混合電動垂直起降機「Cavorite X7」推進全天候認證　啟動防冰技術測試

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混合電動垂直起降機「Cavorite X7」推進全天候認證　啟動防冰技術測試

加拿大航太公司「Horizon Aircraft」持續推進混合電動垂直起降（VTOL）航空器「Cavorite X7」全天候飛行認證工作，近期與「加拿大飛行卓越中心」（Flight Centre of Excellence，3C）及多倫多大學（UofT）合作，正式展開防冰技術測試，盼未來取得「已知結冰環境飛行」（FIKI）認證，讓新型航空器具備全年候區域空中運輸能力。

Canadian aerospace company Horizon Aircraft is continuing to advance the all-weather certification pathway for its hybrid-electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, the Cavorite X7. In partnership with Flight Centre of Excellence (3C) and the University of Toronto (UofT), the company has begun testing ice-protection technologies, with the goal of eventually obtaining Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification and enabling year-round regional air mobility.

啟動風洞測試　驗證防冰技術可行性

Wind Tunnel Testing Begins to Assess Ice Protection Technology

Horizon Aircraft表示，該公司先前獲得1050萬美元「INSAT」計畫資助，與3C及UofT共同推動全天候垂直推進eVTOL計畫。目前相關工作進展順利，並於2026年7月開始進行風洞測試，利用搭載UofT防冰技術的小型測試樣品，評估相關技術應用於「Cavorite X7」的可行性，作為後續認證工作的第一階段。

Horizon Aircraft said its previously announced $10.5 million INSAT-funded all-weather vertical propulsion eVTOL project with 3C and UofT is progressing steadily. Wind tunnel testing began in July 2026 using small test samples incorporating UofT’s ice-protection technologies, marking the first step in assessing whether the technologies can be applied to the Cavorite X7 as part of its certification efforts.

3C創辦人約翰・馬里斯（John Maris）博士指出，要充分發揮航空器的全球運用潛力，就必須考量嚴寒等惡劣氣候條件。他認為，結合「Cavorite X7」的設計、3C的認證經驗，以及UofT所開發的防冰技術，Horizon Aircraft有望取得FIKI認證，進一步提供直升機較難穩定執行的全年候區域空中運輸服務。

Dr. John Maris, founder of 3C, said that realizing the full potential of air vehicle operations worldwide requires addressing harsh climate conditions. He believes that by combining the Cavorite X7’s design with 3C’s certification expertise and UofT’s ice-protection technology, Horizon Aircraft could achieve FIKI certification and provide a reliable year-round regional air mobility solution in environments where helicopters can face operational limitations.

因應嚴寒環境　瞄準偏遠地區運輸需求

Designed for Harsh Winters and Remote Community Operations

Horizon Aircraft表示，目前加拿大及全球許多北部與偏遠地區仍仰賴直升機運送重要物資與提供關鍵服務，但低溫、降雪及惡劣天候經常迫使直升機停飛。相較於傳統直升機及採開放式旋翼設計的eVTOL，「Cavorite X7」從設計初期即以安全飛行於冬季環境為目標，因此公司認為具備進一步取得全天候飛行認證的優勢。

Horizon Aircraft noted that many northern and remote communities in Canada and around the world continue to rely on helicopters to deliver critical goods and services, but cold temperatures, snow and poor weather frequently ground these aircraft. Unlike conventional helicopters and open-rotor eVTOL aircraft, the Cavorite X7 was designed from the outset to operate safely in winter conditions, giving the company a potential advantage in pursuing all-weather certification.

Horizon Aircraft共同創辦人暨執行長布蘭登・羅賓森（Brandon Robinson）表示，公司自開發初期即針對加拿大冬季環境進行「Cavorite X7」設計，希望同時服務偏遠地區及航空器營運商。隨著3C提供認證專業支援、UofT持續推進防冰技術，相關工作正朝取得全天候認證並推向市場的方向發展；未來若順利投入運用，將有助於提升偏遠社區取得關鍵服務的能力，也可增加航空器使用率及營運商的獲利空間。

Horizon Aircraft Co-Founder and CEO Brandon Robinson said the Cavorite X7 was designed from the beginning with Canadian winters in mind, with the aim of serving both remote communities and aircraft operators. With certification expertise from 3C and ice-protection technology from UofT supporting the program, the company is progressing toward bringing a certified all-weather X7 to market. If successfully deployed, the aircraft could improve remote communities’ access to critical services while increasing aircraft utilization and potentially improving operator profit margins.