- OVERAIR
- HONDA
- SKYPORTZ
- WIDEROE
EVTOL / ADVANCED / URBAN AIR MOBILITY (UAM / AAM)
MINTAIR | JAUNT AIR MOBILITY
South Korean startup Mint Air have agreed an order of up to 40 Journey aircraft from Jaunt Air Mobility alongside signing a strategic partnership that sees them become "Jaunt’s exclusive Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) partner in the Korean market":
(via EIN).
EVE URBAN AIR MOBILITY | BLADE AIR MOBILITY
Eve are to begin testing a simulated Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operation in Chicago this month. The test project will simulate "a complete operation and service touchpoints using helicopters" in partnership with Blade Air Mobility:
"The company aims to study operations, ground services, passenger journeys and eVTOL operator needs, creating more accessible and faster connections to Downtown Chicago. Eve will conduct its Chicago, Ill., UAM simulation over three weeks, starting with ground tests on September 12th and passenger flights on the 14th. Following the simulation, the city of Chicago will gain knowledge about the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to enable the launch and expected long-term growth of UAM in the area."
Other partners on the simulation project include Acciona, Halo Aviation, Republic Airways, SkyWest and Speedbird Aero:
(via Eve).
KENCOA AEROSPACE | JEJU ISLAND
Jeju Island looks set to become the first South Korean municipality to host Urban Air Mobility (UAM) flights, with routes having been proposed by Kencoa Aerospace in partnership with local authorities
Flights connecting tourists to locations across the island - to and from Jeju International Airport - are planned to commence as soon as 2025:
(via The Korea Herald).
HANWHA AEROSPACE | VERTICAL AEROSPACE
Hanwha Aerospace's electro-mechanical actuator deal with Vertical Aerospace (announced in July) is reportedly worth $165m to the South Korean company (Yonhap News Agency).
BETA TECHNOLOGIES
A storage container caught fire at Beta Technologies South Burlington R&D facility late on Friday August 26th. The emergency services "quickly extinguished" the fire with "no injuries and no damage to our facilities or aircraft" according to a company statement. It was reported that a "reassembled battery pack awaiting end of line testing" and "not approved for flight" was in the container:
(via The Air Current, VT Digger).
AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA
The Australian state of Victoria published an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) "industry vision statement" outlining how the local government intended to support development of an AAM ecosystem in the state:
(via AU Manufacturing).
VOLOCOPTER
Volocopter released a video showing progress of the flight test programme for their VoloCity aircraft:
(via Volocopter YT).
RYSE AEROTECH
Ohio based startup Ryse AeroTech have started manned flight tests of their single-seat eVTOL aimed at farmers. The ultralight machine dubbed 'RECON' is pitched as a flying alternative to an ATV - has 25 miles range, a 58mph top speed and is best flown below 700 feet above ground level (AGL). Price is rumoured to be c. $150,000 USD:
(via Ryse AeroTech).
ZEVA AERO
Zeva Aero shared new details of their yet to be constructed next generation aircraft - the Z2. With a planned 50-mile range and 160mph / 260 kph top speed the company are reported to be looking at "a variety of applications, including personal transportation, emergency response, search and rescue, law enforcement, and cargo deliveries":
(via FutureFlight).
VERTICAL AEROSPACE
Vertical Aerospace appointed Victoria Madden as Head of Communications, coming from a role as Head of Global PR & social media at British Airways (via PR Week).
OVERAIR
Dr Valerie Manning joins Overair as Chief Commercial Officer, having worked in a variety of roles at Airbus for over 18 years as well as having served as an officer in the US Air Force. Dr Manning also "holds a doctoral degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University" and is an EASA flight instructor and commercial pilot (via Overair).
ARCHER AVIATION
Archer Aviation appointed Dr Michael Romanowski as Head of Government Relations. Dr Romanowski's career includes 14 years at the FAA - most recently focused on aircraft certification - and earlier roles at the Aerospace Industries Association, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky (via Archer).
HONDA
Following their 2021 announcement that the company was working on a hybrid VTOL aircraft, Honda's newly released global ad campaign prominently features a "CGI concept eVTOL" sporting a 'Hybrid e-fuel' label next to the company's logo:
(via Honda YT).
VERTIPORTS / INFRASTRUCTURE
SKYPORTZ
Australian vertiport developer Skyportz unveiled the design for a proposed vertiport in a Melbourne business park. The modular design was developed in collaboration with Contreras Earl Architects, To70 Aviation, Arup and helicopter operators Microflite.
"Skyportz will seek investment partners to fund the construction of the vertiport at Caribbean Park, which will be the first in a stable of vertiports strategically located around Australia"
(via The Urban Developer).
ASTM INTERNATIONAL
Global standards organisation ASTM International released a new standard specification - F3423 - to support the design and development of vertiports and vertistops. Under development for five years, F3423:
"...defines the requirements for the planning, design, and establishment of vertiports intended to service vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. These aircraft include, but are not limited to, standard category aircraft, optionally piloted aircraft, and unmanned aircraft"
(via ASTM International).
AIRPORTS REGION COUNCIL
Sergi Alegre - Director General of the Airport Regions Council (ARC) - envisages local and regional authorities having increasing involvement in the production of renewable electricity and 'green hydrogen' to support zero-emission aircraft:
"While the extraction, refining and shipping infrastructure needed to provide kerosene was beyond the capacity of all but the largest oil industry players, the production of green hydrogen and renewable energy can be handled by local and regional energy companies"
(via Euractiv).
SMALL PROPELLER, COMMUTER (19-SEATS OR LESS)
LI-S ENERGY | MAGNIX
Australian lithium sulphur / lithium metal battery cell producer Li-S Energy signed an MoU with MagniX:
"Under the agreement, Magnix will specify and evaluate the performance of Li-S Energy lithium sulphur and lithium metal cells containing the Company’s unique cell design and patented nano-composite boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) and li-nanomesh technology"
(via Li-S Energy).
REGENT CRAFT
Regent Craft's Viceroy 12-seat 'sea glider' received an Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore; "a validated third-party technical assessment...[and] the culmination of a 10-month long engagement between REGENT and Bureau Veritas engineers, which included a series of workshops encompassing aspects of the vehicle’s structure, mechanical systems, avionics, propulsion, and safety systems" (via Regent Craft).
EVFLY | ASCENDANCE FLIGHT TECHNOLOGIES
Singaporean startup EvFly are reportedly on the hunt for up to seven, 7-passenger conventional take-off and landing electric aircraft (eCTOL) - to be delivered by 2026. That's in addition to the order for 15 of Ascendance Flight Technologies' hybrid-electric Atea aircraft, that the company is reportedly planning to initially operate in Thailand (with an option on up to 50 more)..
EvFly are also said to be looking for a two-seat eVTOL aircraft to be used for flying training.
"Founded by former commercial pilot Yannick Erbs, EvFly intends to operate its fleet to serve not only the passenger transportation market but also cargo delivery, emergency ambulance, offshore platforms, private VIP transportation and other missions, such as road surveillance or fire safety. EvFly plans to launch commercial flights by mid-2025."
(via FutureFlight, eVTOL.com).
WIDEROE
It was reported that Norway's Wideroe are "aiming to test zero-emissions aircraft in commercial operations within four years, introduce such aircraft into its mainline fleet in the coming decade. and [are] studying the use of eVTOL types" (via Flight Global).
REGIONAL AIRCRAFT / MW+
SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER | THALES
"Safran announced that it has entered into negotiations with Thales to acquire its aeronautical electrical systems business.
Thales's aeronautical electrical systems business employs nearly 600 people and generated revenues of €124 million in 2021.
The proposed acquisition includes Thales Avionics Electrical Systems and Thales Avionics Electrical Motors companies in France, with sites in the Paris region in Chatou, Meru, and Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, as well as the support, maintenance and production activities for aeronautical electrical equipment in Orlando (USA) and Singapore." (via Safran).
AIRBUS | SAS
Airbus and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) signed an MoU that will see the two companies collaborate on "hybrid and electric aircraft eco-system and infrastructure requirements research."
"The partnership involves a joint research project where SAS and Airbus will work together to build knowledge of the opportunities and challenges regarding operations and infrastructure linked to large scale introduction of hybrid and electric aircraft in commercial traffic....[and] also includes an ambition to involve a renewable energy supplier to ensure genuine zero emissions operations
The project scope includes five work packages, which focus on analysing the impact of ground infrastructure and charging on range, resources, time and availability at airports.":
MAKO AEROSPACE | NATIONAL MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE SCOTLAND
Ahead of an October demonstration of their 1627kW Forerunner propulsion system, Scottish startup Mako Aerospace announced a partnership with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) "to manufacture the world’s first all-electric jet engine, which could double the range of electric aircraft compared to current hybrid models":
(via Insider)