FutureFlight

Plug Power will work with Airflow to develop a ground-based test bed for a full-scale hydrogen fuel cell test bed and intends to subsequently convert its new partner's planned hybrid-electric aircraft to this system. The company is already investing in Universal Hydrogen, which is working to convert regional airliners to the carbon-free power source.

Diamond Aircraft says its first all-electric aircraft will be ready to enter service in 2023, with flight testing due to start in the second quarter of 2022. The four-seat aircraft will compete in the flight training sector with rivals such as Bye Aerospace's eFlyer family. According to the company, it will take just 20 minutes to recharge and be able to fly for up to 90 minutes, delivering 40 percent operating cost savings compared with current piston-powered aircraft.

ABB E-mobility's planned charging points will be able to fully recharge the eVTOL aircraft's batteries in 30 minutes, or provide an 80 percent charge in 15 minutes. Lilium says this will be sufficient to allow its seven-seat eVTOL aircraft to make between 20 and 25 flights each day in its planned regional service networks, which are due to start operations in locations like Florida, Germany, and Brazil in 2024.

Autonomous flight technology developer Xwing is already operating Textron's Cessna Grand Caravan utility aircraft under an experimental license to test its remotely piloted systems. Under an agreement signed on October 12, the start-up will now work closely with Textron's engineering team to develop, certify, convert, and manufacture aircraft fitted with this capability.

The eVTOL air taxi hub being developed by ground infrastructure specialist Skyportz will be located next to the new Australian Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence with close connections to other modes of public transportation, a leading university, and major corporations. The company says the Brisbane facility is one of around 400 sites that it intends to develop in major cities also including Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide.

The new eVTOL Safety Leadership Group includes aircraft developers Joby Aviation and Vertical Aerospace, as well as prospective operators like Bristow, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Flexjet. It is has been formed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to develop best safety practices for anticipated air taxi and logistics services.

U.S.-based Airo will soon include two eVTOL aircraft developers, Jaunt and VRCO, as well as a group of drone technology and operating subsidiaries, and Aspen Avionics. It intends to raise further capital through an initial public offering in 2022 to support its ambitions to become a leading mid-tier aerospace group in the advanced air mobility sector. Jaunt plans to bring its five-seat eVTOL vehicle into commercial service by 2026, while its UK sibling VRCO is working on the Xcraft model, which could be used for both cargo and VIP passenger transportation.

Rolls-Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding with several German government agencies to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for the next generation of aviation in Brandenburg.

The growth of the eVTOL industry has resulted in increased membership at the Vertical Flight Society, which sponsors extensive programming in support of the sector.

German chemicals group BASF says its latest high-temperature proton exchange membranes could reduce the weight of HyPoint's hydrogen fuel cells by around one-third, allowing aircraft developers to extend range with greater hydrogen capacity, or add passenger seats and cargo.