FutureFlight

Varon Vehicles is developing a package of infrastructure and services to support eVTOL aircraft operations. Initially, the Colombian company is targetting highly congested South American cities and intends to own and operate aircraft under a business-to-business model that would support consumer service providers.

French start-up Avions Mauboussin will need higher levels of investment to get its Alérion M1h and Alcyon M3c aircraft into commercial operations. To provide flexibility while hydrogen fueling infrastructure is put in place, the company intends to launch both fixed-wing aircraft with early hybrid versions that will burn existing jet-A fuel or sustainable aviation fuel.

Israel-based Urban Aeronautics is likely negotiating with UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala to forge a partnership with its Strata division, which might build the CityHawk VTOL model at its plant in Al Ain. In a solicitation for a $50 million Series A funding round, Urban Aeronautics shareholder the Besadno Group also touted prospective deals with the U.S. and Israeli militaries.

Ascendance Flight Technologies is pressing ahead with plans to have the Atea eVTOL aircraft ready to enter commercial service by 2025. The French start-up, formed by a group of young former Airbus engineers, plans to appoint key program partners during 2021 and will likely be in the market for a funding round before the end of 2022.

The air transport industry recognizes that it won't get hydrogen-powered aircraft into commercial service until there is the widespread infrastructure to support fuelling. Airbus has joined with the Air France-KLM airline group, Aeroports de Paris and the French capital's regional development agency to invite partners to join them to prepare Paris-area airports.

Pipistrel sees the Miniliner operating from short runways of no more than 1,000 meters in length that could be no more than grass landing strips. The company is evaluating several electric or hydrogen-based powertrain options for the aircraft and is open to partnerships.

To make the best use of the available power, eVTOL aircraft need to be lightweight, making composites a good choice for manufacturing. With high volumes of production anticipated, expertise in rapid, low-cost manufacturing is also significant, and Solvay claims to be able to deliver both assets to the advanced air mobility sector.

To be viable in scaled-up commercial operations, the batteries of electric aircraft will need to be recharged quickly and efficiently. The U.S. Air Force is investing to support Jaunt Air Mobility and its partners to tap the latest Extreme Fast Charging technology to ensure that its capability can be delivered for new eVTOL aircraft.

WiBotic has developed its Commander software to help vehicle operators manage how batteries in their fleet are recharged by the company's wireless units. The software can help make the process more efficient by allowing adjustments to take account of when the vehicles are needed.

United Airlines and its partner Mesa Airlines have committed to spending up to $1.5 billion on 200 of Archer's eVTOL aircraft, subject to it completing type certification and meeting other requirements. Archer estimates that through its SPAC flotation, the startup will be valued as high as $2.7 billion.