ABOUT URBAN AERONAUTICS
Our Mission:
Design and deliver a series of city-scale, eco-friendly aircraft that integrate with existing infrastructure to save time and lives.
AN AIRCRAFT BORN IN THE CITY,
FOR CITY-DWELLERS
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
Realize the goal of safe urban air travel faster by partnering with leading companies
Together with Hypoint, we’ve been exploring the development of an advanced version of the CityHawk powered by HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel cell stack technology, planned to be produced by 2028.
Cert Center Canada is the world expert in the aircraft certification process and works closely with NASA. Together with Cert Canada, we will work on achieving a smooth certification plan with minimal development risks.
Safran offers the widest range of onboard energy systems and is an expert in electrical distribution systems. By utilizing Safran’s powertrain system and leveraging Safran’s knowledge, we can quickly advance from prototype to mass production stage.
The largest volunteer Emergency Medical Service (EMS) preordered four units of our CityHawk’s EMS variant to operate in NYC.
HYPOINT
SAFRAN
CERT CENTER CANADA
HATZOLAH
Skyports designs, builds and operates safe passenger and cargo vertiports within urban environments. Together with Skyports, we have been working on infrastructure design considerations for the CityHawk’s vertiports, and we will jointly introduce the services and requirements for the first use cases in potential markets.
We partnered with Universal Avionics to implement and integrate advanced certified pilot displays and avionics in the CityHawk.
Thanks to our partnership with Ascent, an operating Singapore-based helicopter charter booking service, we are able to enrich our aircraft design and commercialization approach based on direct market insights. We partnered with Ascent for a conjoint service launch in our potential urban markets.
SKYPORTS
ASCENT
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS
MR. Eran Ron
CEO
Ofer Shifris
VP PROGRAM AND CTO
Haran Ben-Eliahou
VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Inbar Vitlem
VP OPERATIONS
Shahar Avneri
CHIEF ENGINEER, STRUCTURAL & MECHANICAL DESIGN
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Ofer Shifris, VP Programs and CTO
Ofer Shifris has over 40 years of global aerospace experience. Among his notable positions is Senior Engineer and Preliminary and Structural Design Supervisor at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on such projects as the Lavi Fighter. He served as General Manager of the MATA Helicopter Division; the 428 Jet Aircraft program; the New Aircraft Programs; and the 787 IAI program. As Executive VP of Engineering and Aircraft Program at Talon Aircraft (Germany), he managed the development of an innovative second-generation business jet. As Engineering Director, VIP Programs at GCT Engineering Group, Ofer developed a business line to turn large commercial aircraft into VVIP configurations and certification capabilities.
Ofer holds a BS in aeronautical engineering from Technion Institute of Technology and an MBA from Technion and The Hebrew University.
Inbar Vitlem, VP Operations
Inbar Vitlem began her career as a division economist and analyst at NICE Systems. Prior to joining Urban Aeronautics, she was the Budgeting Manager for the Cellular Services division of Comverse Technology.
Inbar holds a BA in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in economics from the Hebrew University. She also has an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship and organizational behavior, also from the Hebrew University.
Shahar Avneri, Chief Engineer, Structural & Mechanical Design
Shahar, a former aerostructure engineer for the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Bedek division, has been a leading engineer with Urban Aeronautics since its start. He got his start as an aircraft maintenance engineer for civil aviation helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts.
Haran Ben-Eliahou, VP Business Development
Haran is a reserve IAF helicopter pilot instructor with over twelve years of experience in aerospace development programs.
During his time at Elbit System Aerospace, he led multimillion-dollar Aerospace programs and corporate business development for the North American market, introducing new technology and generating new opportunities with US-based contractors across the entire portfolio of the Elbit Systems Group.
From 2017 to 2020, Haran was VP of product for travel ecommerce startup Cancelon.
Haran joined Urban Aeronautics in July 2020 to lead our growing business partnerships, opportunities generation and marketing efforts.
Haran holds a BA in Economics from Tel Aviv-Jaffa College and an MBA fromTel Aviv University.
MR. Eran Ron CEO
Mr. Ron was a fighter pilot in the IAF as well as a flight instructor.
He served as a diplomat at the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
An economist and Historian by his academic background.
Today Mr. Ron is a businessman, the Founder and Chairman of Rinsberg Holding Ltd. and Co-owner of E.R.D.S. Group Ltd. Who initiate, build and operate projects in developing countries in the fields of agriculture, aviation, medical projects and more.
Our innovative team has over 400 years of combined aviation industry experience from the world’s leading aerospace companies: Northrup Grumman, Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Elbit Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries.
We bring diversity of thought into our designs, with tech entrepreneurs, aerospace engineers, Israeli Air Force veterans and pilots, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles operators. Some of our team members’ achievements include designing fighter jets (Israel’s ”Lavi”) and corporate jets (IAI “Westwind”); Widebody aircraft conversions; and designing the first operational surveillance drone, a breakthrough in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
SAFE AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND SIMPLIFIED PILOTING
We’ve integrated our in-house simulator with the latest A.I. algorithms to maximize aircraft safety and simplify piloting.
AGILE AND READY FOR CHANGE
Our hands-on approach shortens the time between sketch and production thanks to the team’s unique field experience.
DIVERSE TEAM. EXTRAORDINARY TALENT.
The team’s strength comes from collaboration between experienced engineers and younger engineers on the rise.
LEADER OF UNMANNED VTOLS
Tactical Robotics is a wholly-owned subsidiary that leads the Cormorant project, an autonomous combat cargo and medical evacuation VTOL that has great commonality with the CityHawk.
AN INNOVATOR WITH A VISION
AN AIRCRAFT BORN IN THE CITY, FOR CITY-DWELLERS
Constructing the CityHawk in the living room of his apartment in Tel Aviv (which had to be taken out through the window rather than the front door), our founder and board member Dr. Rafael “Rafi” Yoeli foresaw the need of city- scale aircraft that was safe, eco-friendly, and accessible for all.
Knowing of the dangers of exposed rotors, Dr. Yoeli created the first manned vehicle with ducted-fan technology to make inter-city air travel safe and efficient.
Speaking about his first flight in 2003, “...It felt great, but the vehicle was difficult to control because it had no auto stabilization - so I mainly remember the workload and the focus on the testing. The vehicle was meant to prove my first patent (the vane control system), and it already accomplished that on the first takeoff. I was extremely pleased to see that it worked perfectly...”
Our commitment to safe urban air mobility remains as his prototype has been perfected from that first flight.
