FutureFlight

Germany's Volocopter says the FAA has accepted its application to concurrently validate its anticipated type certification under EASA's new Special Condition VTOL rules. It is already in talks with prospective U.S. partners and stakeholders.

The French government is investing $8.5 billion to support efforts to use hydrogen in place of carbon-based fuels as part of a national effort to decarbonize and rebuild its economy in the wake of the Covid pandemic. In the U.S., the Vertical Flight Society is forming a hydrogen committee to focus on possibilities for eVTOL aircraft.

Walle says it will start air taxi services in 2026, using Jaunt Air Mobility's five-seat Journey hybrid-electric aircraft. It will focus on short routes of up to around 30 miles, even though the Journey's range is expected to be at least 80 miles.

The only surprise announcement in the aviation sector from this week's Consumer Electronics Show has been a glimpse of a General Motors concept for an all-electric personal air vehicle. Japan's SkyDrive and Pal-V of the Netherlands also participated in the event.

The Vertical Flight Society will hold its 8th annual Electric VTOL Symposium from January 26-28. The group said that investment in new eVTOL aircraft programs is still being made at a rate of around $1 billion per year.

Tom Enders spent more than two decades with European aerospace group Airbus, including almost 12 years as CEO. He brings extensive aviation experience to the board of eVTOL developer Lilium.

UK-based Autonomous Flight has made changes to its eVTOL aircraft design in the belief that it will need at least six seats to be commercially viable in its plan for scheduled shuttle operations.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Archer have announced a partnership that will see the U.S. carmaker provide composite materials and engineering support for the startup's planned four-seat all-electric aircraft.

Covid-related financial pressures have prompted GE Aviation to close the Airxos unmanned traffic management specialist it launched in June 2018. The company's Air Mobility platform supports operations by unmanned aircraft.

The UK's FlyZero has drawn heavily on aircraft engines maker Rolls-Royce and airframing group Airbus in filling management positions for its program to advance plans for carbon-free commercial air services by 2030. The program has government funding through the Aerospace Technology Institute.