FutureFlight

The widespread availability of recharging stations at airports will be imperative to the successful expansion of electric aircraft operations. Business aviation services group Clay Lacy is one of the first in this sector to announce an investment in the required ground infrastructure at its chain of fixed-based operations in the U.S.

Operators of new eVTOL aircraft in the advanced air mobility sector are expected to recruit thousands of pilots and mechanics to support anticipated high-volume operations. Aviation training group CAE, which has supported airlines, business aircraft operators, and the military for decades, is investing time and money to develop training programs and equipment for manufacturers such as Beta Technologies.

Urban Aeronautics is stepping up work on a redesigned version of its five-seater eVTOL aircraft, with a hybrid-electric model expected to enter service in 2026 and a hydrogen-powered one to follow in 2030. Existing backer Besadno has provided more capital, along with new investor Talcorp and a private investor from Brazil.

Andrew Macmillan, London Heathrow Airport's former chief strategy officer, is joining Vertical Aerospace as its director of infrastructure to help prepare for commercial operations of its four-passenger eVTOL model, which are set to begin in 2024. The UK company has also recruited Lilium's former vice president of marketing and communications to be its chief marketing officer.

Shareholders in special purpose acquisition company Qell have approved the "business combination" with German eVTOL start-up Lilium, setting the stage for a September 15 flotation on New York's Nasdaq market. The German company is one of several eVTOL front runners to use a SPAC merger as the basis for a public flotation to raise the substantial capital needed to develop eVTOL aircraft.

Buoyed by early orders for up to 1,000 of its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft from blue-chip customers including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and leasing group Avolon, Vertical Aerospace is stepping up efforts to achieve type certification by 2024. Its VA-X4 prototype is close to being ready for a key first flight before the end of 2021.

Paragon Aerospace intends to establish a manufacturing facility in the Texas border town of Brownsville, where it wants to complete the development of and start manufacturing its Soar hydrogen-powered VTOL aircraft. The company aims to raise more than $1 billion to bring an aircraft to market with a range of up to 900 miles.

Prospective airliner launch customers EasyJet and VivaAerobus have been in discussions with Wright Electric as it develops its electric motors and inverters. The company has tested its latest 2 MW motor and is preparing to start ground testing on a complete powertrain by the end of 2021. It claims the system will deliver a power density of around 30 kW/kg, which will support its use for larger aircraft than are currently being developed with all-electric propulsion.

Securing the FAA's G-1 certification approval is a key step for Archer Aviation as it works to certify its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft in time to start commercial air taxi services in 2024. The company says it will begin test flights with its two-seat Maker technology demonstrator before the end of 2021 and has also agreed to supply data to the U.S. Air Force's Afwerx Agility Prime team, which is evaluating the eVTOL for possible military applications.

Entries for Phase 3 of UK Research and Innovation's Future Flight Challenge competition to support work on advanced air mobility, drone operations and electric sub-regional air services will close on November 3. Up to £65 million in funding is available to companies and organizations.