FutureFlight

Bye Aerospace is nearing the completion of FAA approval for its means of compliance and certification plans for the first of its eFlyer electric aircraft. The company says this puts it on track to have the first all-electric, fixed-wing aircraft to be certified under the FAA’s Part 23 Amendment 64 regulations.

The British eVTOL manufacturer Vertical Aerospace has selected the Taiwanese lithium-ion battery maker E-One Moli Energy, also known as Molicel, to power its VX4 aircraft.

Eve’s first advisory board meeting generated valuable feedback and dialog among customers and partners about several aspects of the urban air mobility market. The event drew more than 20 participants representing fixed-wing and rotorcraft operators, rideshare platforms, and lessors.

Savback Helicopters will handle sales and marketing of Mayman Aerospace's "Speeder" high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (HSVTOL) aircraft in northern Europe.

Italian aerospace group Leonardo has joined a consortium led by Aeroporti di Roma that aims to develop networks of vertiports, starting in Rome in 2024. Leonardo, which has expertise in uncrewed air traffic management, is working on its own new hybrid-electric light helicopter and is helping Vertical Aerospace to build its VX-4 eVTOL vehicle.

KLK Motorsport and Gerg GmbH will work together to design an ultra-lightweight rear fuselage for the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft.

Aviation propulsion group Rolls-Royce wants to have the capability to produce hydrogen for use in fuel cells and engines, so it is buying a majority stake in electrolysis specialist Hoeller Electrolyzer. Electrolyzers use electricity to break down water into its two components—hydrogen and oxygen—and Rolls-Royce views this as a key part of plans to reduce air transport's dependence on fossil fuels.

U.S. start-up H3X claims its planned 2.8-MW propulsion units will provide the far greater levels of power density and fault tolerance needed to convert regional and narrowbody airliners to electric power. The company, which is seeking funds to compete with major aircraft engine makers such as Rolls-Royce and Safran, aims to have prototype units available for testing by partners and prospective customers in 2024.

Astronics is supplying both the secondary and charging power distribution units for the seven-seat Lilium Jet eVTOL model. The systems will ensure a reliable supply of power from the batteries to the aircraft's critical systems, while also providing protection against safety risks associated with the conversion and distribution of high-voltage to low-voltage power.

EHang has secured a $149 million line of credit to support its research and development efforts for its family of eVTOL aircraft and the launch of full-scale manufacturing and commercial operations. The Chinese company, which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, aims to achieve type certification for its two-seat EH-216 aircraft this year.