Honeywell and Vertical Aerospace have signed a long-term agreement aimed at advancing the global production and certification of the VX4, Vertical’s eVTOL aircraft.
The VX4 will be a zero-operating-emissions, piloted eVTOL aircraft capable of carrying four passengers.
As part of this expanded partnership, Honeywell will lead the certification and production of two of the VX4’s most critical flight systems: the aircraft management system—featuring the Honeywell Anthem flight deck—and the compact, fly-by-wire flight control system.
These technologies are designed to enhance both operational safety and pilot ease-of-use, meeting the highest certification standards of 10⁻⁹ (one catastrophic failure per billion flight hours), set by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is collaborating with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on VX4 validation. This also meets commercial airliner standards while exceeding competitor standards.
David Shilliday, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, said, “We have long believed in the importance of advanced air mobility and the significant potential we can unlock by harnessing our deep expertise in integrated avionics and flight controls in new and exciting ways. With a shared commitment to innovation, reliability and safety, we’re excited to deepen our partnership with Vertical to help scale the technology necessary to bring even more advanced, efficient, safe and reliable solutions to the skies.”
The Anthem flight deck integrates advanced displays, smart software, and connectivity into a fully digital cockpit designed to simplify pilot decision-making and reduce workload. Coupled with the fly-by-wire system, which replaces traditional mechanical controls with precise electronic interfaces, the VX4 is being engineered for optimal safety, stability, and maneuverability.
Vertical has also selected Honeywell’s inceptor technology for its production aircraft. These lightweight, dual hand controllers provide intuitive and responsive aircraft control—key to scaling air mobility operations and ensuring pilot proficiency in diverse environments.
Rich DeGraff, President of Control Systems, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, added, “We designed our inceptor to be the lightest and most compact in the industry, and we could not be happier that Vertical is the launch customer for this new technology. Our inceptor will pair seamlessly with the Honeywell Compact Fly-by-Wire system already selected by Vertical, and we’re excited to work together to integrate these advanced flight technologies into the VX4.”
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, added, “As we accelerate toward global certification and scalable production, Honeywell’s aerospace expertise and proven track record in flight-critical systems make it the ideal partner for this next phase. By integrating production-ready technologies, we’re helping build an aircraft that meets the highest safety standards in aviation, solidifying its certifiability and exportability across global markets.”
With a shared vision for the future of aviation, Vertical and Honeywell will pool expertise, personnel, and test infrastructure to streamline the VX4’s development timeline. This collaboration supports Vertical’s Flightpath 2030 strategy, which aims to achieve VX4 certification by 2028 and deliver at least 150 aircraft by the end of the decade. The expanded agreement carries a projected value of up to $1 billion over the next ten years.
This new phase builds on a relationship that spans six years, during which Honeywell’s technologies have been integral to Vertical’s flight testing programs. Honeywell has also maintained a financial stake in Vertical since 2021, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the eVTOL space.
