FutureFlight

SkyDrive's SD-03 prototype for its single-seat eVTOL aircraft had not been seen outside Japan before this week's debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Japanese company aims for the SD-05 production model to be certified to begin commercial operations in 2025, in time for the World Expo event being held in Osaka that year.

With two eVTOL prototype aircraft engaged in flight testing, and with the Stage 4 G-1 certification basis agreed to by the FAA, Joby Aviation appears to be ahead of rivals in the race to begin commercial flights in 2024. Since 2017, the company has conducted more than 1,000 flights, logging 5,300 miles and generating 65 terabytes of test data as its engineering team completes discussions with the FAA over the means-of-compliance process.

Experts say that 2022 needs to be a year in which eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft developers focus more squarely on meeting demanding engineering objectives, putting complex infrastructure in place, and convincing prospective customers that they should view advanced air mobility as progress. After a year in which new capital appeared to be readily available, at least to the front runners, 2022 could see a significant narrowing of an extraordinarily crowded advanced air mobility field as cash-strapped start-ups face harsh realities.

The new 5G Intelligent Air Mobility Experience Center in the Chinese city of Guangzhou is the latest addition to EHang's planned 100 Air Mobility Routes Initiative to support the rollout of eVTOL air services across urban areas. 5G telecommunications will support EHang’s command and control system for managing flight operations.

Market research from Valuation Reports is estimating that the market for electric aircraft reached $6.754 billion in 2020—even though few had entered service—but will reach $9.566 billion by 2027 as deliveries ramp up and so too does demand for sustainability.

UK-based start-up Autonomous Flight will launch a $100 million Series C founding round in early 2022 to support plans to bring its six-seater Y6S Plus eVTOL aircraft into commercial service during 2024. It is also ready to start taking pre-orders for the all-electric vehicle, which will have a range of 100 miles.

Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group is set to become the launch customer for EHang's VT-30 eVTOL aircraft, following the signing of a contract on December 23. The companies have been cooperating over a series of demonstration flights with EHang's EH216 vehicle in several Japanese cities

Hill Helicopters aims to bring its HX50 and HC50 light helicopters to market from 2023, which is around the same time that the first of the new eVTOL aircraft could be achieving type certification. In a recent presentation, the UK company's founder Jason Hill was dismissive of the potential for electric VTOL technology, arguing that it won't deliver viable performance at a competitive cost.

With the acquisition of Austria-based start-up Inras, Joby is significantly boosting its capability in radio frequency sensing technology, supporting work to optimize the onboard detection and navigation capability of its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft.

Zanite Acquisition will invest $237 million in cash in the new Eve Holding venture, which is also backed by investors including Azorra Aviation, BAE Systems, Bradesco BBI, Falko Regional Aircraft, Republic Airways, Rolls-Royce, and SkyWest. Eve this week added up to 500 more provisional orders for its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft.