Interview with Vincent Guibout

CEO FLYING WHALES

It is a year of realization for the LCA60T development program. What are the notable advancements of the project for 2025?

Since the launch of the LCA60T program, we have regularly passed various design milestones. After the Concept Design Review (CoDR) in 2018, the Specification Readiness Review (SRR) in 2020, and the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in 2022, we held the Critical Design Review Airship (CDR) in 2024, which consists of validating the detailed design. This design work with our partners has allowed us to demonstrate that the LCA60T meets the needs expressed for our markets! This is a very important technical milestone that triggers the start of system integration testing. We are now entering a tuning phase with numerous tests aimed at validating the proper functioning of the different systems together: structural assembly tests, testing the turbogenerator at Pratt & Whitney Canada in Montreal, testing the unprecedented 800V electrical distribution on our Power Whale bench, and testing the electric propulsor at Akira. After initial tests assembling helium cells in 2024, we will conduct new functional tests this year integrating all the equipment of the cells such as valves and sensors. Finally, we are currently developing specific benches for load exchange that will allow us to test the various ballasting and winching systems.

What about the certification process?

In 2023, the Canadian certification authority TCCA joined the European certification authority EASA in a joint certification process for the LCA60T. After two years of collaborative work, the last familiarization meetings were held in early April in Suresnes, paving the way for the publication of a common certification basis between Europe and Canada for heavy cargo transport airships, which is a first! Furthermore, in line with FLYING WHALES’ transformation into an aircraft manufacturer and operator, we have established and deployed a quality management system (QMS) since 2017, with the EN9100 certification audit successfully completed this year. EASA also began its audits last year in view of FLYING WHALES obtaining a DOA (Design Organisation Approval) by early 2026. The DOA allows EASA to delegate certain compliance demonstration activities of the LCA60T to FLYING WHALES.

After the design phase comes production. What is the status of the administrative procedures related to the establishment of the first Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Laruscade?

Yes, and I must commend the excellent work done by the Community of Communes Latitude Nord Gironde and the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region to strengthen the environmental authorization file as part of the deployment of the airship industrial zone that will host the LCA60T assembly line. These iterations have improved the project, integrating new avoidance, reduction, and compensation measures for the project’s residual effects on its environment. This summer, we enter the final stretch with the public inquiry prior to obtaining the building permit, which will be issued in the fall. I invite you to visit our booth at the 55th International Aeronautics and Space Show, which will take place from June 16 to 22 at Le Bourget, to discover the culmination of the factory design work. This is an important step that concludes four years of intensive work by the Community of Communes Latitude Nord Gironde, the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region, and FLYING WHALES to make the Laruscade site the first airship production site in Europe, designed with the highest environmental standards.

What about the development of your subsidiary in Québec?

We have just announced a preliminary agreement with the cities of Sherbrooke, Cookshire-Eaton, and the Sherbrooke Airport Development Corporation for the establishment of our North American airship assembly and testing facility. This marks a major milestone in the development of FLYING WHALES QUÉBEC, which supports the strong commercial rollout in Québec—as it does elsewhere in the world. Many customers are waiting for a heavy-lift transport solution that operates without ground infrastructure. FLYING WHALES QUÉBEC is also continuing to contribute to the technical development of the LCA60T.

At the governmental level, our recent visits to Canada alongside Sébastien Bougon confirmed the strong interest of both the Québec and federal governments in our airship-based transport solution, and its alignment with the country’s needs.

In this context of strong development and signing agreements, what is the status of the fundraising of €150 million?

This fundraising is necessary for two reasons: firstly, to secure our international deployment, which involves establishing a factory in the Asia-Pacific region in addition to the one in Laruscade serving Europe and Africa, and the one in Quebec for the Americas; and secondly, to finance the completion of the LCA60T development. Our current strategic shareholders have expressed their intention to participate in this fundraising by about one-third, and therefore, we are very confident that we can finalize this fundraising soon. We will not fail to celebrate this important milestone for our development together. I take this opportunity to thank all our partners who support us in crossing this new stage.