Volitan: the “flying boat” from AeroRiver aiming to transform transport in the Amazon

A transport concept inspired by one of Brazil’s toughest logistics problems could reshape mobility in the Amazon. That is the view of 31-year-old mechanical engineer Lucas Guimarães e Souza, who created Volitan - a vehicle often described as a “flying boat” - applying aeronautical engineering to link isolated communities more quickly, safely and sustainably.

Born in Manaus, Lucas took first-hand knowledge of Amazonian life to São José dos Campos, where he found the right setting to turn an idea into a working innovation.

In 2018, he moved to the city to begin a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Today, in addition to holding a master’s and pursuing a doctorate, he is also one of the founders of the startup AeroRiver, which is developing the technology.

Why the Amazon needs a new transport option

Lucas says the project was driven by the Amazon’s long-standing mobility constraints. “Cities aren’t connected by roads, air travel is expensive, and people mainly rely on boats. But they’re slow vehicles and, at certain times of year, the rivers become impassable because of drought,” he explains.

From this context, Lucas - together with entrepreneurs Felipe Bortolete and Túlio Duarte - set up AeroRiver to create an alternative that could overcome the region’s infrastructure limits without requiring major environmental disruption.

Volitan and ground-effect engineering

The outcome is Volitan, a vehicle that blends traits of boats and aircraft by using the ground effect - an aerodynamic phenomenon that allows flight just a few metres above the water’s surface with reduced air resistance and improved energy efficiency.

Designed to carry up to ten passengers or 1 tonne of cargo, Volitan can reach speeds of up to 150 km/h, cutting journey times substantially between riverside communities and urban centres.

The aim is to make it easier for residents to reach essential services - including hospitals, schools and shopping centres - even during periods of severe drought, when conventional river navigation becomes restricted.

Prototype, emissions impact and international recognition

Alongside mobility gains, AeroRiver highlights the technology’s environmental promise. The company says the vehicle produces up to 40% less carbon dioxide than conventional aircraft and avoids the need to build new roads through the rainforest, reducing pressure on the Amazon biome.

The project already has a functional prototype, and the startup is now building a full-scale version, expected to be completed during 2026 in São José dos Campos - a city regarded as one of Brazil’s main aerospace industry hubs.

The development has also attracted international attention. In August 2025, Lucas was one of 18 Brazilians selected for the Innovators Under 35 award, given by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The programme recognises young entrepreneurs whose solutions have the potential to deliver significant societal impact, and it has previously highlighted figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, and Larry Page, co-founder of Google.

“Receiving this award was a great honour. More than a title, it’s an incentive for us to keep believing that technology can transform realities and improve people’s lives,” says the engineer.

Although Volitan’s initial focus is to meet the Amazon’s needs, Lucas notes that the work is being carried out in São José dos Campos thanks to the city’s research, innovation and technology ecosystem.

AeroRiver expects the innovation to help reduce the isolation experienced by thousands of people living in the Amazon region, offering a new transport alternative that can shorten distances, expand access to essential services and show how engineering can help address historic mobility challenges.

With information from the São José dos Campos City Council