Month: September 2022
Eviation’s first all-electric airplane takes flight
On September 27, 2022, aircraft manufacturer Eviation successfully completed the first flight of its zero-emission Alice aircraft, a historic day and major milestone in electric aviation. Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates captured the following footage: Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet. This trailblazing flight...

Eviation’s first all-electric airplane takes flight

On September 27, 2022, aircraft manufacturer Eviation successfully completed the first flight of its zero-emission Alice aircraft, a historic day and major milestone in electric aviation. Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates captured the following footage:
Take-off 7:10 a.m.
— Dominic Gates (@dominicgates) September 27, 2022
Alice is flying pic.twitter.com/V7sIpPGfpB
Alice lifted off at 7:10 a.m. from Grant County International Airport (MWH), flying for 8 minutes at an altitude of 3,500 feet. This trailblazing flight of the technology demonstrator provided Eviation with invaluable data to further optimize the aircraft for commercial production.
“Today we embark on the next era of aviation – we have successfully electrified the skies with the unforgettable first flight of Alice,” said Eviation President and CEO Gregory Davis. “People now know what affordable, clean and sustainable aviation looks and sounds like for the first time in a fixed-wing, all-electric aircraft. This ground-breaking milestone will lead innovation in sustainable air travel, and shape both passenger and cargo travel in the future.”
Related:
- Eviation’s Alice Completes High-Speed Ground Test, Receives 50 Aircraft Pre-orders – Sept 2022
- Eviation’s ‘Alice’ Prepares for its First Test Flight – Jan 2022
- DHL Express to Order 12 Alice Cargo Aircraft from Eviation – Aug 2021
Alice produces no carbon emissions, significantly reduces noise, and costs a fraction to operate per flight hour compared to light jets or high-end turboprops. The aircraft is available in three variants including a nine-passenger commuter, an elegant and sophisticated six-passenger executive cabin, and an eCargo version. All configurations support two crew members. The executive cabin and eCargo variations are identical to the commuter configuration, except for the interior.
Alice is powered by two magni650 electric propulsion units from magniX, the only flight-proven electric propulsion systems at this scale. Other key suppliers include AVL (battery support), GKN (wings), Honeywell (advanced fly-by-wire system, flight controls and avionics), Multiplast (fuselage), Parker Aerospace (six technology systems), and Potez (doors).
Alice’s advanced battery system is highly efficient and endlessly upgradeable enabling range improvements as battery technology evolves. The aircraft also incorporates a fly-by-wire cockpit, providing greater reliability and systems redundancy.
Why it’s important: All-electric aircraft will make regional travel more economically and environmentally sustainable for businesses and consumers. This new generation of aircraft has the power to transform communities by providing access to airports not currently used by commercial flights due to noise concerns or restricted operating hours. Eviation Alice is targeted at commuter and cargo markets, and will typically operate flights ranging from 150 miles to 250 miles.
Cape Air Founder and Board Chairman Dan Wolf said the following, which accurately depicts the gravity of this achievement: “The first flight of Alice represents a transformational milestone for the aviation industry”. “We currently fly more than 400 regional flights per day, connecting more than 30 cities across the United States and Caribbean. Alice can easily cover 80 percent of our flight operations, bringing sustainable, emission-free travel to the communities we serve.”
Source // Eviation press release
SkyDrive Partners with Volatus Infrastructure
SkyDrive, developer of compact electric air vehicles that aim to ‘make flying vehicles a choice of daily transportation’, has formed a strategic alliance with Volatus Infrastructure, a new U.S-based company dedicated to developing urban infrastructure for eVTOL technologies. Through the partnership, Volatus will provide Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure for SkyDrive’s new vehicles, including vertiports and charging stations in the...

SkyDrive Partners with Volatus Infrastructure

SkyDrive, developer of compact electric air vehicles that aim to ‘make flying vehicles a choice of daily transportation’, has formed a strategic alliance with Volatus Infrastructure, a new U.S-based company dedicated to developing urban infrastructure for eVTOL technologies. Through the partnership, Volatus will provide Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure for SkyDrive’s new vehicles, including vertiports and charging stations in the United States.

Above: Image of SkyDrive’s two-seat concept vehicle at a Volatus Vertiport
According a recent press release from SkyDrive, Volatus’ goal is to make eVTOL technology widely accessible by promoting universally accepted standards for Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure components and aircraft, and by targeting affordable costs for AAM travel. The U.S-based company was founded in 2021, and seeks to ‘connect communities of the future’ by providing universal vehicle charging stations, eVTOL maintenance programs, and user interfaces for travellers.
As part of the partnership between the two companies, Volatus will provide tailored infrastructure packages to SkyDrive as one of SkyDrive’s preferred vendors. These packages will include setups for eVTOL vertiports and charging facilities, and possibly customer-facing services for SkyDrive’s travellers. In exhange, SkyDrive has agreed to support Volatus in the development of its infrastructure globally.
Said SkyDrive’s CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, “Volatus is planning to build permanent vertiports in many states in the US, starting with Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and SkyDrive is looking to utilize their vertiports. We believe our collaboration will accelerate and promote advanced air mobility.”
Said Grant Fisk, Volatus’ Infrastructure Co-Founder, “This is a huge step forward for the global eVTOL industry. We can best serve communities and make this technology accessible faster by working together. SkyDrive will play a critical role in creating our cargo hub.”

Above: Concept image of a Volatus vertiport, depicting the Airbus CityAirbus in operation
SkyDrive is currently the leading eVTOL developer in Japan, having recently publicized successful piloted test flights. Notably, Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau recently accepted the company’s application for type certification of its two-seat SD-05 aircraft. In the coming weeks, SkyDrive plans to unveil a model of the SD-05 to the public at GITEX Global 2022.
Notably, Volatus has already begun building a vertiport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which will include an eVTOL landing pad and an agnostic electric aircraft charging station. Learn more about this release here.
Why it’s important: Through partnering with Volatus, SkyDrive has made massive strides towards global distribution of its eVTOL aerial mobility products. Volatus, while a young company, represents a small but growing number of infrastructure companies slowly emerging in the United States. With this partnership, the two companies will likely collaborate to find key niches in the United States’ aerial mobility market, possibly making themselves one of the first to emerge in certain areas.
Source // Volatus Infrastructure, SkyDrive
Related:
- SkyDrive to Showcase SD-03 at GITEX GLOBAL 2022 (September 2022)
- SkyDrive and MLIT Agree on Certification Basis for SkyDrive AAV Type Certification (May 2022)
- SkyDrive and Suzuki Announce Collaboration on Aerial Vehicle Development (March 2022)
- SkyDrive Debuts Its ‘Flying Car’ Model; Raises ¥3.9 Billion (August 2020)
Mayman Aerospace receives $1.25MM from USAF’s Agility Prime initiative
Mayman Aerospace, developer of a high-powered VTOL utility aircraft, recently announced that it has received $1.25MM from the U.S Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative to continue development of its vehicle. Other partners to Agility Prime include Joby Aviation, Electra.Aero, Beta Technologies, and LIFT Aircraft. Above: Depiction of Mayman Aerospace’s Speeder AUV (Air Utility Vehicle) acting as a cargo drone. Mayman’s...

Mayman Aerospace receives $1.25MM from USAF’s Agility Prime initiative

Mayman Aerospace, developer of a high-powered VTOL utility aircraft, recently announced that it has received $1.25MM from the U.S Air Force’s Agility Prime initiative to continue development of its vehicle. Other partners to Agility Prime include Joby Aviation, Electra.Aero, Beta Technologies, and LIFT Aircraft.

Above: Depiction of Mayman Aerospace’s Speeder AUV (Air Utility Vehicle) acting as a cargo drone.
Mayman’s ‘Speeder’ AUV aircraft uses eight small jet engines to carry up to 600lb+ of payload at 500mph for a range of over 400 miles per flight, all with remotely piloted or autonomous options. According to a recent press release from Mayman, these features, along with its small size and ability to stay in the air for over several hours at a time, make the aircraft highly valuable to the U.S Air Force for logistics missions in contested and/or remote areas.
In addition to its unique range, speed, and payload capabilities, the Speeder AUV’s size is scalable, meaning its platform could be customized ‘from as small as a suitcase to the size of a small car’. A smaller size would make the aircraft highly transportable, such as in the back of a pickup truck, while larger versions could be ideal for delivering delivering higher amounts of essential materials and support in active military areas.
According to Founder David Mayman, the company will use funds provided by Agility Prime to “deliver and certify Speeder for military requirements within the next eighteen months.” A recent press release from Mayman Aerospace mentioned that the USAF’s particular interest in the aircraft is thanks to how well suited it is to handle complex, demanding and often dangerous DOD contested logistics missions, where speed, accuracy, and immediacy are key factors.

Above: A photo of one of the flight-ready Speeder prototypes on exhibition
In addition to military purposes, the company intends to market the Speeder for wildfire response, emergency rescue, land surveillance, and even recreational use. The company has already completed initial tethered flight trials with two Speeder prototypes. Trials with a third, the P2 prototype, are currently underway, with the aircraft expected to receive FAA Experimental certification by the end of 2022.
Why it’s important: While eVTOLs will be a low-impact option in cases of flights between consistent locations, the Mayman Speeder will be a far more capable option in higher-need situations where required flight times and capabilities will be high and unknown prior to missions. Use in active military areas represents a perfect use-case for the Speeder, although the company can be expected to expand into many more logistics areas as it grows with support from the USAF.
Source // Mayman Aerospace
Related:
Boeing and Wisk Release Urban Air Mobility Concept of Operations, Lay Path for UAM Ops by 2030
Last week, Boeing and their joint venture partner Wisk released a roadmap for transitioning to a future where automated and uncrewed aircraft can safely carry passengers and cargo in urban and suburban areas. This so-called concept of operations lays out the technology, regulatory and social recommendations needed to deploy aerial mobility systems in the United States and also includes information on integration...

Boeing and Wisk Release Urban Air Mobility Concept of Operations, Lay Path for UAM Ops by 2030

Last week, Boeing and their joint venture partner Wisk released a roadmap for transitioning to a future where automated and uncrewed aircraft can safely carry passengers and cargo in urban and suburban areas.
This so-called concept of operations lays out the technology, regulatory and social recommendations needed to deploy aerial mobility systems in the United States and also includes information on integration into the National Airspace System (NAS).
“We’re working to enable a future of aerospace that is safe, sustainable and at scale. Uncrewed operations will be fundamental to realizing that vision, and we have to exceed the current safety standards for the air transportation system,” said Brian Yutko, Boeing Vice President and Chief Engineer of Sustainability & Future Mobility.

The concept of operations begins by proposing bedrock principles for urban air mobility, including that flights should be safe and affordable for everyone. Additionally, the aircraft would be automated to reduce the load on air traffic controllers and pilots, and they would fly day or night under visual or instrument flight rules, and be supported by automated onboard and ground-based systems.
The summary paper of the progression from the current state to more autonomous UAM operations features more gradual changes of the current aircraft operations schema that currently exist; for instance, initial UAM operations will have pilots onboard; mid-term, pilots will support from ground stations, responsible for 2 or 3 UAM aircraft. Long term, pilots will be responsible for an even larger fleet of aircraft. The term “human-over-the-loop” was included in the study regarding the ultimate flight control responsibilities for aircraft that’ll eventually be mostly autonomous.
Boeing and Wisk say that evolutionary and pragmatic methods will be needed to make the vision of UAM a reality. This includes the creation of new infrastructure such as ‘vertiports,’ locations where UAM aircraft can take off and land, load and unload passengers, and receive services. Additionally, while the aircraft will be automated, Boeing and Wisk recommend the creation of ‘fleet operations centers’ where ‘multi-vehicle supervisors’ will monitor flights, implement air traffic control instructions to maintain aircraft separation, and ensure safe operation of the flight.
Additionally, the roadmap also outlines the variety of industry stakeholders that are essential to a successful deployment and maturation of the ConOps proposed. Existing airlines and aviation companies, such as United, Delta, American, Boeing, and Airbus will work in conjunction with specialty UAM/aerial mobility airframers, such as Wisk, Insitu, SkyGrid, Joby, Vertical Aerospace, EmbraerX’s Eve etc to develop the UAM environment of the future.
The ConOps also provides insight into the flight planning and operationalization of an autonomous UAM framework that includes new job roles, such as fleet operations managers and supervisors. While these titles traditionally exist in airline operations, their scope and types of challenges will differ to align with that of UAM operations.
Further, additional resources will be required for pre-flight planning, reservation booking system management, market demand aggregation, among other tasks. Other key responsibilities will include in-flight supervision and traffic conflict management.
Why it’s important: Boeing and Wisk’s ConOps represents a large volume of research and coordination from multiple industry leading partners that outlines the steps of a safe deployment of UAM operations in the United States by the end of the decade. The white paper and summary add detail to key functions of the UAM industry and operational environment that are required developments in the next 8 years, prior to 2030.
For more detail on ConOps, view the following resources:
SkyDrive to Showcase SD-03 at GITEX GLOBAL 2022
SkyDrive, developer of a compact electric air vehicle that’s intended to ‘make flying vehicles a realistic choice of daily transportation’ in Japan and abroad, has announced that it will showcase its SD-03 prototype at a major technology conference in Dubai. At the same event, SkyDrive also plans to unveil its SD-05 design, which will be far closer to the aircraft...

SkyDrive to Showcase SD-03 at GITEX GLOBAL 2022

SkyDrive, developer of a compact electric air vehicle that’s intended to ‘make flying vehicles a realistic choice of daily transportation’ in Japan and abroad, has announced that it will showcase its SD-03 prototype at a major technology conference in Dubai. At the same event, SkyDrive also plans to unveil its SD-05 design, which will be far closer to the aircraft SkyDrive eventually plans to sell.
Above: SkyDrive’s SD-03 prototype, which has already taken manned demonstration flights
The GITEX GLOBAL conference is one of the largest technology conferences in the world, featuring technologies in development like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain, fintech, data analytics, and more. The conference has been occurring for the last 41 years, featuring 7 separate category shows in one event, and attended by over 100,000 industry stakeholders. 4000+ exhibitors, 800+ startups, and 1000+ speakers from 170+ countries will attend this year.
At the event, attendees will be able to get an in-person look at SkyDrive’s flying SD-03 prototype, and will be the first to view the full-scale demonstrator model of the company’s upcoming two-passenger SD-05 vehicle. Notably, SkyDrive plans to use the SD-05 for air taxi services at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
SkyDrive’s CEO, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, said: “As one of our strategic markets, we want to ensure the Middle East is aware of our latest developments and progress.”
SkyDrive is backed by Toyota, and has already received acceptance of its type certificate application for the upcoming SD-05 model in Japan— a major milestone that no other flying vehicle developers have reached in the country. According to the company, its goal is to develop a personal flying vehicle that can ‘take off from an land in small spaces like parking lots and helipads atop buildings’, making electric air travel an accessible means of transportation. The company also is developing heavy-lift cargo drones.
Why it’s important: Currently, SkyDrive is at the top of the industry for advanced aerial mobility in Japan. While its current aircraft seats only one passenger, the company has already demonstrated effective manned flight with this prototype, and plans on continuing to develop higher-capacity aircraft. With backing from Toyota and Japan’s ministry of transportation, along with is clear vision to integrate eVTOL travel into daily transportation, the company is well suited to continue advancing to commercialization.
Source // SkyDrive, GITEX Global
Related:
- SkyDrive Debuts Its ‘Flying Car’ Model; Raises ¥3.9 Billion (August 2020)
- SkyDrive Type Certificate Application Accepted by Japanese Transport Ministry (November 2021)
- Climb Aboard SkyDrive at CES Unveiled and CES 2022
- SkyDrive and Suzuki Announce Collaboration on Aerial Vehicle Development (March 2022)
Eviation’s Alice Completes High-Speed Ground Test, Receives 50 Aircraft Pre-orders
Eviation, developer of an all-electric aircraft capable of carrying up to 9 passengers or 2,500lbs of cargo up to 450 nautical miles, recently successfully completed high-speed taxi tests, and received a pre-order for 50 aircraft from Global Crossing Airlines. Above: Photo taken in Washington state shortly after the Alice’s high-speed taxi test Eviation’s mission is to transform regional air transportation...

Eviation’s Alice Completes High-Speed Ground Test, Receives 50 Aircraft Pre-orders

Eviation, developer of an all-electric aircraft capable of carrying up to 9 passengers or 2,500lbs of cargo up to 450 nautical miles, recently successfully completed high-speed taxi tests, and received a pre-order for 50 aircraft from Global Crossing Airlines.
Above: Photo taken in Washington state shortly after the Alice’s high-speed taxi test
Eviation’s mission is to transform regional air transportation by offering electric aircraft that are far more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate and maintain than traditional combustion aircraft. So far the company has made immense progress towards its prototype goals, with flight tests near in sight.
On September 18th, the 57-foot Alice prototype took high-speed taxi tests in order to prepare for upcoming test flights. In the high-speed taxi, the aircraft was able to generate enough lift for its nose wheel to lift off the ground. Said Gregory Davis, the company’s CEO and president, ““Building an electric aircraft is a war on weight, and it’s a war on drag. Our challenges are to get the best possible lift-over-drag ratio.” Each motor at the rear of the aircraft can produce 650 kilowatts of power, meaning 1.3 megawatts of power for the aircraft during takeoff.
Watch the high-speed taxi test below:
Also earlier this month, the company announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for an order of 50 Alice aircraft. GlobalX currently offers charters all over the world using its fleet of Airbus A320s, targeting customers like sports teams, school groups, or organizations that need to travel with large amounts of gear. According to GlobalX, Eviation’s Alice will help the airline achieve its goal of opening carbon-neutral charter services between the Bahamas, Florida, and the Caribbean. The LOI also indicates that deliveries of the Alice to GlobalX should begin in 2027.
Said Chair and CEO of GlobalX, Ed Wegel, “Eviation’s Alice aircraft is setting the standard in sustainable aviation, and we plan to offer the aircraft to our cruise line, tour operators, leisure travel providers, and business clients with a need for short-haul charter flights across Florida. The Alice aircraft will allow us to offer sustainable, regional flights to and from major markets, and is the first step in our initiative to be a zero-carbon emissions airline by 2050. We are proud to be a launch customer for Eviation and lead the charge in bringing carbon-free air travel to our passengers.”
Gregory Davis, President of Eviation, said: “Charter travel is attractive to both individuals and groups as it offers flexibility, privacy and convenience. Alice represents a pioneering approach to making this type of aviation sustainable for generations to come. We are delighted to enter this agreement with GlobalX, whose investment in zero-emissions flight demonstrates the airline’s commitment to cleaner skies, lower operational costs, and the provision of the most innovative options for air travel.”

Above: Rendering of the Eviation Alice performing regional transportation routes in the Bahamas
Why it’s important: While the Eviation Alice is not en eVTOL, it offers similar capabilities to transform regional transportation through the use of high-power electric propulsion. As with electric cars, electric aircraft are predicted to be far more cost-effective to maintain and operate than combustion vehicles. This could mean that as these aircraft ramp up production, regional and eventually long-distance air transportation could become far more prevalent and affordable. With these key announcements, Eviation proves effectiveness of its aircraft, and begins to lay down plans for entering into commercial operation.
Source // Simple Flying, Popular Science, Eviation Aircraft
Related:
- DHL Express to Order 12 Alice Cargo Aircraft from Eviation (August 2021)
- Eviation Unveils Production Configuration for its Alice Electric Aircraft (July 2021)
- Eviation Receives a MagniX Electric Propulsion Unit for its ‘Alice’ Aircraft (May 2021)
- Eviation Secures 150 Total Orders for its All-Electric Commuter Aircraft (October 2019)
Flying car pioneer Kittyhawk is closing down
Kittyhawk, the eVTOL air taxi company building a single-person, remotely-piloted electric aircraft in Palo Alto, CA, has just announced it is shutting down. Founded by self-driving car pioneer Sebastian Thrun and backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, Kittyhawk had been advancing aviation for more than a decade and had built and flown more than 100 aircraft. Wisk, the company’s joint...

Flying car pioneer Kittyhawk is closing down

Kittyhawk, the eVTOL air taxi company building a single-person, remotely-piloted electric aircraft in Palo Alto, CA, has just announced it is shutting down.
Founded by self-driving car pioneer Sebastian Thrun and backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, Kittyhawk had been advancing aviation for more than a decade and had built and flown more than 100 aircraft.
We have made the decision to wind down Kittyhawk. We're still working on the details of what's next.
— Kittyhawk (@kittyhawkcorp) September 21, 2022
Wisk, the company’s joint venture with Boeing Co. formed in 2019, will continue to live on. Boeing has already invested $450 million in the partnership and earlier this week the two presented their vision for a world where eVTOLs can coexist with larger commercial aircraft.
“Kittyhawk’s decision to cease operations does not change Boeing’s commitment to Wisk,” a spokeswoman for the plane manufacturer said in an email. “We are proud to be a founding member of Wisk Aero and are excited to see the work they are doing to drive innovation and sustainability through the future of electric air travel.”
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Insider has reported that Kitty Hawk had already shut down work on the 100-mile-capable Heaviside vehicle and that Page had become increasingly hands-off from the company, but did continue to focus on research and development efforts after the end of the Heaviside project. Other historic vehicles to be designed, built, and flown by Kittyhawk included the Flyer and Cora vehicles.
Related:
- Wisk Aero Continues Global Expansion with Launch of Montreal Hub (August 2022)
- Wisk’s 6th Generation eVTOL revealed on CBS’s 60 Minutes (April 2022)
- Wisk Looks to Resume Flight Tests for Cora (May 2020)
- Kitty Hawk Moves On From its Flyer Program (June 2020)
Why it’s important: The closure of Kittyhawk marks the end of an era for one of the early leaders in the aerial mobility industry. With its Flyer and Cora aircraft, the company helped pave the way for many of the other startups, including Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Lilium. However, the continued development work that is being done via spinoff company Wisk in collaboration with Boeing maintains a promising outlook for the future of urban aviation.
Honeywell Air Mobility Summit 2022 Preview
This Wednesday, innovators and leaders from the aerial mobility, airspace management, transportation innovation and rule-making industries will converge in Washington, D.C. for Honeywell’s invite-only Aerial Mobility Summit. The summit aims to advance the rate of progress toward policy decisions for the next generation of aircraft, with special emphasis toward a more unified global standard of eVTOL aircraft certification that includes...

Honeywell Air Mobility Summit 2022 Preview

This Wednesday, innovators and leaders from the aerial mobility, airspace management, transportation innovation and rule-making industries will converge in Washington, D.C. for Honeywell’s invite-only Aerial Mobility Summit.
The summit aims to advance the rate of progress toward policy decisions for the next generation of aircraft, with special emphasis toward a more unified global standard of eVTOL aircraft certification that includes buy in key regulators such as the FAA and EASA. Further, the conference also highlights the intent to cement rules and policies surrounding beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS) to allow operators to start to plan our their communication and datalink networks using the frameworks that are yet to be agreed upon.

Programming highlights for September 21st include speakers from the U.S. House Transportation Committee, uncrewed BVLOS OEM’s, UAS and UAM Technology experts, displays, and simulators, and an industry panel on key aerial mobility aircraft design and manufacturing firms.
Why it’s important: This summit addresses a key component and requirement of both the aerial mobility and innovative connectivity for transportation networks – the ability for multiple autonomous or remotely operated vehicles to cohabit the same areas while remaining deconflicted from traffic conflicts. A key component to success for this challenge is a unified front of requirements for OEM’s to design toward, and similarly, the certification discussion for aerial mobility aircraft is another opportunity for global regulators to unite to increase the commonality of certification standards and ultimately support a more globally integrated suite of aerial mobility aircraft, in lieu of regionalized models due to stratification of regulatory requirements.
More information on the summit can be found here.
Heart Aerospace Joins European Regions Airline Association
Swedish electric aircraft manufacturer, Heart Aerospace, has joined the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), a trade association for European regional airlines and associated businesses. Founded in 1980, ERA is a non-profit trade association representing over 55 airlines plus around another 150 companies involved in European air transport. ERA is the only association that brings together the entire spectrum of companies...

Heart Aerospace Joins European Regions Airline Association

Swedish electric aircraft manufacturer, Heart Aerospace, has joined the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), a trade association for European regional airlines and associated businesses.

Founded in 1980, ERA is a non-profit trade association representing over 55 airlines plus around another 150 companies involved in European air transport. ERA is the only association that brings together the entire spectrum of companies involved in European aviation.
The association supports and defends the airline industry in providing safe, efficient and sustainable air connectivity to all regions of Europe. By lobbying European regulatory bodies on policy matters, ERA promotes and protects social responsibility, environmental sustainability and the development of regional economies and local communities.
“We believe that electric air travel can be transformational in addressing the industry’s key sustainability challenges, and we look forward to working with the ERA in shaping the future of regional air travel in Europe,” said Anders Forslund, CEO of Heart Aerospace.
Last year, United Airlines announced plans to purchase up to 100 19-seat Heart Aerospace ES-19 electric aircraft. Heart has also gained investments from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, EQT Ventures, European Investment Council, Lower Carbon Capital, and Mesa Air Group.
“ERA is committed to supporting a transition to more sustainable aviation; hence, we are very pleased to welcome Heart Aerospace into membership. Heart is a pioneer for sustainable aviation, and with its mission to create not only the world’s greenest, but most affordable and accessible form of transport, I am sure the company will play a significant role in the future of Europe’s regional air sector,” said Montserrat Barriga, Director General, ERA.
As of publishing, Heart Aerospace will deliver the first ES-19 electric airliner certified for commercial flight by 2026.
Why it matters: For Heart Aerospace, membership of the ERA will be an important platform for cooperation and the exchange of ideas for sustainable growth of the European regional airline industry. Their participation in the association will also include Heart in important policy-making discussions for the infancy of electric flight in the EU.
Source // Heart Aerospace
Electra.Aero Completes Tests of Hybrid eSTOL Aircraft Engine
Electra.Aero, developer of a hybrid-electric short take-off and landing aircraft designed for regional air mobility and logistics, has announced successful testing of its proprietary propulsion system. Above: A rendering of Electra.aero’s eSTOL from Electra’s website. This image demonstrates the aircraft’s signature ‘Blown Lift’ technology, which uses the propellers to push additional air over the wings for extra lift. The aircraft...

Electra.Aero Completes Tests of Hybrid eSTOL Aircraft Engine

Electra.Aero, developer of a hybrid-electric short take-off and landing aircraft designed for regional air mobility and logistics, has announced successful testing of its proprietary propulsion system.

Above: A rendering of Electra.aero’s eSTOL from Electra’s website. This image demonstrates the aircraft’s signature ‘Blown Lift’ technology, which uses the propellers to push additional air over the wings for extra lift. The aircraft will be able to carry up to 9 passengers or 2500lbs of cargo for over 400 NM of range, and will be able to take off and land within 300 feet.
Electra.aero, which recently acquired fellow eSTOL developer Airflow, has made another major step towards developing its aircraft by successfully testing its hybrid-electric propulsion motor with attached propellers. This static test gives Electra important insights into the performance of its system, and lends further confidence to the company’s flight characteristics goals.
The hybrid system is being integrated into Electra’s piloted technology demonstrator aircraft, to demonstrate and test Electra’s eSTOL ultra-short takeoff and landing performance and fuel burn savings. The technology is currently being developed for Electra’s 9-passenger eSTOL aircraft and will later be scaled to larger aircraft.
Said JP Stewart, Electra’s VP and General Manager: “Tightly coupling airframe and propulsion systems is the hallmark of Electra’s unique and scalable approach to providing net-zero emissions for regional and transport-category aircraft by 2050. Electra’s eSTOL aircraft uses this patent-pending technology for the urban and regional aircraft market, allowing a reduction of the 5 billion tons of CO2 created by inefficient ground transport in personal cars every year.”

Above: Photo of the hybrid-electric propulsion system in static testing
Ultimately, Electra’s goal is to create an aircraft that significantly reduces operating costs, infrastructure requirements, and noise emissions as compared to current aircraft with the same payload and range capabilities. The short-take off and landing capabilities of the aircraft, combined with its low operating costs and high range capabilities, could open up new potential opportunities for regional transportation between cities and outlying areas. Electra already has pre-purchase agreements with several operators including Bristow, Yugo, Flapper, and FlyV.
Why it’s important: While Electra.aero’s aircraft is not an eVTOL, its design will allow it to take-off and land with less than half the energy of a comparable VTOL aircraft, within the distance of a single soccer field. This reduced energy requirement will allow the eSTOL to fly much longer distances than eVTOL aircraft, while still requiring very very minimal infrastructure as compared to modern aircraft with similar capabilities. Although Electra’s eSTOL may not work for urban rooftops, it has immense potential to transform medium-range regional transportation. With a traditional fixed-wing design, we may expect to see Electrica’s aircraft in operation very soon.
Airbus and Hiratagakuen to test eVTOL flight routes and operations in the Kansai region
Airbus is partnering with Japanese helicopter operator Hiratagakuen to develop advanced air mobility services in the Kansai region and beyond. This is a key addition to the company’s strong regional footprint and growing international network to pioneer the future of mobility. Through this agreement, Airbus and Hiratagakuen will tackle crucial aspects required to launch a commercial transportation service with CityAirbus...

Airbus and Hiratagakuen to test eVTOL flight routes and operations in the Kansai region

Airbus is partnering with Japanese helicopter operator Hiratagakuen to develop advanced air mobility services in the Kansai region and beyond. This is a key addition to the company’s strong regional footprint and growing international network to pioneer the future of mobility.

Through this agreement, Airbus and Hiratagakuen will tackle crucial aspects required to launch a commercial transportation service with CityAirbus NextGen. As a major first step, the partners’ joint project to organise a simulation of ideal routes, concepts of operations and necessary equipment for safe eVTOL flights in the Kansai region, has been selected by the Osaka prefecture, with a demonstration flight scheduled for later this year.
With the aim to implement air mobility services beyond urban environments, the joint work of Airbus and Hiratagakuen will support the development of advanced air mobility solutions with CityAirbus NextGen, for use cases ranging from air medical services to commercial air transport and ecotourism in a variety of operational contexts. To reach this objective, and with the support of local stakeholders, Airbus and Hiratagakuen will use an H135 helicopter to test advanced navigation and communication technologies for safe operations of eVTOLs in urban environments, while simulating CityAirbus NextGen’s flight configuration.
Mitsuhiro Hirata, Vice President, Aviation Operation Division of Hiratagakuen, said “We are very pleased to conduct a demonstration flight in the Osaka-Kansai region with Airbus for the future of mobility, using the latest H135 helicopter. We have been operating Airbus helicopters for many years and highly appreciate their high safety, performance, operational reliability and proven after-sales support. We are aware that a revolution in air transportation is now approaching in the Osaka area, and we expect CityAirbus NextGen to play a central role in this revolution.”
Balkiz Sarihan, Head of UAM Strategy Execution and Partnerships at Airbus, said: “We are honoured to further our long standing collaboration with Hiratagakuen by working on this exciting journey towards zero emission flights. Their expertise in commercial air transport and air medical services operations makes them an ideal partner for defining the operational framework for advanced air mobility with CityAirbus NextGen in Japan”.

Hiratagakuen is a Kansai-based helicopter operator who specialises in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), transportation of personnel, flight training, and maintenance. The company’s current fleet includes 14 H135 and two H145 helicopters.
In September 2021, Airbus unveiled its eVTOL prototype CityAirbus NextGen, to explore advanced air mobility technologies and bring urban air mobility services to life. The Company just announced the construction of a dedicated centre to test the aircraft’s systems in the lead up to its maiden flight. Airbus is also working closely with industrial and institutional partners to lead the development of urban air mobility ecosystems, as recently announced with ITA Airways in Italy, or through the launch of the Air Mobility Initiative in Germany.
Related: MAGicaALL Motors Selected to Power CityAirbus NextGen
Why it’s important: The relationship between Airbus and Japan dates back over 60 years, during which over 600 commercial and fixed wing and rotorcraft have been delivered to Japanese operators. Airbus leads the Japanese helicopter market with over 50% market share in the civil and parapublic sectors, and over 370 helicopters in service with 100 customers. In Kobe, Airbus’ helicopter facilities offer a strong suite of helicopter products, training services and turnkey solutions across emergency medical services, law enforcement, electronic news gathering, and parapublic segments. The segue to eVTOL operations should be a relatively seamless transition as the company relationships and much of the urban air and ground infrastructure has already been established via these longstanding relationships.
Source // Airbus press release
Jetson eyes closure of $10M seed round funding
Jetson, the aviation company and manufacturer of the commercially-available Jetson ONE eVTOL, announced on September 9th that it’s set to close a $10M seed round with +$8M secured. The remainder is to be closed within the month. Jetson is currently the only eVTOL company on the market that can provide a commercially available personal electric aviation vehicle. Peter Ternström, Jetson...

Jetson eyes closure of $10M seed round funding

Jetson, the aviation company and manufacturer of the commercially-available Jetson ONE eVTOL, announced on September 9th that it’s set to close a $10M seed round with +$8M secured. The remainder is to be closed within the month.

Jetson is currently the only eVTOL company on the market that can provide a commercially available personal electric aviation vehicle.
Peter Ternström, Jetson co-founder and President, commented as the company approaches closure of the funding round: “our mission at Jetson is to democratize flight and make the skies available to everyone. We achieved fantastic results during our first investment round. We will now go full speed ahead with mass production, R&D and hiring top talent to bring our vision to reality.”
The lead investors in the $10M seed round are global tech operators. Luca Spada, Nik Robinson and Rikard Steiber. They all share a passion for flight and are pioneers in their respective fields.
Luca Spada, Founder and CEO of EOLO will be joining the Board of Directors together with the founders. EOLO is an Italian operator that manages one of the largest Fixed Wireless Access Networks in the World.
Jetson investor Nik Robinson, a tech entrepreneur with an impeccable track record, and one of the most influential innovators in the internet gaming industry. Nik’s investment company Splendid Stuff covers a wide range of technology from music NFT pressing to AI analytics, electric transportation, and online gaming.
Jetson has sold over 400 units, with thousands of purchase requests during the same period.
Jetson will continue to invest in R&D, recruitment and mass production and will be opening operations in the US in 2023. Jetson’s first external investor Swedish Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Rikard Steiber will drive the US expansion plans.
The Jetson ONE is built to comply with existing FAA regulations. Making the Jetson ONE the perfect eVTOL for the US market.

Jetson will be inviting clients with an assigned chassis number to test fly the Jetson ONE in the Spring of 2023.
The first 200 chassis are due for delivery between October and December 2023. Jetson is currently on target for 2023 delivery and working on the next steps towards mass production.
Why it’s important: Jetson’s impending closure of their first funding round will help the company maintain momentum toward initial customer test flights and orders of the Jetson ONE personal aerial vehicle. The company will need to scale the aircraft substantially in order to attain a viable commercial product that can move multiple persons across cities, but this initial revision will serve as an opportunity to be a proving vehicle for future iterations that will fly farther, carry higher loads, and have more complex systems.
United Airlines Ventures Adds Eve to its UAM Portfolio
United announced this week a $15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility and a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat eVTOL aircraft plus 200 options. This marks another significant investment from United in eVTOL that has the potential to revolutionize the commuter experience in cities around the world. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies intend to work on...

United Airlines Ventures Adds Eve to its UAM Portfolio

United announced this week a $15 million investment in Eve Air Mobility and a conditional purchase agreement for 200 four-seat eVTOL aircraft plus 200 options. This marks another significant investment from United in eVTOL that has the potential to revolutionize the commuter experience in cities around the world. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies intend to work on future projects, including studies on the development, use and application of Eve’s eVTOL aircraft and the urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem.

“United has made early investments in several cutting-edge technologies at all levels of the supply chain, staking out our position as a leader in aviation sustainability and innovation,” said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures. “United is making history again, by becoming the first major airline to publicly invest in two eVTOL companies. Our agreement with Eve highlights our confidence in the urban air mobility market and serves as another important benchmark toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – without using traditional offsets. Together, we believe our suite of clean energy technologies will revolutionize air travel as we know it and serve as the catalyst for the aviation industry to move toward a sustainable future.”
“United’s investment in Eve reinforces the trust in our products and services and strengthens our position in the North American market,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve. “I am confident that our UAM agnostic solutions, coupled with the global know-how we have been developing at Eve and Embraer’s heritage, are the best fit for this initiative, giving United’s customers a quick, economical and sustainable way to get to its hub airports and commute in dense urban environments. It is an unparalleled opportunity to work with United to advance the US UAM ecosystem, and we look forward to it.”
Current you: drive to the airport
— United Airlines (@united) September 8, 2022
2026 you: fly to the airport
Up to 400 flying taxis from @EveAirMobility could join our fleet as early as 2026, revolutionizing the commuter experience in cities around the world. https://t.co/OI1UCjswCP pic.twitter.com/cjF7dxfC9W
United’s investment in Eve was driven in part by confidence in the potential growth opportunities in the UAM market and by Eve’s unique relationship with Embraer, a trusted aircraft manufacturer with a proven track record of building and certifying aircraft over the company’s 53-year history. This relationship includes access to Embraer’s service centers, parts warehouses, and field service technicians, paving the way for a reliable operation. Upon entry into service, United could have its entire eVTOL fleet serviced by Eve’s agnostic service and support operations. Moreover, United joins the consortium led by Eve, which will simulate UAM operations in Chicago from September 12th.
With a range of 60 miles (100 km), Eve’s VTOL aircraft has the potential not only to offer a sustainable commute but also to reduce noise levels by 90 percent as compared to aircraft like helicopters. Eve is also creating a new air traffic management solution designed for the UAM industry to scale safely. This software is intended to perform at the same safety level as Embraer’s existing air traffic management software and is expected to be a strategic asset in helping the entire industry grow.
This announcement also closely follows United’s recent firm purchase commitment for 100 of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft. Learn more about this purchase here.
Why it matters: United was the first major U.S. airline to create a corporate venture fund, United Airlines Ventures (UAV), designed to support the company’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 without the use of traditional offsets. Through UAV, United has led the industry in investments in eVTOL and electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel cell engines, and sustainable aviation fuel. This new partnership with Eve further solidifies United’s commitment to electric aviation and aerial mobility, keeping it at the forefront of this new push by major airlines.
Source // United
Related:
- United Airlines Completes $10M Pre-Payment for 100 Archer eVTOL Aircraft (August 2022)
- United Airlines Orders $1B in Archer Vehicles (February 2021)
- American Airlines Solidifies Delivery Slots for Vertical Aerospace eVTOL Aircraft (July 2022)
- Eve, Blade Partner to Simulate eVTOL Operations (August 2022)
Honeywell Air Mobility Summit Scheduled for September 21st
Honeywell recently announced that it will be hosting its own Summit on aerial mobility technology later this month in Washington D.C. According to Honeywell, the Air Mobility Summit aims to aims to “help speed the evolution of aerial transportation in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way.” To this end, the invitation-only conference will be attended by policymakers, regulators, and technology...

Honeywell Air Mobility Summit Scheduled for September 21st

Honeywell recently announced that it will be hosting its own Summit on aerial mobility technology later this month in Washington D.C.

According to Honeywell, the Air Mobility Summit aims to aims to “help speed the evolution of aerial transportation in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way.” To this end, the invitation-only conference will be attended by policymakers, regulators, and technology leaders.
Featured panels and keynote events at the Summit will focus on Urban Air Mobility, Unmanned Aerial Systems, new kinds of Regional Air Mobility, and the regulatory gaps remaining to make these technologies an everyday reality. In particular, many events will focus on how these technologies can maintain United States’ competitiveness on a global scale, and the economic and societal benefits they can bring.
Speakers at the Summit will include members of congress, FAA officials, executive leaders from key advanced air mobility companies, and more. With this unique gathering of individuals, Honeywell hopes to align business interests with those of regulatory bodies, including state and local governments.
“From all-electric air taxis to uncrewed cargo delivery drones, together, we’re helping move transportation from the road to the air with electrically powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft for sustainable, high-speed air mobility.” -Honeywell’s Save the Date page for the Air Mobility Summit.

Above: The Lilium Jet eVTOL, which will feature cockpit and propulsion technologies by Honeywell
Honeywell is well-placed to host this conference, as it had made investments and partnerships in the advanced aerial mobility industry nearly since its inception. In particular, Honeywell has formed technology partnerships with notable eVTOL developers like Lilium, Pipistrel, Volocopter and Vertical Aerospace to provide flight controls, propulsion technologies, and more. Between 2020 and 2019, Honeywell announced an entirely new business unit dedicated to Aerial Mobility, as well cooling systems, fly-by-wire, and e-motor projects specifically for eVTOL aircraft.
Why it’s important: Honeywell, with a vast amount of resources and experiences in flight technologies, has recognized the immense potential value of electric aerial mobility technologies since as early as 2019. Since then, it has worked hard to set itself up as one of the top technology providers in this new field. With this new Summit, Honeywell can further put itself as the forefront of the Aerial Mobility industry, while at the same time promoting collaboration and advancement for the entire industry.
Related:
- Honeywell’s New Business Unit for Aerial Mobility (July 2020)
- Honeywell Releases Their New Compact Fly-By-Wire System for UAM (June 2019)
- Honeywell’s Electric Engine to Advance UAM (April 2019)
- New eVTOL Visual Flight Control Hardware To Be Developed by Daedalean and Honeywell (January 2020)
- Honeywell to Equip Volocopter with Autonomous Landing Systems (April 2019)
- Vertical Aerospace eVTOL to be Equipped with Latest Honeywell Flight Deck Technology (August 2020)
- Honeywell To Provide Cockpit Technologies For 7-Seater Lilium Jet (June 2021)
Jeju Island to launch first South Korean air taxi routes by 2025
South Korea’s resort island of Jeju will launch air routes for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and drone taxis dedicated to tourists in the island by 2025, as the first municipality in the country to do so. As depicted above, Kencoa Aerospace has already initiated the mapping of potential air routes for UAM and drone taxis that will connect Jeju Island’s...

Jeju Island to launch first South Korean air taxi routes by 2025

South Korea’s resort island of Jeju will launch air routes for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and drone taxis dedicated to tourists in the island by 2025, as the first municipality in the country to do so.

As depicted above, Kencoa Aerospace has already initiated the mapping of potential air routes for UAM and drone taxis that will connect Jeju Island’s popular tourist spots.
Aimed at offering quick and accessible air mobility in the near future, the routes will connect the island’s popular tourist spots through the coast with quick and accessible air mobility in the near future, an executive who devised the idea told The Korea Herald on Thursday.
Jeju Island, together with South Korean aviation company Kencoa Aerospace and the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC), has devised three types of UAM routes on the island.
The first route connects Jeju International Airport to the island’s southern Mosupo area, which then links Moseulpo to further down to Gapado and Marado. The third route moves along the east coast near Seongsan Ilchulbong, a popular site also known as Sunrise Peak.
“This would allow tourists to hop on the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Jeju airport to directly land at tour spots and transfer to drone taxis nearby. The time frame would be around 2025,” said Kencoa Aerospace Executive Chung Chan-young.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province also plans to set up a Vertiport –- a helipad-like area that can be on land, water or a structure on which eVTOLs can take off and land — at large-scale hotels where many visitors stay.
Jeju’s idea of deploying UAM as tourist transportation is highly feasible and can happen early, Chung said, citing Seoul City’s plan to “test” a UAM route that connects Gimpo International Airport to central Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The plan, however, has hit a snag as the presidential office was relocated to Yongsan-gu in May.
“Flying a UAM aircraft through the coast in the island faces less troubles compared to running an air taxi in Seoul, where flying drones or aircrafts in areas like Yongsan is heavily restricted by government regulations,” said Chung.
According to the Transport Ministry, major districts in Seoul and the entire airspace along the Han River are no-fly zones.
“Jeju works as a perfect test bed and the best location to leverage UAM for the area’s advantages. Examining geographical features through the coastline is less complicated, and establishing a Vertiport on the sea can also work,” Chung added.
Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry has submitted its draft of a bill that would set up requirements and regulations for UAM, The Korea Herald learned through interviews. It is the first of its kind in the world, according to sources. If approved by the National Assembly, South Korea would become the first country to have regulations dedicated to UAM, the sources added.
The special law is expected to separate UAM from the legal boundary of the current aviation law. Flying cars would be advised not to fly within the altitude of helicopters, which is at around 450 meters above ground. The rule for UAM could range between 300 to 600 meters above land.
Related: Jaunt and MintAir partner to launch aerial mobility service in South Korea
Why it’s important: This announcement has preceded any coordination with a specific OEM that will be contracted to provide the vehicles to enable the Jeju Island air taxi service. It can be expected that this will ignite competition amongst manufacturers and operators as they seek to showcase their value proposition to the South Korean municipality; ultimately, the air taxi provider to win the contract will likely obtain an edge in the industry via the newly acquired market share.
Additionally, the specific airspace regulations being coordinated to enable these commercial operations on Jeju Island are exactly the efforts that are going to enable rapid proliferation of aerial mobility in similar regions across the globe.
Source // Korea Herald
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