FutureFlight

Teams from Liebherr-Aerospace and U.S. carmaker GM will work together at the European aviation group's laboratory in Toulouse, France, to develop a hydrogen fuel cell technology demonstrator. The partners seek to support plans to convert commercial airliners to hydrogen propulsion, such as those being advanced by Airbus through its Zero E program.

SAE International's E-40 committee on electrified propulsion is working on guidance to help the rapidly developing electric aviation sector to demonstrate the safe operations of new motors under all operational limits and assess the duration of their service life. The ARP8689 document is set to be published by the end of 2021 and will include details on proposed test procedures.

Former Airbus CEO and designated Lilium board chairman Thomas Enders told analysts that Honeywell Aerospace, Palantir, Lufthansa Flight Training and Ferrovial will play a critical role in bringing the seven-seat Lilium Jet into commercial service by 2024. The German company is expected to complete its planned merger with special purpose acquisition company Qell by the end of June, raising around $830 million in the process.

Regent Craft aims to have larger version of its planned electric sea glider ready to enter service with Brittany Ferries from 2028. This would carry between 50 to 150 passengers, which is significantly larger than the 12-seat version it currently has in development. The operator says the sea glider could travel six times faster than a conventional ferry, with speeds of up to 180 mph.

XTI Aircraft says it has sales commitments for 202 of the TriFan 600 fixed-wing aircraft, which will carry up to nine passengers on flights of 750 miles or more. It has signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Xeriant Aerospace, a holding company that already owns small eVTOL developer Halo Aircraft.

The Alliance for Aviation Across America. is encouraging local communities and their airports to engage with companies advancing sustainability and emerging technology for the industry as a why to reinvent themselves and stimulate prosperity. Arlington in Washington state is a classic case in point, having recently attracted Eviation to relocate its program to develop a nine-passenger electric aircraft called Alice to the town's general aviation airport.

Through a partnership between the New Zealand government and the Maori communities of Te Taumutu and Wairewa, almost 2,500 acres of land are available for aerospace development work on the Kaitorete Spit. The site, which is an area of ecological importance with protected conservation status, is close to the city of Christchurch on New Zealand's south island. Among aerospace firms being encouraged to consider using the site are eVTOL aircraft developers and space enterprises.

EHang's EH216 eVTOL aircraft, plus some of its Falcon B drones, are being used for missions such as aerial logistics, emergency transportation, inspections, broadcasting, and deliveries in Covid quarantine and containment zones in China's Guangdong province. The Chinese manufacturer has deployed an operations team to support local officials from the city of Guangzhou.

The partnership between eVTOL aircraft developer Eve Urban Air Mobility Services and online flight booking platform Ascent is intended to prepare an ecosystem of supporting air taxi and other services, including potentially emergency medical support and cargo delivery.

By merging with a special purpose acquisition company called Zanite, Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions could raise fresh capital to support efforts to bring a new four-passenger eVTOL aircraft into service in 2026. Nasdaq-listed Zanite was launched by business aviation entrepreneur Kenn Ricci, whose OneSky Flight venture recently committed to ordering up to 200 of the all-electric aircraft.