Australian Regulator Issues Guidelines for Vertiport Design and Construction
Following a consultation with the industry and communities, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued guidelines for vertiports to be used by new eVTOL aircraft. The move has been welcomed by vertiport developer Skyportz, which recently unveiled plans for low-cost, modular vertiport units intended to accelerate the roll-out of infrastructure for advanced air mobility services.
Lilium Completes EASA Design Organization Audits for eVTOL Aircraft Program
EASA will likely issue a design organization approval before year-end to eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium, which has completed the fourth and final audit required by the process. The DOA clearance is a mandatory prerequisite to completing type certification with the European air safety regulator.
Indian Regional Airline Plans To Switch Fleet to Electric Seaplanes
Maritime Energy Heli Air Services has agreed to purchase 10 of Jekta's 19-passenger PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft as part of its plan to decarbonize regional air services to smaller communities in India. Under the agreement announced with the Swiss manufacturer, it will be the launch operator for the new all-electric aircraft in Asia and could buy another 40 units following initial deliveries in 2029.
FutureFlight Weekly News Roundup
Maeve Taps Siemens Software To Develop 44-Seat Electric Airplane
With FAA Authorization, Aska Set To Expand Flight Testing of A5 Flying SUV
Aska expects to start untethered flight testing of its A5 four-seat eVTOL aircraft during July, having completed several short tethered hover flights in June. The California-based company now holds an FAA certificate of authorization and special airworthiness certification to test its first A5 prototype.
NASA Wraps Up X-57 Program without a Flight
NASA is pulling the plug on its X-57 Maxwell electric airplane experiment without a single flight test on the books, the agency announced June 23, citing a newly discovered problem with the electric propulsion system that poses an “unacceptable” safety risk. According to NASA, the X-57 team will cease all operational activities by the end of September.
Universal Hydrogen Moves Flight Test Campaign to Mojave Desert
After successfully flying a De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system in Washington state, Universal Hydrogen has relocated its flight testing activities to the Mojave desert in Southern California, the company announced Thursday.
SK Telecom Makes $100 Million Investment In Joby's eVTOL Aircraft
SK Telecom is investing $100 million in Joby Aviation's plans to develop a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The South Korean company will jointly participate with California-based Joby in the government-backed Korea Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge.
H2Fly Expands Hydrogen Propulsion Ambitions With Plans For Higher Altitude Operations
The German company recently launched its H175 technology, which it says will be scalable for a variety of hydrogen-electric aircraft in the 1-MW class and seating between 20 and 80 passengers.
Skyryse Ramps Up Automated Flight Tests with Robinson R66 Helicopter
Flight automation specialist Skyryse has kicked off a full flight test campaign with its FlightOS highly-automated flight control system, which the company says could improve safety and reduce pilot workload for a variety of aircraft. The California-based start-up is now conducting daily flights with a FlightOS-equipped Robinson R66 light helicopter, the first aircraft for which it plans to obtain a supplemental type certificate from the FAA. The R66 testbed includes a production-representative version of the flight control system as well as the suite of sensors that provide real-time situational awareness.