FutureFlight

Skyryse has achieved what it says is the first-ever fully automated autorotation landings with its modified Robinson R66 helicopter. Announcing the breakthrough this week, even though the flight itself happened back in July, the company said it expects to roll out the first production example of the rotorcraft in the first quarter of 2024.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is backing AMSL Aero’s plans to develop a hydrogen-powered version of its Vertiia eVTOL aircraft with a AU$5.43 million ($3.45 million) grant. The award will help to fund the development of a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for the aircraft's electric propulsion system, which produces zero emissions.

Archer Aviation has signaled its intent to introduce its Midnight eVTOL aircraft to international markets with the announcement of its second deal with a foreign operator on Thursday. The California-based aircraft developer has signed a memorandum of understanding with InterGlobe Enterprises, an Indian travel conglomerate based in New Delhi, with the goal of jointly launching and operating eVTOL air taxi services in India as soon as 2026.

EHang's founder, chairman, and CEO Huazhi Hu has launched a defense against a negative report published this week by short-seller Hindenburg Research, which accused it of reporting false information about sales of its EH216-S eVTOL aircraft. The company confirmed to AIN that initial operations will be limited to sightseeing flights that it may operate itself and that its production order backlog stands at around 100 units.

Crisalion Mobility To Unveil Integrity eVTOL Aircraft at Dubai Airshow

Spanish start-up Crisalion Mobility plans to introduce its Integrity eVTOL aircraft at next week's Dubai Airshow. The company, which recently rebranded from its former name Umiles Next, says the aircraft will carry a single pilot and five passengers on flights of up to 100 kilometers (63 miles) at a cruise speed of 180 km/h.

Archer Aviation is accelerating the adoption of electric aircraft charging infrastructure developed by rival eVTOL manufacturer Beta Technologies with the purchase of several of Beta's multimodal chargers. Beta says it has delivered two chargers to Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, California, where Archer is conducting a flight test campaign with its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL air taxi.

The four-passenger eVTOL aircraft will feature Garmin’s G3000 integrated flight deck for the vehicle’s avionics suite, flight control actuators from Liebherr-Aerospace, and Intergalactic's thermal management system. This week, Eve also issued a financial report on its third-quarter balance sheet, confirming that spending on research and development has increased significantly.

To prepare for the impending arrival of new advanced air mobility vehicles such as electric air taxis and cargo drones, Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) is teaming up with Urban-Air Port to bring vertiport infrastructure to airports around the world. Urban-Air Ports is a British start-up developing space-saving vertiport facilities consisting of vertically stacked hangar modules.

Amprius says it has signed deals with three aerospace developers for the purchase of its next-generation lithium-ion battery cells, which pack an ultra-high energy density of 450 Wh/kg. The California-based battery developer did not disclose the identity of its customers or the volume of the new orders, only that it will be delivering custom battery cells to three “premier electric aviation manufacturers.” 

Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has made the case for using its planned Airlander 10 airship to provide low-carbon transportation for remote communities in northern Scotland. This week, the UK company released a report outlining the envisaged use case for a vehicle carrying up to 100 passengers or 10 metric tons (22,046 pounds) of freight using small airfields with minimal infrastructure.