FutureFlight

A new equity stake in hydrogen-electric engine developer ZeroAvia gives United Airlines the ability to purchase up to 100 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric propulsion systems for use in aircraft operated by its United Express division by 2028. United is the second major carrier to back the start-up, with Alaska Airlines having subscribed to earlier funding commitments that have now raised a total of $115 million.

Robotic Skies founder and CEO Brad Hayden says that the advanced air mobility sector's ambitions to rapidly scale up eVTOL aircraft operations will require solid arrangements for maintenance and support. He feels this will necessitate taking the best practices from the existing Part 145-regulated world of aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul services and adapting these to fit the diversity of the new aircraft and the different business models of the companies that will operate these. New backing from the Hearst group could support its ambitious expansion plans.

Interior configurations for Eviation's all-electric, fixed-wing Alice aircraft now include an executive cabin with a lavatory and wardrobe to stow personal belongings. The model, which is expected to make a first flight this month, will also be offered in a nine-passenger regional airliner configuration, as well as for cargo services.

A new investment in BAE Systems’ bus and marine vessel electrification facility upgrades energy storage, controls, and power conversion systems for aviation applications. The aerospace and defense group's expanded facility in New York state will have greater capability for developing and manufacturing electric systems and will include a new laboratory focused on energy, storage, controls, and power conversion technology.

A memorandum of understanding between Australian federal authorities and the state government in Victoria is intended to put more concerted focus into developing the country's advanced air mobility industry. Local experts, such as Clem Newton-Brown of ground infrastructure specialist Skyportz, say that the development of ground infrastructure must now be a priority.

Volocopter says its VoloPort infrastructure concept provides a flexible template for developing landing sites for eVTOL aircraft in urban areas. In a new handbook being made available to partners, it maintains that the designs can be readily scaled to fit the local environment with space requirements starting at about the size of a couple of tennis courts.

Connect Airlines will start commercial flights in the spring of 2022 using Dash 8-300 twin-turboprop aircraft that it intends to convert to hydrogen propulsion by 2025. In an agreement signed on November 8, it has become the fifth carrier to commit to using Universal Hydrogen's conversion kit, consisting of pre-fueled capsules and hydrogen fuel cells.

Heart Aerospace's all-electric 19-seat ES-19 regional airliner is expected to enter commercial service in 2026, equipped with Garmin's G3000 integrated flight deck. The U.S. avionics manufacturer is targetting new electric aircraft, and its system, which has also been selected for Joby's eVTOL aircraft, includes high-resolution flight displays and touchscreen controllers.

The Merlin Labs technology is intended to replicate the functions of human pilots, allowing operators to avoid the limitations on growth posed by an ongoing shortage of suitably qualified professional flight crew. Flight trials are set to be expanded next year, with Ameriflight looking to convert its Cessna Caravan aircraft first, and later implement the system for the rest of its fleet. The carrier will operate the technology on a semi-autonomous basis while waiting for the FAA to give the go-ahead for fully autonomous use.

Amprius Technologies, which is already providing lithium-Ion battery cells for drone applications, now intends to target larger electric vehicles, including eVTOL aircraft. It says the rapid charge rate of just six minutes will deliver a step-change in performance for electric battery use in transportation.