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Blueskeye AI, a U.K.-based software development company that specializes in facial analysis using artificial intelligence (AI), recently received a £20,000 award to investigate how facial sensing technology could glean information about human behavior in aircraft cockpits. The technology could be use to identify fatigue, pain, and mental health issues that could affect a pilot's performance.

With governments in Nordic countries insisting that early progress is being made in switching air transport to net zero carbon emissions, partnerships to put the right infrastructure in place are proliferating in Sweden and Finland. ZeroAvia knows its plans to convert regional airliners to hydrogen propulsion depend on having the right infrastructure, as does Heart Aerospace, which is working on a hybrid-electric aircraft called the ES-30.

Swiss electric flying boat developer Jekta has signed a letter of intent to sell 10 of its PHA-ZE 100 electrically powered amphibious aircraft to charter group Gayo Aviation. The deal includes the provision of ground support equipment for charging and replacing the PHA-ZE 100’s batteries; tools and component support for the first year of operation; training for two pilots and two technicians; and a three-year airframe warranty.

Blade India has agreed to acquire 150 of Jaunt's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, with options for 100 more from 2027. The company—a joint venture between U.S.-based charter flight platform Blade Air Mobility and New Dehli-based investment group Hunch Ventures—currently operates leased helicopters in crowded cities such as Mumbai, Shirdi, Pune, and Bengaluru.

Aerodrome automation system developer Altaport has signed new partnership agreements with six companies to create a comprehensive vertiport management system, combining multiple systems into a single modular platform to facilitate the handling of high-volume ground operations for eVTOL aircraft and cargo drones.

Beta Technologies has added a 10th location to its network of electric recharging stations with an installation at Augusta Regional Airport in Georgia. The eVTOL aircraft developer is working on plans for similar installations, which will support multiple types of electric aircraft and ground vehicles, at more than 50 other U.S. locations.

Some helicopter operators and finance groups see significant potential for new eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft and are hedging their bets on what they see as the most promising advanced air mobility start-ups. Executives from Lobo Leasing, Bristow, and Blade explained to somewhat skeptical peers at the Helicopter Investor conference in London why they want skin in the advanced air mobility game, with early provisional commitments for the vehicles that could, in some cases, replace existing rotorcraft or open up new applications.

A letter of intent signed by Ferrovial Airports and Eve Air Mobility calls for the companies to collaborate on infrastructure development for U.S. and European eVTOL operations. Eve’s urban ATM software serves as the centerpiece of the partnership.

Destinus this week received two grants from the Spanish government to support its efforts to develop hydrogen propulsion for planned long-range hypersonic and supersonic aircraft. Eventually, it wants to bring a 100-passenger airliner into commercial service than can fly at globe-shrinking speeds of Mach 5.