FutureFlight

With the first commercial eVTOL aircraft flights due to start in just over 24 months from now, much work remains to be done in certifying the new models. But there is arguably at least as much complexity to be resolved to meet the requirement to develop the ground infrastructure needed for these new aircraft to operate from, and new vertiports are already being planned in multiple cities worldwide.

The two-seat Maker technology demonstrator made its initial hover flight at Archer's test center in California on December 16, marking an important milestone en route to the goal of launching commercial services with a four-seat eVTOL model in late 2024. The company says it will roll out a "production-intent" version of the larger aircraft in 2022, as it steps up flight testing of the Maker to include the transition from vertical to horizontal cruise flight.

Bristow now has collaborative partnerships with eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft developers Overair, Vertical Aerospace, Eve Urban Air Mobility, and Electra Aero, with agreements including provisional "orders" for up to 250 aircraft. The purpose of the agreements is for the experienced rotorcraft operator to assess options for its plans to launch advanced air mobility services.

The Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act (AAIM), H.R.6270, would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program that would provide planning and construction grants to support advanced air mobility infrastructure development. The proposed legislation closely mirrors a bill that has already been backed by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Part 135 amphibious commuter carrier Tailwind Air plans to fit floats on its 20 Airflow Model 200s to serve ports in New England and along the Mid-Atlantic coast. The eSTOL aircraft will be able to carry 10 passengers on flights of up to 500 miles.

Without the drawer of factors such as state government tax breaks, Vermont is looking to attract aviation-focused high-tech start-ups, like Beta Technologies, which is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft in Burlington. According to technology campus and business accelerator vertical capital fund Hula, the northeastern U.S. state is now a magnet for well-educated, highly skilled employees who can increasingly pick and choose where they live and work.

While the capital raised from its merger with Broadstone Acquisition is almost 25 percent less than Vertical Aerospace expected, the start-up says the funds will cover the cost of bringing its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft to market by 2024. The prototype for the newly renamed VX4 fixed-wing model is expected to make a first flight in 2022 as the company works on EASA type certification.

German air mobility start-up intends to operate 100 of Electra's hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft from 2026. Under a memorandum of understanding signed this week, the partners will work together to develop a network of urban and regional flights in Europe.

H2 Clipper says its airship will be used to transport hydrogen fuel supplies and other freight around the world more cost-effectively than existing maritime, air, or ground transportation will allow. It expects to fly a scale model of the hydrogen-powered vehicle in 2024, followed by a full-sized prototype in 2027.

Following Airbus's 2020 announcement of its ZeroE hydrogen airliner program, DeHavilland Canada is set to become the second commercial aircraft manufacturer to deliver new hydrogen-powered models off the production line. Its partner ZeroAvia says that, using its hydrogen-electric powertrain, a 76-seat version of the Dash 8-400 twin turboprop should be able to fly more than 500 nm (575 miles).