FutureFlight

United Airlines, an investor and launch customer for eVTOL aircraft developer Archer Aviation, is forming a joint advisory committee with the start-up to consider maintenance and operations plans. The carrier intends to use Archer's four-passenger aircraft to carry its customers to and from hub airports.

In June 2020, Slovenia-based Pipistrel became the first aircraft manufacturer to achieve EASA certification for an electric-powered model. Almost two years later, and soon after being acquired by U.S. group Textron, it is planning to seek FAA approval for the Velis Electro trainer under new MOSAIC rules expected to be in place in 2023.

Diamond Aircraft aims to certify its new electric-powered DA40 light aircraft as soon as the end of 2023,. This week it selected Safran Electrical & Power to provide the electric motor system for what it will designate as the eD40.

Lilium reported it has passed two of the four audits required to complete its application for EASA Design Organization Approval. The final stage will be concluded when the German company completes type certification for its seven-passenger Lilium Jet in 2025.

A memorandum of understanding between Airbus and ITA Airways calls for joint work on urban air mobility development in Italy. The agreement calls on the companies to recruit local partners to participate in the launch of operations with the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft, now under development. The parties also agreed to identify pilot cases with the goal of securing public acceptance of UAM by local communities.

LCI is one of several aircraft leasing groups planning to invest in new eVTOL vehicles like the five-passenger Alia 250 being developed by Beta Technologies. The Ireland-based group has now placed deposit-backed orders for an initial 50 units and has options for another 75.

Under a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Reliable Robotics will propose a plan for converting new and existing military aircraft to remotely piloted operations. The technology could be used to support missions including cargo delivery, logistics, and surveillance.

Surf Air Mobility is no longer acquiring Ampaire, as announced by the companies last year. Instead, Ampaire will soon pursue a Series B funding round to increase available capital to support its efforts to convert the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to hybrid-electric power. It recently conducted the first ground tests with the new integrated propulsion system.

Pyka says its Pelican crop sprayer is already being used by fruit producers in Latin America under an experimental license, and it is seeking similar approval in the U.S. With $37 million raised through a Series A funding round, the company is close to launching a cargo-carrying variant of the autonomous aircraft.

Infrastructure specialist Urban-Air Port partnered with eVTOL aircraft developer Supernal to display the Air-One concept for a multimodal transportation hub that could integrate eVTOL aircraft and drones into cities. The concept was unveiled this week at Coventry in the UK and will start a tour of other international cities later in 2022.