FutureFlight

H2Fly believes that it will take another seven to eight years to get a hydrogen-powered Part 25-certified fixed-wing aircraft into commercial service, and around four to five years before we see smaller Part 23-approved models that could include eVTOL aircraft. The German company is working on a hydrogen powertrain—using a combination of fuel cells, liquid hydrogen, and electric motors—that it says could eventually support flights of up to 2,500 km with 40 passengers.

During the Singapore Airshow, Rolls-Royce, Embraer, and Scandinavian airline Wideroe launch a study to evaluate options to bring a zero-emissions regional airliner to market. In Norway, where Wideroe is based, the government has announced a policy that would require domestic scheduled flights to be fully electric no later than 2040, with initial services starting around 2030.

MightyFly claims that its MF-100 autonomous cargo aircraft has the potential to significantly reduce the costs of logistics operations by removing multiple-leg journeys and using an automated loading process. A prototype of the hybrid-electric vehicle has conducted initial hover testing and will soon transition to cruise flight as it prepares to operate in sectors of up to 600 miles with payloads of 100 pounds.

Joby says no injuries resulted from an accident with one of its two eVTOL aircraft prototypes, which is now being investigated. The remotely piloted flight was being conducted in an uninhabited area in California. The company has yet to publish details of any damage to the aircraft or how the incident may impact its flight test program.

At least 100 of the 500 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft that leasing group Avolon ordered in 2021 are to go to Malaysia-based AirAsia, which plans to offer ride-hailing flights booked via its app. Avolon has now placed 450 of the four-passenger aircraft with carriers also including Japan Air Lines and Brazil's Gol and Grupo Comporte. It will work with AirAsia to conduct market research for urban air mobility services and secure all the necessary approvals.

During this week's Singapore Airshow, Eve opened up about progress on the development of its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, reporting that it is now ground testing a full-scale proof-of-concept prototype that could be ready to start flying in a few months from now. Meanwhile, Australian companies Microflight, Aviair and HeliSpirit signed agreements that could lead to 90 more sales of the all-electric aircraft.

Skyway's recent alliance with weather data group TruWeather is the latest move in its plans to cluster together the expertise the uncrewed traffic management Provider of Services for UAMs says is needed to support commercial autonomous flight operations. Secure sharing and aggregating of flight data will be critical to achieving the safety standards the FAA and other stakeholders will require, says the company.

Volocopter and Skyports this week signed agreements to explore options for using the Seletar Aerospace Park as a springboard for advanced air mobility activities in Singapore. The large site includes a business aviation airport and is already home to many aviation manufacturers and service companies, as well as aircraft operators.

Japan's largest airline, ANA, is set to be involved in Joby's planned eVTOL air taxi services, which could start in the Asian country by 2025. Under a collaborative venture that also involves carmaker Toyota, the partners are laying the groundwork for routes such as a 15-minute flight from the center of Osaka to the populous region's offshore Kansai International Airport.

With its Alice all-electric aircraft now expected to make its first flight in the next few weeks, Eviation's co-founder and CEO Omer Bar-Yohay is leaving the business just weeks after former chairman Roei Ganzarski departed. The U.S. company announced that its president Gregory Davis is stepping into the CEO's role as it works to keep type certification of the redesigned model on track.