FutureFlight

Textron's eAviation team, which formed in March 2021, continues to evaluate and define its ambitions in electric aviation and the wider advanced air mobility sector. According to Rob Scholl, who leads the unit, the company won't publicly confirm new active programs until the business case for these is fully established, but it will explore alliances with technology and capital partners.

According to JetBlue Ventures president Amy Burr, the U.S. airline wants to have its finger on the pulse of new technology and business models with the potential to transform the wider travel industry. In her view, the Covid pandemic proved to be a significant driver of change, with passengers wanting a lower-touch experience and more of the efficiencies that digital systems deliver. Improving air transport's environmental sustainability is another priority factor behind the group's investment decisions.

Russia's Central Institute for Aviation Motors is taking the lead in research and development work on the EU-RPD-350T power unit, which incorporates a piston engine and an electric motor that can operate in parallel to drive propellers. Possible applications for the powertrain, which could eventually run on liquid hydrogen, include new hybrid-electric VTOL and fixed-wing aircraft.

Skyroads develops hardware and software to support the airspace operating environment required for the anticipated scaling up of operations by autonomous aircraft and crewed eVTOL vehicles as well. The German company has joined other specialists in supporting the work of Supernal's new Airspace Management Consortium, which the Hyundai subsidiary has tasked with preparing to address the air traffic management infrastructure needs of the advanced air mobility sector.

Kakao, which has 30 million registered users for its mobility app, wants to add eVTOL air taxi services to its portfolio in South Korean. With government backing, the country is one of several prospective early adopters of urban air mobility in Asia, and one of several locations where Volocopter has publicly demonstrated its aircraft.

Prior to raising $100 million in new investment, China's AutoFlight was mainly focused on developing cargo-carrying, autonomous eVTOLs with payloads of between only 20 and 100 kg. However, its focus appears to be shifting to the passenger-carrying aircraft, such as the V1500M, for which it flew a proof-of-concept model for the first time in October.

A recent Joby briefing on progress with its plans to bring its eVTOL aircraft into commercial service in 2024 provided useful insights into what the process entails and why changes to rules covering the certification of general aviation aircraft are so significant. Beyond type certification, the company is also working to be approved as a commercial aircraft operator under Part 135 rules and is preparing to hire and train pilots.

Intended for personal mobility on medium-distance trips, the Tensor 600X uses Fraundorfer’s R01 high-performance rotor system, a new generation of autorotation rotors developed with computer simulation.

Rolls-Royce has asked the Fédération Aéronautique International to validate three world speed records set in its Spirit of Innovation technology demonstrator, which it now says is the world's fastest all-electric aircraft. The company claims the aircraft far exceeded previous records set in an electric-powered Extra 330LE aircraft, achieving a top speed of 387 mph in one flight. The company says data from the UK government-backed Accelerating the Electrification of Flight program will support further development of aircraft electric propulsion.

Xwing is seeking FAA clearance to operate its converted Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft with technology that allows for remote piloting under an experimental license with its Part 135 operating subsidiary. With aviation industry veteran Fred Cromer appointed as CFO, the start-up will be pursuing further fundraising while also accelerating plans to bring its autonomous flight technology into commercial service with air freight operators.