Arzeos Aircraft was born in 2019 with the purpose of manufacturing the aircraft that José Maceiras, CEO of the initiative, had been designing since 2016 moved by the idea that there was much room for improvement in the ultralight aircraft sector. Maceiras, who is not only an engineer but also a pilot, observed that all the designs were more than 20 years old and had not evolved at the pace of new technologies. 

Arzeos is a 600 kg maximum take-off weight, two-seater, low-wing aircraft that can be flown with an ultralight license. It incorporates new passive safety mechanisms and innovations in the areas of aerodynamics and ergonomics that represent a relevant improvement in flight operation and occupant safety. "In addition to this, we designed a system for monitoring the aircraft and its environment through the use of artificial intelligence. We are also developing a manufacturing process that will allow us to offer the aircraft at a more economical price than the competition," explains its developer.

Arzeos is an aircraft intended for sport and leisure use, although they also plan to use it for training activities in flight schools. Built in Silleda, they recently had the opportunity to present the prototype in Germany, in the framework of the AERO Friedrichshafen fair, "The result exceeded our expectations. The aircraft generated a lot of interest because we were going with something new and people expressed their amazement at the design and manufacturing quality. We came back with many contacts interested in testing the aircraft and even buying it, although the certification process is still ahead," he says.

Arzeos Aircraft is one of the companies participating in the current edition of the Business Factory Aero, the Xunta's aerospace accelerator, in which it received 40,000 euros in direct financial support. "Participating in the accelerator is giving us the boost we needed, since we are working on all the points to carry out the project with training and mentoring in key areas, support in the search for and access to financing, as well as networkings that bring us closer to both already consolidated companies and entrepreneurs like us from whom we learn a lot and with whom we can generate synergies," highlights José Maceiras.

In addition, the startup was one of the 126 funded in the Neotec 2021 program of the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), which supports startups with technology projects with high growth potential, where it competed with applications from all over Spain; and it has just obtained a startup grant from the Igape, which supports innovative entrepreneurs by covering investments and expenses for launching and consolidating projects. It also obtained the Technology-Based Employment Initiative certification from the Xunta de Galicia in 2019, in the year of its creation.

Arzeos is currently working on the prototype to prepare it for the first flight tests. After that, the next step on their roadmap will be to start with the certification to be able to commercialize it.