FutureFlight

Beam Global's Electric Vehicle Autonomous Renewable Charger uses a moving array to capture energy from the sun before storing it in batteries and then supplying DC power directly to aircraft or ground vehicles. The units operate entirely off-grid and can be quickly installed in space of around the size of a standard car with no construction costs. The California-based company demonstrated the technology's potential application for aviation by making a record-setting flight across the state.

In a presentation to the Electric Aircraft Symposium, Cape Air CEO Dan Wolf conceded that the business case for new propulsion technologies isn't fully confirmed in the regional airline sector. Nonetheless, the carrier is planning to introduce the nine-passenger Eviation Alice electric aircraft to its fleet, operating it on routes of up to around 500 miles once it completes FAA type certification.

Deutsche Aircraft is already working with another German company called H2Fly to build a hydrogen-powered technology demonstrator version of the Dornier 328 regional airliner using H2Fly's fuel-cell system. Now it may opt to integrate Universal Hydrogen's modular fuel capsules into the converted aircraft and through a new partnership is exploring the technical ramifications of this plan.

Volocopter says the business case for investing in urban air mobility services in the Asia Pacific region is supported by the conclusions of a Porsche Consulting study that said this part of the world will account for around 45 percent of the global market. The eVTOL aircraft manufacturer wants to work with the Malaysia Airports group to establish vertiports across the country.

Aachen in the west of Germany is cooperating with neighboring cities in Belgium and the Netherlands to integrate eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft into their public transportation networks. They say local citizens want flexible and environmentally sustainable services for moving in and around cities, including Maastricht, Liege, Hasselt, and Heelen.

The latest court filing in the intellectual property dispute between eVTOL aircraft developers Wisk Aero and Archer Aviation urges federal judge William Orrick to reject Wisk's motion for a preliminary injunction. Archer's lawyers say Wisk has not proven any of its allegations that Archer's Maker eVTOL demonstrator is based on designs developed by Wisk that were passed on by former employees moving between the California-based companies.

Supported by its new electric propulsion subsidiary Ampaire, private air transportation group Surf Air Mobility intends to convert 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to hybrid-electric propulsion in 2024. The aircraft, currently powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine, will be flown by partner operators who post the availability of aircraft and flights on Surf Air's booking platform.

Under the terms of a purchase contract for five eFlyer 800s, Rheinland Air Service will also provide MRO services for the eight-seat electric aircraft in Central Europe.

Rotor X, a specialist in kit-built helicopters, plans to bring a multicopter eVTOL model to the market. The six-seat RX eTransporter will be able to carry six people, or potentially be used for cargo or other applications such as medical emergency support and military missions. Flight testing is due to start in the fall of 2021, with initial FAA certification for freight use anticipated in 2022.

Having tested several prototypes of its planned two-seat eVTOL aircraft, Air is now building a full-scale technology demonstrator that it intends to start flying early in 2022. The company claims that owners will require minimal flight training to operate the aircraft, thanks to unspecified "fly by intent" flight control technology based on systems previously employed on drones.