GAO Report Calls for Clarity on Tax Exemptions for AAM Aircraft
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) calls for lawmakers to clarify tax exemptions for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and their associated infrastructure.
Wind Gusts Around City Buildings Could Threaten Small Aircraft
As manufacturers of passenger-carrying eVTOL air taxis and cargo-delivery drones prepare to certify their aircraft and introduce them to the burgeoning urban air mobility (UAM) market, researchers are raising concerns over whether these new aircraft can safely operate in windy conditions when flying near buildings.
Latest FAA Heliport Guidance Does Not Include Vertiports For eVTOL Aircraft
The FAA has issued its new and long-awaited heliport planning, design, and construction Advisory Circular 150/5390-2D that provides largely voluntary guidance to the rotorcraft community. This new AC supersedes previously issued guidance from 2012. The U.S. aviation regulator notes that “the standards and guidelines contained in this AC are practices the FAA recommends for establishing an acceptable level of safety, performance, and operation for heliports.”
Archer Details eVTOL Program Milestones That Will Release Stellantis Funding
A new 8K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provides significant details regarding the terms under which automotive group Stellantis will be providing eVTOL aircraft developer Archer Aviation with $150 million in fresh equity capital.
EASA Publishes Proposed Revisions to VTOL Special Condition and Means of Compliance Document
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a revised draft of its Special Condition for VTOL aircraft and Means of Compliance (MOC) document, incorporating input from a consultation process that concluded on Aug. 12, 2022. The safety agency says that it aims to launch a further public consultation on the MOCs by early in the third quarter of 2023.
Vertical Flight Society White Paper Proposes Flight Plan For Airport Hydrogen Fuel Hubs
The Vertical Flight Society’s H2 Aero Team has published a white paper proposing a model for developing hydrogen fuel hubs at airports. The 40-page document outlines what the authors say is a repeatable concept that would first establish a fueling station for ground vehicles and later expand the facilities to support multiple modes of transportation including aircraft.
FAA Issues Proposed Airworthiness Criteria for Archer's Midnight eVTOL Aircraft
The FAA has confirmed the airworthiness criteria it intends to use in certifying Archer Aviation’s eVTOL air taxi. The U.S. air safety agnecy published its notice of proposed airworthiness criteria for the company's Midnight aircraft in the Federal Register on December 20 and is seeking public comments on the proposals by January 19, 2023.
U.S. Electric Aviation Pioneers Seek Federal Backing for Zero-emissions Efforts
A December 13 letter from an alliance of 15 advanced air mobility (AAM) pioneers to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was polite but firm. It called on the Biden Administration to significantly up its game in prioritizing the quest for zero-emissions aircraft or risk not only failing to meet its stated net-zero objective for 2050 but also seeing the U.S. industry lose ground to rivals in Europe.
Los Angeles' Advanced Air Mobility Pioneers Share Their Inside Track on Transforming Public Transportation
Urban Movement Labs (UML) has published a guide for communities looking to include eVTOL aircraft in their mix of public transportation options.
European Commission Issues Drone Strategy Document for Advanced Air Mobility Planning
The European Commission (EC) has published its "Drone Strategy 2.0," which is expected to contribute to planning for a wide variety of advanced air mobility applications. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association praised the move, saying that the document provides “a clear vision for the development of the drone sector,” including the goals of having drones and other air mobility vehicles, along with the requisite ecosystem, become an accepted part of European life by 2030.