GAMA Welcomes Two Companies to Associate Membership

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today announced the addition of two companies as associate members: AutoFlightX GmbH and Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

AutoFlightX is dedicated to the development, production, sales and operation of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Started in February 2018, the company’s eVTOLs combine the benefits of helicopters with those of conventional aircraft, and can be used as regularly piloted sports aircraft, as unmanned highly automated cargo drones, and as unpiloted highly automated air taxis.

Founded by Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of OVO Energy, Vertical Aerospace is building technology to revolutionise how people fly, by making air travel personal, on-demand and carbon-free. Since its inception in 2016, the company has grown to over 40 engineers and technical experts.

AutoFlightX is based in Gilching, Germany, and Vertical Aerospace is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, bringing the total number of European-headquartered companies that GAMA represents to 22.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.