FutureFlight

Studies conducted under a partnership between Honeywell Aerospace and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts aim to solve the challenges inherent in hydrogen power storage and generation for aircraft. A group of roughly 25 Honeywell team members now work with WPI experts and students under a multiyear contract to develop hydrogen storage and fuel cell technologies.

EHang says it has completed 90 percent of the tasks associated with type certification of its EH216 eVTOL aircraft by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and estimates that 70 percent of the remaining testing of its production-conforming aircraft is either completed or in progress.

Air charter broker Gayo Aviation has signed up as the launch customer for the PHA-ZE 100 electric amphibious aircraft being developed by Swiss-based start-up Jekta. The company says it will make the aircraft available for environmental and experiential tourism, as well as for sale or lease to charter operators seeking to diversify their fleets and scheduled regional airlines looking to connect underserved communities.

Regent says that support from Lockheed Martin Ventures will further its plans to develop military applications for its electric-powered sea gliders. The U.S. start-up says it has begun developing a full-scale prototype for the 12-passenger Viceroy vehicle and intends to start piloted test flights in 2024 as it prepares to certify the sea glider under maritime rules in time for commercial services to start in 2025.

An MOU between ZeroAvia and Fortum will see the companies explore the development of hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure in Scandinavia.

One of Bell’s Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) experimental cargo drones crashed March 14 in a field near Mineral Wells, Texas, in what is being categorized as a “loss of control” accident by the FAA. 

Beta Technologies’ electric aircraft will soon be making cargo deliveries in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has given United Parcel Service a temporary license to begin testing electric aircraft for cargo operations within its borders. UPS will use Beta's conventional electric airplane model, called the CX300, before introducing Beta's Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft in the UAE.

Autoflight has secured a major order from Singapore-based fleet management and air transport company EvFly for 205 Prosperity I and Prosperity Cargo eVTOL aircraft. Expected to be delivered in 2025, the first 10 Prosperity aircraft will operate in Middle Eastern markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and EvFly plans to eventually deploy additional units in Asia and Africa.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has issued its newest request for information (RFI) to public and private-sector providers in support of the 2023 Drone Enable Symposium, which is scheduled for December 5 to 7 at ICAO headquarters in Montreal.

During the Arab Aviation Summit in Ras Al Khaimah, Canadian start-up VPorts signed deals with three advanced air mobility (AAM) companies—SkyDrive, Electra.aero, and Falcon Aviation—that will help it stand up and operate an AAM business park in Dubai. The company announced plans to build and operate a vertiport at the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.