Archer and Air Chateau International, one of the leading private aviation operators in the UAE, have signed an MOU covering a planned purchase by Air Chateau of up to 100 of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft with an approximate value of $500M and providing for an initial non-refundable, pre-delivery payment of $1M by December 31, 2023. Air Chateau plans to own and operate the Midnight aircraft in the UAE region.

The two companies will now work to formalize the definitive agreements covering the planned purchase over the coming months, with $4 million of additional pre-delivery payments contemplated to be paid following signing. 

Air Chateau was the first private heliport operator company in the UAE to have its heliport and lounge terminal at the land side of Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Helipark and with multiple touch points across the UAE. Air Chateau’s operations offer last mile services targeted at ultra-high net worth individuals, including connectivity between airports, cities and strategic points and key attractions. 

The relationship is intended to further strengthen Archer’s recently announced plans to commence air taxi operations in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2026. The parties intend to explore opportunities to collaborate on bringing in the infrastructure investment necessary for these cities to be ready for these planned operations.

“It was an honor hosting Air Chateau’s team at the Dubai Air Show 2023 during which they were able to touch, see and feel our aircraft as it headlined the show,” said Archer Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein. “Their recognition that our Midnight aircraft meets what the customer demands in the UAE market and desire to secure the purchase of up to 100 Midnight aircraft is another exciting validation of our efforts to bring to market an aircraft that will revolutionize how people move in and around cities.”

“This remarkable opportunity signifies the ongoing evolution of Air Chateau, heralding a transformative era in our industry. Embarking on our journey into being an infrastructure provider two years ago for helicopters, today, we stand at the precipice of realizing our vision for the future of urban air mobility with eVTOLs in Dubai and across the UAE. The support of our visionary partners has been instrumental in our journey, and as we unveil this exciting chapter, we are privileged to share a collective vision. We are very grateful for having the opportunity to pave the way for the future of Air Mobility in Dubai with Archer” said Dr. Samir Mohamed, Chairman and Founder of Air Chateau.

In October, as part of Archer’s announcement of its plans to commence air taxi operations in the UAE in 2026, Archer also laid out its intent to build an engineering Center of Excellence to support the growing advanced air mobility industry in the UAE and across the Middle East and to collaborate with local manufacturing companies and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers in Abu Dhabi to spearhead the production of eVTOL aircraft, furthering Abu Dhabi’s efforts to grow its Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster.

Why it matters: Air Chateau’s clientele is the perfect synergy for the value proposition of aerial mobility. Archer’s Midnight eVTOL will serve the area and connect passengers in the UAE with their final mile destinations. Further, the advanced payments by Air Chateau will help provide Archer with some extra cash flow as it completes of flight testing of Midnight.

Source: Archer Press Release

InterGlobe Enterprises and Archer have announced that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the goal of partnering to launch and operate an all-electric air taxi service in India, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and clearances.

Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, and Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer, signed an MOU to form a proposed partnership through which the parties aim to provide a revolutionary transportation solution for the country, improving urban mobility with safe, sustainable, and low-noise electric air taxi service that is cost-competitive with ground transportation.

The parties intend to work with select in-country business partners to operate Archer’s aircraft, finance and build vertiport infrastructure, and train pilots and other personnel needed for these operations. The partnership also plans to finance the purchase of up to 200 of Archer’s Midnight aircraft for the India operations.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. The goal is for a passenger on an InterGlobe-Archer flight to be able to fly the 27-km Delhi trip from Connaught Place to Gurugram, typically taking 60 to 90 minutes by car, in approximately 7 minutes.

In addition to urban air taxi services, the parties plan to pursue a variety of other use cases for the electric aircraft in India, including cargo, logistics, medical and emergency services, as well as private company and charter services.

Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, said: “Over the last two decades, InterGlobe has been involved in providing safe, efficient, and affordable transportation to hundreds of millions of Indians across the country. We are excited at this new opportunity of bringing an effective, futuristic and sustainable transport solution by introducing Archer’s electric aircraft to India.”

“I founded Archer with the vision to help decongest the world’s largest cities. India is one of, if not the largest opportunity for eVTOL aircraft utilization in the world, as it is home to the world’s largest population of over 1.4 billion people and its largest cities face some of the greatest congestion challenges in the world,” commented Archer’s CEO and Founder, Adam Goldstein, “Archer’s all-electric Midnight aircraft is designed to provide a revolutionary transportation solution that can help address these congestion issues.”

Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer Aviation, added: “At Archer, our goal is to make cities greener, smarter, more efficient places to live. We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Rahul and the InterGlobe team to bring our Midnight aircraft to Indian cities and fundamentally transform mobility across the country, with the goal of starting with Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.”

Why it matters: India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is seeing a drastic rise in commercial development and industry. With growing traffic and urban congestion, aerial mobility is another solution for transportation in the most dense city centers. This MOU will launch Archer into another global market and promises to bring innovative technology to the region.

EHang has announced the opening of its first European UAM Center in Spain. Located inside the Lleida–Alguaire International Airport, the center represents the first-of-its-kind in Europe for unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, setting a benchmark globally for the effective integration of eVTOL aircraft operation with airport infrastructure, air traffic management systems, operational procedures, and other information technologies.

The center is the product of a collaboration agreement signed between EHang and Aeroports de Catalunya in the field of UAM and will enable European aviation and airport sectors to be positioned at the forefront of global Advanced Air Mobility.

The EH216-S deployed at EHang’s European UAM Center will foster the accumulation of operational experience as well as invaluable knowledge. By integrating vast flight experience gathered from various locations worldwide, this collective information can be leveraged to the development of technological solutions, regulations, processes and procedures for the safe and efficient integration of eVTOL aircraft into European airspace in the future. 

The UAM Center includes a vertiport that is fully compliant with EASA’s design criteria and will enable seamlessly incorporation with the airport terminal, platform, control tower, equipment, procedures and regulations. This state-of-the-art vertiport will set a benchmark for global UAM infrastructure and accumulate a vast amount of knowledge and expertise on the vertiport establishment and operations, which will enable intelligent eVTOL operating models and facilitate their smart deployment across multiple locations.

During the inauguration event, Mr. Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, stated, “The establishment of EHang’s European UAM Center marks an important step forward in the company’s international development. Through this world-class UAM center, EHang expects to manifest its strong commitment with the development and deployment of UAM in Europe. EHang aims to share our certified and validated technology and operational experience with our partners around the world in the future to make our shared vision for benefiting all of society with safe, autonomous and eco-friendly UAM solutions.”

Why it matters: Less than one month ago, China’s aviation regulatory body, CAAC, awarded EHang a Type Certificate of its EH216-S eVTOL. The company now sets its eyes globally as it will try to certify its EH216-S eVTOL in Europe and the United States, the two largest aerial mobility markets. This operational center offers EHang to demonstrate to regulators it has the prowess to achieve additional type certificates.

Source: EHang Press Release

Volocopter has passed another milestone with its crewed eVTOL, the Volocopter 2X. This time, the company has completed a flight test campaign at Tampa International Airport in Florida.

The flight test campaign consisted of aircraft downwash and outwash testing with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and performance testing in local environmental conditions. Media, partners, and guests were invited to the event with a clear view of the public on location. The invitees included Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue, Mayor of Tampa Jane Castor, and leaders from Congress who are supporting UAM industry growth, regulatory advancement, and acceleration of public acceptance of eVTOLs in the U.S.

“Tampa International Airport has always embraced innovation and futuristic planning, and we’ve already identified a potential site for urban air mobility as a part of our Master Plan. This technology has the potential to transform the aviation and transportation industry, and we’re excited to partner with Volocopter as we introduce and visualize the amazing possibilities that lie ahead,” said Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport.

Volocopter will start commercial services with a certified and shared air taxi service in the heart of megacities around the world. The quiet, safe, and sustainable operations of a certified eVTOL will not only provide efficient transportation, reduce congestion, but also kickstart the decarbonization of the aviation industry. 

Stateside, Volocopter recently announced its partnership with the Bristow Group to begin operations of eVTOLs in the near future, with Florida being one of the targeted areas of operation. Since 2018, Volocopter has flown in Las Vegas, Oshkosh, Dallas-Fort Worth area, and Tampa. Continued and visible flight test campaigns in view of the public are crucial steps to building an efficient UAM ecosystem that receives the communities’ support.

Tampa International Airport hosts first ever air taxi test flight in Florida – YouTube

Why it matters: This marks the first-ever flight test of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in an operational and large international airport in the U.S., and the first eVTOL test in the state of Florida. Additionally the participation of members of Congress and local government show the growing interest in aerial mobility. These type of demonstrations show eVTOL operations can integrate into the National Airspace System and offer the public with a new way to travel.

Source: Volocopter Press Release

German based eVTOL developer, Lilium, has announced its first private sale of its eVTOL jet in the U.S. market in a new eVTOL maker and brokerage partnership.

In partnership with EMCJET, an industry-leading full-service aircraft brokerage and management company. EMCJET is set to be the exclusive Lilium dealer in Texas through 2030 for private sales. Under the terms of the partnership, which includes a commercial commitment to Lilium for five production slots, EMCJET will enable individuals to purchase some of the first Lilium Pioneer Edition Jets available in the U.S. market.

Lilium has stated their intial go to market strategy for its Lilium Jet will be in the private/business aviation space before moving onto commercial operators.

EMCJET, renowned for its expertise in international aircraft trading and services, is dedicated to offering customers a seamless and sophisticated experience when it comes to buying, selling, and acquiring aircraft. The Lilium Jet will be available countrywide, with the initial focus on key cities in Texas, including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas, aligning with Texas’ commitment to sustainability, delivering efficient and eco-friendly transportation choices for residents and visitors.

“We are thrilled to partner with EMCJET as we embark on our mission to revolutionize regional air mobility in the United States. EMCJET’s proven track record of private premium market jet sales in the U.S. and managing privately owned aircraft and exceptional customer service aligns seamlessly with Lilium’s vision of delivering an unparalleled flying experience to our potential customers,” said Sebastien Borel, Chief Commercial Officer at Lilium.

“EMCJET is excited to be at the forefront of introducing Lilium’s groundbreaking eVTOL technology to the Texas and U.S. markets, said Memo Montemayor, Founder & CEO of EMCJET, “Our client-first mentality ensures that we deliver superior value and expert attention required in making sound private aviation investments and introducing our clients to the most innovative modern technology for current and future market practices. This partnership with Lilium will allow us to serve our well-established network of aviation enthusiasts with the latest technological advancements and continue to provide exceptional service and results that our clients deserve and depend on.”

Why it matters: The agreement with EMCJET marks Lilium’s fourth dealer globally. Lilium’s strategy to sign on exclusive dealers of its eVTOL jet is a unique strategy rather than selling directly to consumers/commercial operators. With this strategy however, it is easier to enter into foreign markets with brokers who understand the clientele and market trends.

Joby has announced it has delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base approximately six months ahead of the expected 2024 delivery date.

On-base operations with Joby aircraft will be used to demonstrate a range of logistics missions, including cargo and passenger transportation, and will be operated by both Joby and U.S. Air Force personnel. In partnership with the U.S. Air Force, NASA will also use the aircraft for research focused on how these aircraft could fit into the national airspace, benefiting the entire air taxi industry.

Joby’s aircraft, which has already begun flying at Edwards AFB, is the first electric air taxi to be stationed on a U.S. military base and is believed to be the first delivery of an electric air taxi in the U.S., as part of Joby’s $131 million AFWERX Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force. Joby’s current and previously completed work with the Department of Defense represents a total potential contract value of $163 million, the largest in the industry.

The Agility Prime contract includes the provisioning of up to nine aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies, reinforcing the U.S. government’s continued leadership in developing and adopting eVTOL technology, and ushering in a new era of electric aviation. A second aircraft is planned to be delivered to Edwards in early 2024.

“We’re proud to join the ranks of revolutionary aircraft that first demonstrated their capabilities at Edwards Air Force Base, including the first American jet fighter, the first supersonic aircraft, and many others that have pushed the boundaries of aviation technology,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby.

“The longstanding support of the DOD and NASA has been critical to the rapid development of electric aviation and eVTOL aircraft, and demonstrates how successful public-private partnerships can bring new technology to life at speed. Their work will have profound implications for continued American leadership in both commercial and defense aerospace technology,” he added.

Why it matters: Joby’s delivery marks the next major milestone for not only the company but aerial mobility as a whole. This event marks the first delivery of an eVTOL in the United States and the activities at Edwards AFB will pave the way to a bright future for aerial mobility in this groundbreaking public/private partnership.

Source: Joby Press Release

Joby has announced it plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.

Joby plans to build a facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year at the Dayton International Airport, supporting up to 2,000 jobs. The 140-acre site it has selected has the potential to support significant further growth over time, providing enough land to build up to two million square feet of manufacturing space. Construction of the scaled Ohio facility is expected to start in 2024 and it is expected to come online in 2025. Joby plans to use existing nearby buildings to begin near-term operations.

The State of Ohio, JobsOhio and local political subdivisions have offered incentives and benefits of up to $325 million to support the development of the facility, while Joby plans to invest up to $500 million as it scales operations at the site. Joby is also announcing today that it has been invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to submit a Part II Application for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, which provides access to low-interest loans for clean energy projects and would support the scaling of the facility.

Joby’s long-term investor, Toyota, who worked with Joby on the design and successful launch of the company’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California, plans to continue to advise Joby as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.

“We’re building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “The Wright Brothers harnessed revolutionary technology of their time to open up the skies, and we intend to do the same — this time, bringing quiet and emissions-free flight that we hope will have an equally profound impact on our world.

“The U.S. continues to lead the way on introducing this technology, with unprecedented levels of support across all areas and levels of government. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator JD Vance, Representative Mike Turner, and the team at JobsOhio for their support, as well as the representatives of the many other states we worked with during this process.

“Our partnership with Ohio is a great example of how successful public-private partnership amongst industry, local, state and federal government can bring important new technology to life.”

Joby plans to start hiring in the coming months, with early roles expected to focus on the build out of the scaled facility and the machining of parts that will initially be incorporated into Joby’s California low-volume production line.

Joby’s headquarters, research and development, and pilot production facility will remain in California.

Why it matters: Economic incentives from state and federal governments and Joby’s deep partnership with Toyota and the automotive industry make the rust belt the perfect location for a scaled eVTOL manufacturing facility. With the new jobs generated and ability to secure low-interest loans for the development of the site, Joby stands to quickly produce its eVTOL at rates up to 500/year.

Source: Joby Press Release

Japanese-based eVTOL maker, SkyDrive, has announced an MOU with Solyu, an aircraft leasing company in Korea, for 50 eVTOL aircraft. Solyu is a lessor based in Korea run by team with decades of experience in the aircraft leasing and finance industry with a focus on providing customers with zero emissions vehicles such as eVTOL, eCTOL, and eSTOL.

SkyDrive is currently developing a three-seat electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft called “SKYDRIVE.” Its eVTOL is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.

In Korea, the metropolitan area faces a problem of severe traffic congestion, and the Korean government formed the Korea Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Roadmap, expecting that the time and social costs can be reduced by 70%. The government also promotes the plan for public-private joint demonstration project, the K-UAM Grand Challenge. Solyu believes it is important to promote the use of electric, zero-emission vehicles in Korea to accelerate the K-UAM goal and agreed on the pre-order of SkyDrive eVTOL.

SkyDrive and Solyu continue to evaluate commercial eVTOL considerations such as vertiports, routes, infrastructure requirements, and ecosystems with the Korean government and other interested stakeholders to launch new mobility solutions in Korea.

Solyu Company President, Andrew Claerbout, commented on the memorandum of understanding, “The eVTOL market will bring opportunities for reducing global emissions and increasing traveler convenience. We’re honored to work with SkyDrive and the award-winning SD-05 to develop this global market.”

Why it’s important: Korea is one of the most dense urban markets in the world and is a prime market for the eVTOL industry. With a fleet of 50 SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft, Solyu has an opportunity to leverage electrified aviation and offer low-cost, emission free travel in the area.

Joby subsidiary, H2FLY has announced successful completion of the world first piloted flight of a liquid hydrogen-powered electric aircraft.

H2FLY, acquired by Joby in 2021, continues to lead the industry on the development and testing of hydrogen aviation propulsion systems. The company completed a series of piloted flights with its HY4 demonstrator aircraft, including one that lasted more than three hours, fitted with a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system and liquid hydrogen that powered it for the entire flight.

The flights demonstrate the viability of using cryogenically-stored liquid hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, which enables significantly lower tank weights and volume, leading to longer range. The successful installation and demonstration of flight with liquid hydrogen is believed to increase the range of H2FLY’s HY4 demonstrator aircraft from 466 mi (750 km) to 932 mi (1500 km), marking a critical step towards the long-term decarbonization of mid- to long-range aviation.

“H2FLY are pioneers in their field, and we’re proud of them achieving this watershed moment in the use of liquid hydrogen to power aircraft,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “In the years to come, battery-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems will enable us to build aircraft that are quieter and make mid- to long-range air travel possible with zero emissions. It’s critical we take action now and invest aggressively in these technologies for the health of our planet and future generations to come.”

The successful flights are the culmination of Project HEAVEN, a European-government-supported consortium assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid hydrogen in aircraft. The consortium is led by H2FLY and includes the partners Air Liquide, Pipistrel Vertical Solutions, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, and Fundación Ayesa.

Why it matters: Following this test flight milestone, H2FLY will increasingly focus on its path to commercialization. In June, H2FLY announced the development of its new fuel cell systems, which will be capable of providing their full power range at altitudes high enough to enable commercial hydrogen-electric aircraft, demonstrating real-world commercial aircraft applications. Hydrogen-electric platforms offer a longer range offering than all-electric vehicles and will do well to capture the mid/long range aircraft space.

Source: Joby Press Release

In a letter to investors for public release, Vertical Aerospace has shared an update on its flight test program following an incident last month involving one of its VX4 flight test prototype aircraft. According to the release, Vertical does not expect any significant impact to its certification timeline.

The release stated the VX4 flight test prototype has concluded its remote thrustborne flight test campaign as of July 2023, as the first full-scale VX4 prototype reached its target speed of 40kts (70 kmph), demonstrating exceptional overall stability and control.

Performance targets were generally exceeded by 10-30% during hover and low speed flights. The prototype performed especially well in sustained hover, typically the most challenging regime for a VTOL aircraft, where it maintained level flight for longer than anticipated. The aim of these thrustborne flight tests was to verify acceptable stability, battery efficiency and control characteristics, aerodynamics, structural loads, performance and vibration throughout this speed range – all of which were achieved.

During one of these test flights, an unexpected fault occurred causing the aircraft to enter a stable descent, before being damaged on impact with the ground. Vertical completed a swift and thorough investigation and submitted a report to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Vertical’s investigation identified the root cause to be a fault with a propeller. This early generation propeller had already been redesigned prior to the incident, with the issue fully resolved ahead of the next phase of testing. Further recommendations by the investigation are being implemented by Vertical.

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Vertical Founder and CEO, commented: “We are pleased with our flight test progress to date and the data, insights and invaluable learnings we have collected. While a fault of any sort is disappointing, it is not wholly unexpected at this stage of testing a novel aircraft. I am pleased that as a result of our expert team we have isolated the cause of the fault and been able to provide the AAIB with our report within 14 days of the incident. Our planned second upgraded prototype, which will include most of our top tier partners’ technology, will have us in the air early next year and we remain on track for our certification timelines”

Why it matters: Despite the setback of a flight test incident, Vertical remains on track for its certification timeline. The company stated it is also developing a second, more advanced flight test prototype of the VX4 model which will be ready to fly in early 2024. Expect more updates as Vertical progresses toward entry to service of its eVTOL aircraft.

Source: Vertical Press Release

Bay Area based ASKA has had quite the busy summer since it announced receipt of its FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate.

The size of an SUV in the drive mode, the four-seater ASKA A5 is the world’s first flying car that can travel by road and air with vertical takeoff and landing VTOL and short takeoff and landing STOL capabilities. The drive & fly eVTOL is designed with maximum safety standards and a 250 mile flight range.

Last week, the successfully completed its first airborne tests, lifting from a California airfield with hovered thrust while the vehicle was tethered to the ground. Further, ASKA is road legal with the California DMV and has completed more than 300 miles of road testing in the Bay Area.

Guy Kaplinsky, CEO/Cofounder, stated: “It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment for the team to reach this new milestone. This moment represents a giant leap for the Aviation and Automotive industries. Having accomplished the first series of hover flight testing as well as driving testing, ASKA is a pioneer in the field of electric flying cars with VTOL capabilities.”

Maki Kaplinsky, CoFounder/Chair & COO, commented on the A5’s next steps towards commercialization in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. “This first lift-off was a true accomplishment and years of engineering design and analysis became a reality. A5 successfully lifted off and maintained thrust hover status. We are closely working with the FAA to ensure continued excellent progress with our flight testing. We will continue the optimization of hovering and VTOL. The next phase will be working toward transition into cruise and STOL.”

ASKA followed up its first flight tests with a high profile public appearance at Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach. While ASKA’s A5 eVTOL did not fly at the event, the company demonstrated advanced capabilities including on-road driving demonstrations and public displays of the wings opening and closing, and the props turning.

“This event was a major public demonstration of advanced technological achievements, such as driving and opening and closing the wings and the props turning,” explained Guy Kaplinsky, CEO/Cofounder. “The last big event for us was CES Las Vegas in January 2023, when we debuted the fully-functional full-scale prototype of ASKA™ A5. We are hitting our targets for this year and progressing with type certification with the FAA.”

Why it matters: ASKA has been relatively in stealth mode since its CES debut earlier this year. With the issuance of its Special Airworthiness Certificate and successful public demonstrations and test flights, it is clear ASKA is a real contender in the eVTOL space. If all goes to plan, ASKA hopes to certify and commercialize their eVTOL craft by 2026.

EHang has announced that the company has achieved a significant milestone for EH216-S TC by successfully completing all of the planned tests and flights in the last phase of demonstration and verification of compliance, and also completed the definitive TC Flight Test by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”), with unwavering endeavors throughout past 31 months since the CAAC officially accepted the Company’s TC application in January 2021.

This is the last milestone before obtaining the type certificate, and also the result of the unwavering efforts of EHang team. After finishing the remaining procedures, the Company expects to obtain the type certificate of EH216-S Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System from the CAAC soon.

Since the time when CAAC officially accepted the EH216-S TC application in January 2021, EHang has entered into an extensive 30 month long flight test campaign. During this period, EHang made several configuration changes ranging from battery, environment, material, strength, electronics, software, data link to ground control station.

The company now believes they have sufficiently proved that EH216-S meets the safety standards and airworthiness requirements by the CAAC, through scientific approaches, multi-angle demonstrations, rigorous testing, and continuous optimizations.

Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of EHang, commented, “We’ve made remarkable progress in our pursuit of long-term growth. Notably, we are thrilled to announce that we have successfully completed all the planned tests for EH216-S type certification. This achievement marks a significant unprecedented milestone in the global emerging eVTOL industry, underscoring our unwavering dedication and pioneering advantages. Additionally, this sets the stage for us to secure the type certificate soon and proceed with our endeavors to initiate commercial operations. I would like to express my gratitude to the CAAC’s officials and the review team as well as the Company’s airworthiness certification team for their unwavering efforts and persevering spirits. It is their professionalism, exceptional technological expertise, and collaborations that have led us to our impressive achievement today. I believe the remaining procedures will be finished very soon before the official authorization of the type certificate. It will pave the way for our commercial operations in the next stage.”

Why it matters: To date, EHang will be the first TC program for unmanned eVTOL by a major aviation regulatory agency. With many commercial venture and partnerships in place, expect EHang to quickly manufacture and deliver its EH216-S eVTOL to many public and private operators throughout the country.

Source: EHang Press Release

Archer Aviation has just closed a series of investments from Stellantis, Boeing, and United Airlines totally $215M in new equity investments.

This accompanies a finalized settlement between Archer and Boeing-owned Wisk to resolve the federal and state court litigation between the parties on undisclosed terms.

Simultaneously, the parties have entered into a collaboration that looks forward to the growth and development of the AAM industry. Archer has agreed to make Wisk its exclusive provider of autonomy technology for future variants of Archer’s aircraft.

As part of the parties’ collaboration, Boeing’s investment in Archer will support the integration of Wisk’s autonomous technology in future variants of Archer’s aircraft.

Additionally, Archer announced that it is on track to complete what it believes will be the first ever eVTOL aircraft delivery to a customer as part of its recently announced contracts with the Department of Defense (DoD). These announcements come on the heels of the FAA Administrator leaving to join Archer and the DoD awarding Archer the largest total contract value of any eVTOL company.

“Over the last quarter, we’ve seen the U.S. government make an unwavering commitment that America will lead the way in commercializing eVTOL aircraft, the FAA validated the timeline for eVTOL aircraft to begin operations in the U.S. in 2025, and leaders in the mobility industry, Stellantis, United Airlines and Boeing, have come together to invest in Archer’s future,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “The pace at which our industry is advancing is unprecedented. Our team’s hard work and dedication have brought us to this exciting moment, and we can’t wait to see Midnight soar,” added Goldstein.

In the announcement, Adam Goldstein, unveiled Archer has also received a special airworthiness certificate from the FAA to begin flight test operations, which the firm plans to begin in the coming weeks.

Why it matters: The latest investments in Archer increase the company’s total funding to date to over $1.1 billion, bolstering Archer’s path to FAA certification and commercial operations in 2025. Alongside the contracts with the DoD and Archer receiving the green light for flight testing, expect more developments from the firm as they push for entry to service in 2025.

Wisk has successfully flown its fifth-generation eVTOL, Cora at this week’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The event marks the companies first pubic autonomous demonstration of its anticipated eVTOL air taxi.

The flight, which included two runway passes and a vertical to wingborne flight maneuver, lasted 4 minutes and carried no passengers. “The final portion of the flight it came back to center stage, did a 270-deg. pedal turn, hovered there for a minute, did a little hat tip—dipped its nose to the crowd,” said Jay Pankowski, Wisk manager of operations support, who served as flight announcer. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome.”

Headquartered just outside of San Jose, California, Wisk has been steadily progressing through its flight test campagin ahead of FAA certification.

“The context of [the demonstration] was being the first performer after the parachuters and the National Anthem opening what is a pretty complex airshow, with a lot of fast-moving airplanes,” said Wisk Aero CEO Brian Yutko, speaking with Aviation Week. “Fitting into that environment and doing it in a non-disruptive way was a key focus for us and the team totally knocked it out of the park.”

Wisk will get plenty of facetime this week as it will perform public demonstration flights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The flights are manned by a six person crew, 3 remote pilot/engineers, a crew chief and assistant, and a visual observer, which the FAA requires while Wisk is unable to remotely sense and avoid other traffic.

“What we’ve said so far is we intend to certify it and get into commercial operations this decade,” Yutko said. “It’s our job to put forward what we think is a safe system; it’s the FAA’s job to independently check it and validate it. Given how novel this all is, we don’t want to improperly apply pressure to our teams or to the other teams to meet a date. But we have internal timelines and we think that we can get the job done and start commercial service this decade.”

Why it matters: eVTOL has been increasingly highlighted at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh since the Covid pandemic. With designs reaching flight test maturity, the public gets to now see eVTOL’s first hand and it can be expected that fully autonomous operation and FAA certification is in the not too distant future.