FutureFlight

Universal Hydrogen has drawn a firm order from prospective Massachusetts-based regional carrier Connect Airlines to covert 75 ATR 72-600 regional turboprops to hydrogen power. Connect Airlines, which still awaits U.S. Department of Transportation clearance to fly Dash 8-400s from points between the Northeast and Midwest U.S. cities and Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, would take delivery of the first converted ATR in 2025.

Monte Aircraft Leasing has agreed to buy 100 ZeroAvia ZA600 powerplants as part of an agreement to provide aircraft leasing and financing instruments for operators that run zero-emission flights. Under the deal, ZeroAvia will install the hydrogen fuel cell powertrains on existing and new Cessna Caravan, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Dornier 228, and HAL-228 regional turboprops. ZeroAvia and Monte aim to retrofit the aircraft for clients starting in 2024.

Two eSTOL aircraft pioneers, Electra and Airflow, are combining their operations and collectively hold provisional sales commitments for almost 800 units. The merged venture will now seek new investors as it advances plans to start flight testing prototypes for aircraft that will be able to operate from altitudes of between 100 and 300 feet.

Helicopter operator Falcon Aviation says it is well placed to be the launch operator for eVTOL aircraft in the Middle East and North Africa. Under a partnership with Eve Urban Air Mobility, it plans to introduce 35 of the manufacturer's four-passenger eVTOL vehicles to its fleet beginning in 2026, initially deploying them on sightseeing flights from the Atlantis the Palm luxury resort.

The four-passenger VoloConnect eVTOL will be able to fly almost three times farther than Volocopter's smaller VoloCity and VoloDrone designs. The company this week reported that it started its flight test campaign on May 20, as part of a plan to complete type certification in 2026.

Former Airbus executive Klaus Roewe will lead Lilium Jet in a three-year push to achieve type certification for its seven-seat eVTOL aircraft 2025. Rising expenditure has prompted the company to arrange a new $75 million equity line of credit with Tumim Stone Capital.

New aircraft developers Electra, Overair, and Supernal, along with transportation technology consultant Ellis & Associates, have been cleared to start exchanging information with 30 existing National Campaign partners ahead of the anticipated start of its second phase.

The long-term viability of the eVTOL market will depend on the ability to adapt and certify the segment’s vehicles for autonomous flight, according to Embraer executives. A key benefit of advanced air mobility lies with its adaptability to autonomous operations and, therefore, it potential immunity from pilot shortages.

Leasing group Avolon is working with two of its eVTOL aircraft customers, Gol and Grupo Comporte, as well as manufacturer Vertical Aerospace and Corporacion America Airports, to make plans to build and operate vertiports in Brazil. The project follows similar initiatives in the country by Eve and Helisul Aviation.

Among new civil aviation safety research projects to be supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe program are tasks related to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning and new standards for the operation of uncrewed aircraft systems.