FutureFlight

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) this week published draft guidelines on the construction of vertiports to be used by eVTOL aircraft for services such as air taxi flights in and around cities. The agency has invited comments from stakeholders on the guidance covering site selection, physical characteristics, and visual aids, with a closing date of March 31, 2023, for responses.

The FAA is proposing changes to its regulatory definitions covering air carriers to create scope for including new powered-lift aircraft such as eVTOL models in existing rules. On November 21, the U.S.

While proponents of urban air mobility (UAM) see electrically-powered air taxis and delivery drones as innovative solutions to problems many urbanites face, not much research has been done to address the negative impacts that a UAM ecosystem may present to communities, particularly when it comes to noise pollution. 

The FAA this week provided valuable insight into how it intends to certify new eVTOL aircraft when it published the airworthiness criteria it is using for Joby’s JAS4-1 five-seat model. The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 8 marks the first time the U.S. air safety regulator has shown the specifics of the type certification requirements for the new class of electric aircraft. The agency is seeking comments on its FAA-2021-0638 proposals by Dec. 8, 2022.

Electric aircraft could enable new public transportation services connecting British cities and regions more efficiently, according to research commissioned by UK Research and Innovation’s Future Flight Challenge. The UK Advanced Air Mobility Market Assessment prepared by Swanson Aviation Consultancy’s EAMaven team focuses on 20 prospective routes, including 14 that would use eSTOL aircraft and six for which eVTOL vehicles would be deployed.

Market research specialist Berg Insight sees electric aircraft, including eVTOL vehicles, gaining traction more slowly than many advanced air mobility (AAM) pioneers have projected. Still, it expects them to be a major part of the air transportation industry by the 2030s. In a new report, the Swedish company predicts a “high value rather than high volume” start for the sector.

As part of the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program to assess how new electric and autonomous aircraft might be deployed for military operations, the Department of Defense recently issued a request for information (RFI) about the cost benefits of eVTOL aircraft. The request was issued by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Mobility and Training Directorate’s Heavy Airlift Division, with a response deadline of November 4.

Global Sky Media’s latest Advanced Air Mobility Report takes a close look at the emerging sector in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the Hong Kong-based company has focused on activity in China, where it estimates that at least $720 million has already been invested by eVTOL aircraft developers that are enjoying support from the country’s civil aviation regulator.

Autonomous flight start-up Daedalean has published a roadmap outlining its path to developing self-flying aircraft by 2028. 

Air taxis may not be transporting any passengers just yet, but a new report predicts that the global market will grow to just over $2.3 billion by 2027, representing a 19.6 percent compound annual growth rate over the next five years. According to the 143-page report, which was conducted by the research and consulting firm IMARC Group and