FutureFlight

Singapore's aviation officials will now work with Airbus to prepare the foundations for beginning unmanned aircraft delivery services and also passenger carrying flights in the southeast Asian city state's dense urban environment.

A year on from unveiling its initial hybrid electric Nexus aircraft, Bell was back at the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil its revised design for the all-electric Nexus 4EX. Bell believes the new approach will provide a more reliable foundation for its plans to launch urban air mobility services.

Bell's new collaboration with Japan Airlines and Sumitomo is intended to advance its ambitions to develop an ecosystem to support on-demand air mobility. The work will focus on developing supporting infrastructure and fostering the necessary regulatory environment.

Drone delivery specialist Flirtey has been granted a patent covering technology that detects operating errors and triggers safety mechanisms, such as parachutes. The technology provides an added layer of protection for drone delivery services in built-up areas.

The European Rotors show is set to launch in November 2020 in the German city of Cologne. It is backed by both the European Helicopter Association and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Drones have been used to carry critical medical supplies and patient samples in China's Zhejiang province as part of efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Wisk, the joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk, is partnering with the government of New Zealand to conduct passenger-carrying flight trials. The February 4 agreement follows on from the Airspace Integration Trial established in October 2019.

Industry has until March 3, 2020, to respond to EASA proposals for how it will certify electric and/or hybrid propulsion systems for new eVTOL aircraft. The proposed Special Condition rules will be followed by proposed accepted means of compliance to apply to specific propulsion systems.

Vertical expects to achieve a first flight for its new wing-based eVTOL prototype around mid-2020. Meanwhile, the UK-based company is seeking fresh investment with a view to completing type certification around the end of 2023.

More than 800 teams from 103 countries have already competed in the first two phases of the GoFly competition to develop personal air vehicles and now the overall winner will be determined from results of a Final Fly Off. Appropriately, this will be held on "Leap Day", February 29, 2020.