FutureFlight

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract to Electra and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a flight control system for Electra’s nine-seat eSTOL aircraft. Under a Phase II small business technology transfer contract, the companies will endeavor to speed the development of precision flight control systems to allow for low-speed eSTOL landings that will allow the aircraft to operate from spaces as small as 300-by-100 feet.

Universal Hydrogen says it will manufacture its hydrogen propulsion systems in a new factory at Albuquerque's main airport and will also use the site as a distribution hub for the capsules in which green hydrogen will be delivered to operators. Flight testing is due to be conducted at Moses Lake in Washington state, and the company also plans to establish an engineering center at Toulouse in France.

As the first brand ambassador for Israeli start-up Air, FlyOne will distribute an initial 25 of its Air One eVTOL personal aircraft and provide support to owner-pilots in Australia. Air's engineering team are now working on their first full-scale prototype and aims to start flight testing during 2022, with a view to being ready to make the first deliveries in 2025.

Under an agreement signed this week, Malaysia's Aerotree has placed "preorders" for 60 of EHang's eVTOL aircraft. The deal covers a trio of EH216 models, configured for passenger flights, freight deliveries, and firefighting, as well as the larger VT-30 model.

Airbus will work with airframe structures specialist Spirit AeroSystems in the development of its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL. Spirit's engineering team is tasked with producing lightweight wings for the all-electric vehicle, which Airbus aims to certify in 2025.

The Department of Transportation's Inspector General will audit the FAA’s progress in establishing the basis for certification of urban air mobility aircraft, which will ensure the safety of novel features and provide guidance to applications. However, the Vertical Flight Society feels that the call for the audit does not sufficiently account for the approach being taken by the agency and the industry.

CAE will work with Joby Aviation to develop training devices and full-flight simulators with which to train large numbers of pilots to fly its all-electric, five-seat eVTOL aircraft, which are expected to start commercial services in 2024. Joby has already built a fixed-base simulator and has been using this to give pilots early experience with controlling the vehicle, which is expected to feature a high degree of flight deck automation to reduce crew workloads.

Queensland, Australia-based industry collaboration platform Greenbird has welcomed the country's Griffith University as its fifth advanced air mobility “ecosystem partner.” Other partners for the consortium now include ground infrastructure group Skyports, prospective eVTOL aircraft operator Nautilus Aviation, Aviator Group, and Aviation Projects. The project is led by airport and aviation industry advisors Avistra.

Volocopter announced a planned leadership change a few days after reporting that South Korea’s WP Investments, Honeywell, and previous investor Atlantis are the main backers for a $170 million Series E funding round. From September 2022, Dirk Hoke, formerly CEO of Airbus Defence & Space, will succeed Florian Reuter as the German eVTOL aircraft developer's CEO and managing director.

Jaunt Air Mobility is strengthening the partnership base for developing its family of eVTOL aircraft with the appointment of India-based L&T Technology Services, which has provided so-called pure-play engineering services to aerospace clients including Airbus. Meanwhile, the company is establishing its design and manufacturing facility in Montreal as it prepares to merge with the Airo Group.