FutureFlight

GE Aviation's Digital Group is working with Uber to apply its eFOQA software to support the monitoring and analysis of flight data from eVTOL aircraft used to provide Uber Air rideshare services. The technology will be available to Uber partner operators on a voluntary basis.

VoltAero's "power module" combines three 60-kW electric motors and a 370-hp internal combustion engine. The French company says this will support flights of up to almost 750 miles in its three planned Cassio single-pusherprops, seating between four and ten passengers.

Price Systems analyst Nate Sirirojvisuth challenged some of the core assumptions made by advocates of advanced air mobility business models. His new report spells out the questions that he says have to be addressed to provide a realistic assessment of the market potential for eVTOL aircraft services in areas such as the northeastern U.S.

The U.S. government's ban on some foreign-made drones appears to be part of a wider effort aimed at reducing Chinese involvement in the unmanned air systems sector. This raises the question of whether similar moves might be made to block China's role in the development of autonomous eVTOL aircraft.

Developers of eVTOL aircraft will be able to see details of EASA's Special Conditions VTOL type certification requirements from mid November. They will then have the chance to raise questions during the EASA Rotorcraft and VTOL Symposium on December 9.

As it prepares to test the Electric EEL modification of a six-seat Cessna 337 Skymaster with Hawaii-based carrier Mokulele Airlines, Ampaire is now laying plans to apply the hybrid-electric propulsion system to larger aircraft carrying up to around 19 passengers.

At this week's Vertical Flight Society Forum 76 conference, FAA and EASA officials defended their approach to setting type certification requirements for eVTOL aircraft and urban air mobility operations in the face of impatience from aspiring air taxi group Uber Elevate.

Britten-Norman and unmanned systems specialist Blue Bear Systems Research will integrate autonomous flight capability with the Islander's existing Garmin avionics suite. The UK manufacturer also intends to offer electric and/or hybrid electric propulsion for the Islander.

Canada-based Mannarino Systems & Software has developed its M-RTOS real-time operating system to provide a flexible platform for remotely piloted aircraft of almost any size.

Jaunt says its eVTOL aircraft program has fallen about a year behind schedule, with type certification now projected for the end of 2026. The company has started flying a technology demonstrator and says it is working on a Series A funding round and securing new partners.