.

The company said the Alpha is designed not only to transport people and goods, but also to provide more flexible, affordable and safe transportation for daily mobility.

“The physical presence of the Vela Alpha full-scale prototype at Cengkareng Heliport today is tangible evidence of our domestic engineering and manufacturing capabilities,” Vela Aero executives said.

“We are not merely building an aircraft, but orchestrating an integrated AAM ecosystem to bring Indonesia to become a center of aviation innovation and a leading holder of aerospace technology IP in Southeast Asia,” they added.

Vela Aero Secures 160 Letters of Intent

Vela Aero has secured a total of 160 Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Vela Alpha aircraft from domestic and international customers.

The figure does not include strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with industry stakeholders that do not specify fleet numbers, or partnerships for developing supporting facilities for AAM operations.

One of the main commercial agreements signed during HEXIA 2026 was an MoU with aviation operator Whitesky Aviation.

Under the agreement, Whitesky Aviation plans to procure 50 Vela Alpha aircraft for airport feeder routes, urban air taxis, premium tourism and logistics in industrial areas.

First Flight and DOA Class D Targeted for 2026

Vela Aero is targeting two major testing and regulatory milestones by the end of 2026 as it prepares for the planned early 2029 EIS.

The first is a live demonstration flight planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The flight is expected to be conducted in front of the public, regulators, partners and prospective investors.

The company is also targeting a Design Organization Approval (DOA) Class D license from the Directorate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Operations (DKPPU) under the Ministry of Transportation by the end of 2026.

The license would provide Vela Aero with institutional legal authorization to design and manufacture nationally certified aircraft.

For 2027-2028, Vela Aero plans to focus on the transition into the Alpha aircraft certification phase, conversion of LOIs into firm purchase orders, and integration of the AAM ecosystem involving vertiports, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and leasing companies.

The company is targeting full Type Certification (TC) by the end of 2028 before the planned EIS in early 2029.

Vela Alpha Offers Electric and Hybrid-Electric Variants

The Vela Alpha uses a lift-and-cruise configuration powered by a Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) system with nine independent electric motors.

This configuration allows the aircraft to take off and land vertically before transitioning to cruise flight using its wings.

The aircraft is designed with a high level of system redundancy and can maintain safe flight capability if one electric motor fails.

Vela Aero is also developing a hybrid-electric hVTOL version for Regional Air Mobility missions with a longer range.

The pure-electric eVTOL variant has a range of up to 150 kilometers for zero-emission Urban Air Mobility (UAM) routes. The hybrid-electric version has a range of up to 500 kilometers and uses a turbogenerator designed for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The Vela Alpha has a maximum cruise speed of 250 kilometers per hour and a payload capacity of 550 kilograms, including the pilot.

The aircraft can carry one pilot and up to six passengers, with economy seating configured at 31 inches and business seating at 38 inches.

Its safety system uses a zero-single-point-of-failure design with integrated fly-by-wire controls. The aircraft has a hover noise level of about 65 dBA at a distance of 100 meters.

The Vela Alpha also has a Quick-Change system for rapid configuration between passenger transport, logistics cargo and medical evacuation, or air ambulance, operations.

This article is a summary of two original articles. The full versions can be read at the following links:

https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/20260825135850-37-762124/vela-prima-nusantara-luncurkan-pesawat-prototipe-skala-penuh-alpha/amp

https://investor.id/business/451258/vela-aero-perkenalkan-vela-alpha-target-operasi-2029

This article was created with AI assistance.

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