True innovation in aviation begins long before the first test flight. When Otto Aviation took the stage at the 2025 Paris Air Show, it did so with confidence and certainty, announcing its plan to deliver the highly anticipated transonic super-laminar (TSL) Phantom 3500 aircraft with net-zero emissions by 2030. The bold target reflects Otto’s deep commitment to sustainability with a truly digital-first mindset.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement; however, Otto’s far more ambitious course puts the Phantom 3500 jet 20 years ahead of the industry's collective target – positioning the Phantom 3500 not just as a breakthrough in sustainable aviation but as an evolution of what flight can achieve.
Getting to that history-making point, of course, requires a number of things to happen on schedule and within budget. That's where the SEER® platform and partnership with Galorath Incorporated comes in. With SEER—particularly SEER for Manufacturing (SEER-MFG™) and SEER-3D—Otto is building faster, smarter, and more sustainably than ever.
Digital-First Strategy
Otto's approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional aerospace development paradigms. Rather than pursuing digital transformation—retrofitting existing systems with modern technology—the company embraces a "digital first" mindset, says Chief Information and Digital Officer Dr. Obi K. Ndu. "We have a unique opportunity to ensure that we can get our digital framework and infrastructure right from the get-go, and we lead with that perspective." The Phantom 3500 is a clean-sheet aircraft, meaning there are no legacy systems to work around or hold them back. The futuristic aircraft is being developed by Otto's engineers from the ground up, with manufacturing of the first flight test vehicle scheduled to begin next summer.
Galorath’s SEER platform is integrated into Otto's development ecosystem. The platform enables detailed cost modeling from manufacturing and material sourcing through individual parts, inspections, and post-processing operations. "The SEER platform has given us clear, data-driven insights into raw material costs, parts costs, labor requirements, and labor cost quantification across the entire lifecycle of our product development," notes Ndu.
Now, Otto's engineers can quickly make informed design decisions and evaluate capabilities that become increasingly critical as the company scales operations. Charles Orlando, Chief Strategy Officer at Galorath Incorporated, stresses the distinction between basic insights and actionable intelligence: "It's not just a matter of being able to see the possibilities, but being able to take very fast and instant action is something that Galorath offers with our platform."
"We are at a time in history, where certainty needs to be the top of everybody's list because there's so much fluctuation and so much volatility in the market, competitive advantage, and actionable insight is king."
A key driver of the partnership is Otto's commitment to avoiding the cost overruns that have plagued numerous aerospace programs. "Our main goal is really to avoid last-minute cost-out exercises, and those things can plague programs in the aerospace industry," Ndu explained. "But with SEER being embedded in our systems and being part of our core ecosystem of digital tools, we're constantly evolving and making sure that we're staying on our cost performance trajectory to avoid any surprises."
SEER and AI-Enhanced Decision Making
The partnership particularly leverages Galorath’s artificial intelligence capabilities, which take a measured approach to automation in engineering processes. Rather than replacing human decision-making, the AI component focuses on processing vast amounts of historical data combined with real-time market influences to generate actionable insights.
"Actionable real-time data—having that at your fingertips is a game changer," explains Ndu. "It keeps everyone from individual engineers to our program managment to executive leadership on the same page, really empowering us to make decisions faster, with more confidence. It's a true digital mindset that helps us hit our targets on time, every time," Ndu says.
Galorath’s approach to AI integration reflects years of careful development. "We went through an exorbitant understanding of the marketplace before we started implementing generative and insight-driven artificial intelligence into our 46-year-old bulletproof platform," says Orlando. The result is what Galorath calls the only cost, schedule, and risk estimation platform with advanced AI capabilities currently available in the market.
"There's no substitute for the ability to understand what needs to be done and be able to act on it quickly," he says. "And I think that the combination of our historical platform with our new innovations and artificial intelligence drive not only speed and accuracy but the insights organizations need to stay competitive."
What is the Phantom 3500?
The sleek, windowless Phantom 3500 is targeting certification and service entry in 2030. This 9-passenger executive jet is designed with a focus on achieving transonic speeds (at or near the speed of sound) and reducing fuel consumption, which it achieves through a combination of design elements, including a super-laminar flow airframe. "The smoother the flow of air over the surface of the aircraft, the less energy and thrust from an engine is required to push it through," explained Ndu. "Less energy required means you're burning less fuel." The aircraft is projected to burn up to 60% less fuel than comparable jets. It will also fly at up to 51,000 feet, above most commercial air traffic, and interestingly, will not create contrails.
The company is on track to complete its preliminary design review this year and begin flight tests by 2027.
Otto also made headlines at the Paris Air Show when the team was joined by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who announced Otto's decision to relocate to Jacksonville, a longtime hub of the aerospace industry. "We're super excited to really tap into that skilled aviation workforce that has a base in that part of the country," Ndu noted. The move includes an advanced manufacturing and production facility at Cecil Airport.
Looking forward, Otto and Galorath both view their partnership as one that will extend beyond the launch of the Phantom 3500. "We know that if you're doing cost estimation or cost engineering and you're building products to support that function, you're, by default, results-focused," says Ndu, "And that really gives us the evidence that Galorath is the type of company that we want to continue to grow with and partner with as we move on in the future."
