With over 30 years of aviation experience, James A Kira will play a key role in advancing the Institute's mission to safely and ethically accelerate access to advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies. As head of operations at Alauda Aeronautics and chief remote pilot at Airspeeder, Kira has been instrumental in the development of eVTOL aircraft, including securing airworthiness authorisations for Australia’s first crewed eVTOL.
Kira said of his appointment, “As someone who has been a part of the aviation community for over 30 years, I am very excited about the potential benefits of AAM and am eager to help promote and facilitate its adoption throughout the world. As such, I am super excited to further progress the Institute's goal of accelerating access to these new aviation technologies in an ethical and responsible way."
Institute founder and president Dan Sloat added: "James’ extensive experience and proven leadership in aviation make him a strong addition to our team. His expertise will strengthen our efforts to drive the responsible adoption of AAM technologies. We are excited to work alongside him as we continue to shape the future of air transportation.”
A seasoned aerospace engineer and former Royal Australian Air Force officer, Kira brings extensive experience in systems engineering and safety assurance across multiple sectors of the industry. His contributions will be pivotal in driving forward initiatives that prioritise safety, innovation, and global accessibility in AAM systems.
