FutureFlight

Building on its ambitious ZeroE program to bring hydrogen-powered airliners into commercial service over the next two decades, Airbus also believes the power source would work for future helicopters too.

Otto Aviation is working to bring a new six-seat, piston-powered fixed-wing aircraft called the Celera 500L into service in 2025. But now it's announced plans for an alternative electric- or hydrogen-powered version.

Volocopter is working with the Economic Development Board of Singapore and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to clear regulatory requirements for what is set to be the first location for its planned eVTOL air taxi networks.

After weeks of speculation, Joby Aviation has confirmed that it will acquire the Uber Elevate air taxi division from ridehailing group Uber Technologies. It will now press ahead with plans to introduce its own four-seat all-electric aircraft in small-scale urban air mobility services from 2023.

Electra says that it has selected most of the vendors and suppliers for its planned six-seat eSTOL hybrid-electric aircraft, which it aims to get into commercial service in 2026.

Lufthansa Aviation Training will devise a process for selecting pilots to operate Lilium's planned eVTOL aircraft passenger flights. It will also work with the manufacturer to introduce training technologies such as mixed and virtual reality.

D3 Technologies says that a fully integrated approach to air traffic management is needed to support safe operations by passenger-carrying eVTOL aircraft as they progressively transition to autonomous flight.

Joby Aviation is building the fuselages of its eVTOL aircraft with prepreg carbon fiber composite materials supplied by Japan's Toray Advanced Composites.

Expectations are mounting that Uber Technologies may sell all or part of its Uber Elevate urban air mobility division in the face of continued losses at the ride-hailing group. With Joby Aviation and Hyundai reportedly front runners to do a deal, this raises questions about ramifications for other participants in the planned Uber Air service.

Ampaire's Electric EEL technology demonstrator is halfway through a month-long flight trial program with Hawaiian regional carrier Mokulele Airlines, which is one of 15 operators that have signed letters of interest in adding hybrid-electric aircraft to their fleets.