Primus Aero, an aircraft-maintenance management company based in the Netherlands, said it is purchasing a fleet of PAL-V Liberty flying cars to allow its technicians to fly to customer locations to service their aircraft instead of driving.
“The PAL-V is a time-saving machine for us,” said Stephan Krainer, CEO and founder of Primus, noting that avoiding traffic jams on roads allows employees to work more efficiently. “By incorporating PAL-Vs into our operations, we will save time and money by reducing unproductive times,” he said.
Company technicians typically drive to service distant clients, and the trips often include long, winding mountain roads and take many hours to complete. The extra travel time also increases the downtime for customers’ aircraft that need service. The PAL-V, an autogyro-automobile hybrid, allows technicians to fly directly to clients based at airports and to drive as necessary after arrival.
“By using the PAL-V to fly one of our maintenance personnel to the destination and giving them the flexibility to use the PAL-V as a service car when landed, we can greatly reduce the downtime of our clients’ aircraft,” Krainer said.
PAL-V said the agreement with Primus supports its “reinforces the use-case of the PAL-V Liberty’s versatility on a global scale.” PAL-V CEO Robert Dingemanse said, “The PAL-V Liberty can be used for a wide range of applications. With Primus Aero, they will take advantage of its ability to fly and drive to shorten commuting times and provide their customers with door-to-door air mobility, something only a PAL-V can achieve.”
PAL-V said that in addition to receiving orders from individuals, it “is witnessing more and more professional organizations recognizing the benefits of using a vehicle that can both fly and drive.”
The company said it is preparing to produce its first series of production vehicles for a certification flight test program to begin next year.
