Ameriflight Plans to Purchase 35 Rhaegal Cargo Drones from Sabrewing
In its latest move toward adopting autonomous cargo transport operations, Ameriflight has provisionally agreed to purchase up to 35 Rhaegal-A VTOL cargo drones from Sabrewing Aircraft Company. In recent years the company has been taking steps to introduce autonomous flight technology into its fleet, partly in response to the ongoing pilot shortage.
Beta and Blade Air Mobility Demonstrate Alia-250 eVTOL Aircraft In New York Area
Charter flight provider Blade is among the early prospective customers for Beta Alia-250 and the New York City area is one of its key markets. Other prospective customers for the all-electric aircraft include express delivery company UPS, helicopter operator Bristow, medical group United Therapeutics and lessor LCI.
Dubai Ruler Gives Go-ahead for Vertiport Network Plans
Dubai’s ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has approved plans to develop vertiports as part of the emirate’s future air mobility infrastructure network. The decision was announced on February 14 following a joint presentation by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) with Skyports Infrastructure and eVTOL aircraft developer Joby Aviation at the start of the 2023 World Government Summit.
Joby Starts Final Assembly of Company-Conforming eVTOL Aircraft
Final assembly of the first company-conforming example of Joby's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft is a significant milestone in the company's path to production approval by the FAA. Manufacturing is being conducted in accordance with an officially released design and a quality management system.
NASA’s X-57 Maxwell Electric Airplane Passes Critical Thermal Tests
NASA’s first all-electric experimental aircraft, the X-57 Maxwell, recently notched another milestone on the path to its first flight. Engineers at the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, have successfully completed thermal testing of its cruise motor controllers.
VRCO Seeks Space, Partnership, and Funding for XP4 Personal eVTOL Aircraft Development
Access to engineering expertise based within the European Union could provide a boost for UK-based VRCO's efforts to bring its XP4 personal eVTOL vehicle to market. The company expects the four-seater to prove popular with affluent private pilots who might use it for trips such as hopping on and off yachts.
TCab Tech Boosts Funding for E20 eVTOL Aircraft with New and Old Backers
Grand Flight, Kunlun Capital, and KIP Capital are among the new ventures backing a pre-Series A funding round for Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer TCab Tech. The company, whose name stands for Time Taxi, says that the all-electric E20 vehicle will have a range of up to around 125 miles.
How Inflight Medical Emergencies Pose a Safety Management Challenge for eVTOL Aircraft Operators
The eVTOL air taxi flight was halfway between Newport Beach and Los Angeles International Airport when one of its passengers started feeling seriously unwell. The single pilot at the controls thought to herself, “Now what do I do?” That was quickly followed by another thought: “Gee, how would this play out when these things are operating autonomously?”
Horizon Gets Development and Certification Support for Its Cavorite X5 eVTOL Aircraft
A new partnership between eVTOL aircraft developer Horizon and CertCenterCanada is intended to reduce technical and business risks associated with completing the complex type certification process. The Canadian companies will now collaborate in work that includes flight testing, design, gap analysis, and airworthiness approval.
U.S. Air Force Explores Remotely Piloted Operations for Cargo Flights
The U.S. Air Force has commissioned Reliable Robotics to look into how flight automation technology might allow large military transport aircraft to be remotely piloted for cargo operations. Under a contract announced on February 8, the company will prepare a feasibility study for the application of full and limited automation features on multiple aircraft.