FutureFlight

Airflow considers blown-wing technology—which accelerates the movement of air over the wing to generate more lift at lower airspeeds—a game-changer in efforts to bring to market electric aircraft like its planned eSTOL models. The company has already logged multiple provisional orders and expects to achieve its first deliveries in 2025.

Secure Parking has signed an agreement with advanced air mobility infrastructure group Skyportz to release access to up to 400 parking lots across Australia that could be used as landing sites for eVTOL aircraft. The sites are in city-center and suburban locations and mainly entail the use of parking lot rooftops, once Australian authorities have agreed on all the necessary safety standards and regulations.

Recent trademark applications confirm that Embraer is pressing ahead with its plans to bring a family of nine- to 50-seat aircraft to market that would be powered by a mix of propulsion systems, including hydrogen, electric, hybrid electric, and a combination of Jet A and sustainable aviation fuel. The Energia family would include models designated as the E50-H2GT (50 seats), E19-HSFC (19 seats), and the E9-HE and -FE (both nine seats).

Having raised $5 million in a pre-Series A funding round, Chennai-based start-up ePlane is preparing to fly a quarter-scale eVTOL prototype in March, followed by a full-scale model in July. The two-seat e200 aircraft is being developed for self-piloting high-net-worth individuals and air taxi operators, but cargo-carrying applications are also envisaged.

With NASA funding in place, inflight connectivity provider SmartSky Networks is collaborating with GE Digital and Mosaic ATM to combine airborne and cloud-based flight management systems to provide more effective data processing for air traffic management. The partners say giving controllers a more complete picture of eVTOL aircraft operations will be critical to safely scaling up advanced air mobility services.

A letter of intent signed by Eve Urban Air Mobility and Falko Aviation calls for the leasing group to potentially add 200 of Eve's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to its portfolio. The partners will also work together to assist prospective commercial operators to establish route networks and begin operations with product support and air traffic management software provided by the Embraer subsidiary.

Dufour Aerospace is aiming to bring its Aero3 hybrid-electric eVTOL aircraft to market in 2026, three years after anticipated first deliveries of the smaller Aero3 autonomous air vehicle version of the tilt-wing design. Sweden-based rotorcraft marketing group Savback has agreed to act as distributor for the aircraft in several Nordic countries, which suggests that the Aero models are seen as replacements for existing helicopters.

ZeroAvia will use a new research and development center at Paine Field airport in the Seattle area to advance its plans to convert regional airliners to hydrogen propulsion using its 3-MW capacity ZA2000 powertrain. It has commitments from Alaska Air and United to convert aircraft including the Dash 8 Q400 and the Bombardier CRJ jets, and is also looking to convert smaller 19-seat aircraft like the Dornier 228 twin turboprop.

Software developer Incari is starting a collaboration with a major European aerospace group to evaluate how its design platform could speed up the development of human-machine interfaces in aircraft cockpits. The company's software can be directly connected with aircraft sensors, such as GPS, and should help aerospace engineers tap the potential of technology, including augmented reality, remote touch, and computer-brain interfaces.

Roei Ganzarski has led the development of MagniX's electric propulsion units, helping to secure early commitments from prospective operators of converted aircraft, including the Cessna Grand Caravan and the DHC-2 Beaver. He has also been part of the leadership team at sister company Eviation, whose all-electric Alice fixed-wing aircraft is imminently due to make its first flight.