FutureFlight

Eviation has achieved a long-awaited first flight with its all-electric Alice aircraft, which it is developing for both commuter airline and private aviation applications. 

MintAir this week took a new step toward its goal of operating scheduled regional air services in South Korea by signing a letter of intent to buy 50 of Electra’s planned nine-passenger eSTOL aircraft. Initially, the company says, it will operate the fixed-wing aircraft, which is expected to be able to land and take off in as little as 300 feet, from existing airports as new infrastructure becomes available in and around cities.

The FAA's has published eagerly awaited standards on vertiport design that will provide infrastructure developers with important guidance on topics such as the recharging of electric aircraft. The U.S. aviation safety agency has advised that standards will need to evolve as more complete information on the performance of new eVTOL aircraft becomes available.

Chicago’s metropolitan sprawl got a taste of what an urban air mobility (UAM) future could look like during a two-week simulation exercise in which helicopters were used in place of eVTOL aircraft. According to Eve, the Brazil-based company working to bring a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft into commercial service in 2026, the flights carrying fare-paying passengers were used to gather real-world experience that will lead to a concept of operations for the U.S. city.

Based on work conducted with its earlier SD-03 technology demonstrator, Japan's SkyDrive has designed its SD-05 production eVTOL aircraft and aims to get it to market in 2025, following the start of flight testing in 2024. The two-seater will be able to fly only 10 kiloeters on a single charge, but the company says it will fill an urgent need for "last mile" transportation in busy and geographically challenged cities.

Vertical Aerospace has started the flight test campaign for its VX4 eVTOL aircraft and now says it hopes to complete concurrent type certification in 2025. The piloted flight tests require a permit from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which is expected to certify the all-electric aircraft concurrently with Europe's EASA aviation safety agency.

Asia stands to offer the biggest opportunities for advanced air mobility companies, according to Vertical Aerospace president Michael Cervenka, who urged industry and regulators in the U.S. and Europe to collaborate

The third in an ongoing series of flight testing as part of Europe's CORUS-XUAM uncrewed traffic management concept of operations project evaluated what happens when flight plans have to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances. Volocopter's 2X eVTOL vehicle and the Boreal UAS drone used an uncrewed traffic management system, while Pipistrel's Velis Electro aircraft used the local air traffic management system at the Paris-area Pontoise airfield.

Congressional leaders expect are eying a range of issues for the FAA reauthorization bill that will be in the works next year that includes "clear direction" for the FAA to make sure the proper resources are dedicated to the advanced air mobility industry.

FAA's shift of certification rules for advanced air mobility vehicles opened the door to other concerns, including operational and training requirements as well as international validations. However, the agency is working toward the release of a special federal aviation regulation by 2024.