FutureFlight

Work for Germany's new Air Mobility Initiative is largely centered on the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt and is being conducted by a large team of partners led by Airbus, which is developing a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft called CityAIrbus NextGen. Federal and state governments are backing the project, which is part of Airbus's wider efforts to develop ecosystems for eVTOL air services.

While several companies work to advance fuel cell technology using hydrogen gas for generally small aircraft, the application of liquid hydrogen likely will show the most promise for larger airliners due to its superior energy density and versatility. The use of liquid hydrogen stored in a cryogenic tank onboard to power turbine engines presents the most straightforward means of introducing a passenger-carrying aircraft to the market, according to experts in the field.

For flight testing as part of NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program, a 50-seat Dash 7 airliner operated by Air Tindi in Canada's remote Northwestern Territories will be converted to a hybrid-electric propulsion system using MagniX's Magni650 motors in combination with its Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines.

With the basis for type certification settled for its SD-05 personal eVTOL vehicle, SkyDrive will agree to a test plan with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau and then build a preproduction prototype for flight testing. The start-up, which now has some support from carmaker Suzuki, aims to begin deliveries and commercial operations of the all-electric vehicle in 2025.

As it prepares for closing a business combination with Zanite and a New York Stock Exchange listing on May 9, Eve Urban Air Mobility reported an increase in provisional sales commitments for its planned four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to 1,825 from 19 customers. The subsidiary of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer also confirmed that it plans to publish an air taxi concept of operations for Rio de Janeiro.

Low-fare carrier EasyJet has begun working with GKN Aerospace to support the adoption of the OEM’s hydrogen combustion (H2JET) and hydrogen fuel cell (H2GEAR) programs. Plans call for EasyJet to provide insights into operational requirements and economics among other considerations.

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.