FutureFlight

Aviation Safety Resources says that its Soteria whole aircraft recovery parachute system uses three small parachutes that are manually deployed by the pilot in less than one second with the support of a rocket.

The most immediate use for Bell's new manufacturing technology center will likely be to support its development of Future Vertical Lift aircraft being developed for the U.S. Army. However, the new facility could also support Bell's plans to develop and manufacturer its proposed Nexus 4EX eVTOL aircraft.

Jump Aero is holding talks with emergency medical services providers in North America and Europe about how its proposed eVTOL aircraft could cut first- response times in half. Its business case depends in part on health insurance providers agreeing to cover the cost of flights.

Electric-motor pioneer MagniX says that electric aviation will mainly take flight with operators looking to serve routes of between 50 and 500 miles. The company says the commercial case for eVTOL urban air mobility applications will take much longer to establish.

Autonomous flight could prove to be safer than piloted aircraft, according to NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, who told an industry audience that high volumes of aircraft operating in crowded airspace will need new levels of flight control and navigation technology.

A first automatic takeoff and landing with flight stabilization in late July, plus a public demonstration for Bavaria's prime minister, were a prelude to the next phase of Airbus's evaluation of its eVTOL technology demonstrator as the company seeks to determine its long-term plans for the sector.

Advocates for urban air mobility say that public support for eVTOL aircraft operations would be boosted by emergency response applications that demonstrate public benefit.

Electric aircraft developer EHang has chosen the Chinese city of Yunfu as the location for the main factory to build its Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs). The China-based group said the facility will have an initial capacity to build 600 eVTOL aircraft each year, but in a July 30 statement did not reveal when production will begin.

EASA is partnering with artificial intelligence specialist Daedalean to conduct more detailed research into the safe use of neural networks in aircraft systems. This is part of a process for developing the basis on which artificial intelligence and machine learning can be certified for use on autonomous aircraft.

Bye Aerospace is promising significant savings in operating costs for its electric-powered eFlyers, as well as big cuts in carbon dioxide emissions compared with gasoline-powered aircraft. First deliveries are expected in 2021.