Skyryse lands another $300 million to make flying, even helicopters, simple and safe

Skyrysean aviation automation startup based in El Segundo, California, has raised more than $300 million in a Series C investment, pushing its valuation to $1.15 billion and into unicorn territory.

The round, announced Tuesday and led by Autopilot Ventures, provided a multimillion-dollar boost to the startup as it nears the end of a lengthy Federal Aviation Administration certification process for its flight control system. Capital will also be used to integrate its operating system, known as SkyOS, into several aircraft, including US military Black Hawk helicopters.

Other investors in this round are Fidelity Management & Research Company, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides Management LP, BAM Elevate, Baron Capital Group, Durable Capital Partners, Positive Sum, Qatar Investment Authority, RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management and Woodline Partners. The startup, which was founded in 2016, has raised more than $605 million in equity capital.

Skyryse has made inroads with investors as well as the US military, emergency medical providers, law enforcement and private operators for the streamlined flight system. The startup has removed dozens of mechanical flight controls, such as gauges and switches, and replaced them with a system containing multiple flight computers that automate the most complex and dangerous aspects of flight.

This is not a fully autonomous system. a pilot still has to handle operations. But it is designed to automate the most difficult aspects of flight, improve pilot skills and improve safety.

That simplicity and ease of operation—a literal swipe of a finger on a touchscreen—has won over companies like United Rotorcraft, Air Methods and Mitsubishi Corporation, which have contracts with Skyryse to integrate SkyOS into a variety of helicopters and airplanes.

Skyryse began building and testing its system on helicopters, one of the most unstable aircraft in operation. But the idea is that SkyOS can be applied to any aircraft. This initial operating system, known as Skyryse One, automates takeoff and landing and fully automates emergency landings with hover and engine start. Since then, the company has integrated the operating system into Black Hawk helicopters.

Skyryse has made progress in its certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration. Last year, the FAA granted final design approval for the company’s SkyOS flight control computers. Skyryse must now complete formal flight testing and verification to achieve full certification.