FutureFlight

After suffering serious damage from a battery fire while developing a new electric aircraft, Luminati Aerospace developed a new type of battery pack that incorporates cooling techniques to increase safety. The company is concerned that battery technology adopted by eVTOL aircraft developers from the automotive sector is not fit for the aviation sector.

Backed by state government tax credits, PteroDynamics is establishing its engineering headquarters in Colorado. The company is developing its Transwing family of eVTOL aircraft, with current efforts focused on a model with a small payload and a 12-foot wingspan. Its intention is to scale up the size, payload, and range in future models, which will all feature its patented folding-wing mechanism to reduce the amount of space required for operations on the ground.

The flight deck of Eviation's Alice aircraft will feature the AeroVue Touch display developed by Honeywell's BendixKing division, along with its synthetic vision system and compact fly-by-wire flight controls. Eviation is working to integrate these and other key systems in time for the Alice prototype to make its first flight by the end of 2021, en route to a rescheduled type certification and service entry in 2024.

Lilium says it evaluated up to around 50 battery technology partners before reaching an agreement with CustomCells, which will make silicon-anode batteries for its seven-seat eVTOL aircraft. CustomCells has extensive experience producing battery cells for the aviation, automotive, and defense sectors, and is backed by carmaker Porsche.

Europe-based Volocopter plans to operate its eVTOL aircraft commercially in the U.S. market, with type certification of the two-seat VoloCity model anticipated by 2024, and the larger, longer-range VoloConnect to follow around two years later. During the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Volocopter's 2X prototype flew publicly in front of large crowds.

According to Opener, it has now built 30 full-size versions of its BlackFly single-seat eVTOL personal aerial vehicle, which it says falls under FAA’s Part 103 regulations for ultralight aircraft. While the secretive company is not yet taking orders, it is developing a pilot training program. BlackFly made a brief public flight this week during the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Electra says that its planned eSTOL aircraft will need only 150 feet to land and take off, thanks in part to the blown lift technology behind the design. NASA is providing funding for joint research with the University of Southern California to develop testing methods to advance the development of the aircraft, which is due to enter service in 2026.

The PilotEye vision system jointly developed by avionics group Avidyne and artificial intelligence specialist Daedalean will support pilots by scanning the sky for hazards and assessing options for possible emergency landings. It also has the potential to support full autonomous operations for new advanced air mobility aircraft.

China's EHang has not confirmed the current production rates for the EH216 eVTOL aircraft, which is still awaiting type certification. Its large new factory at Yunfu started operating in late June and includes facilities for component manufacturing, as well as aircraft assembly, research and development, and training.

Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications recently published its National Emerging Aviation Technologies policy statement, which is expected to result in a stronger framework for developing advanced air mobility across the country. Industry and government leaders will address the sector's opportunities and challenges at a conference in September.