FutureFlight

Vietnamese renewable-energy company Pacific Group has preordered 10 SD-05 eVTOL aircraft from Japan’s SkyDrive, the companies announced on November 28. Under a memorandum of understanding, Pacific Group conditionally agreed to purchase the aircraft, with an option to order up to 90 more.

Eve Air Mobility has signed a letter of intent with vertiport infrastructure group Bluenest to include the Spanish company in its urban air traffic management software development partnership. Eve intends to offer software to support automated vertiport operations for any type of eVTOL aircraft.

Five leading aerospace companies have joined forces to develop hybrid-electric and water-enhanced turbofan engine technology for future airliner propulsion systems.

Under the auspices of the United Nations-backed Race to Zero campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Rolls-Royce is partnered with low-cost airline EasyJet to develop a hydrogen propulsion system for narrowbody airliners like its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. In ground tests, an AE 2100 A turboprop engine was used as a demonstrator and burned green hydrogen produced from wind and tidal energy in the Orkney Islands of Scotland.

Aura Network Systems, a Virginia-based company developing a wireless communications network for remotely piloted aircraft, has raised $75 million in its latest funding round. The company aims to provide an FAA-compliant nationwide network, using a licensed aviation spectrum in the 450 MHz band, to enable and accelerate the integration of remotely piloted and autonomous flight operations in the National Airspace System.

The European Commission wants its EGNOS satellite navigation system to support aviation operations, including new eVTOL aircraft for urban air mobility services and uncrewed vehicles needing to operate safely in public airspace. The Satellite Based Augmentation System Adoption in Multicopter VTOL Aircraft (SAMVA) program is part of efforts to prepare for this outcome, and eVTOL developer EHang is participating in the project.

At the first public reveal of its Midnight eVTOL air taxi last week, Archer Aviation explained some of the details of its proprietary motor and battery pack designs for the all-electric, four-passenger aircraft.

The Eco Caravan made a first flight on November 18, marking a key waypoint in Ampaire’s efforts to bring the converted hybrid-electric aircraft to market. The 33-minute sortie from the Los Angeles-area Camarillo Airport kicked off a flight test program that the California-based start-up aims to lead to an FAA supplemental type certificate for its modification kit in 2024.

A $119 million capital raise will support Lilium's efforts to complete EASA type certification of its seven-passenger Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft in 2025. The funding round is being backed by a mix of strategic aerospace industry investors, including Honeywell and Aciturri, and venture capitalists LGT, Lightrock, Tencent, and B. Riley Securities.

After pulling out of deals with Ampaire and special purpose acquisition company Tuscan Holdings Corporation, Surf Air Mobility has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to approve plans for a direct public listing of its common stock. The flight booking platform wants to raise funds to support its ambitions to develop a hybrid-electric propulsion conversion package for existing aircraft.