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The Future of Advanced Air Mobility

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Jaunt Air Mobility's Journey aircraft.

FAA Expects First Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft to be Certified in 2021

The agency is now working on type certification with the developers of 30 electric and hybrid-electric aircraft and also with seven manufacturers of new propulsion systems.
Jay Merkle, executive director of the FAA's UAS Integration Office, told the Vertical Flight Society's Electric VTOL Symposium that the first of the new-generation advanced air mobility aircraft could be certified in 2021. It seems likely that this will be a fixed-wing, conventional or short takeoff and landing design.
  • January 27, 2021

Bye Starts Production for eFlyer Electric Aircraft, Closing in on FAA Certification

The electric aircraft pioneer may be among the first to complete FAA type certification.
Bye Aerospace has contracted with Composites Universal Group to build fuselages for its two-seat, all-electric eFlyer 2 aircraft as it starts serial production of the model. The first few production-conforming aircraft will be used to complete the latter stages of FAA Part 23 type certification.
  • January 27, 2021
Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2

Joby Says It Is Ahead of Schedule to Launch eVTOL Air Taxi Services

The company sees the "first mile" of multimodal transportation networks involving eVTOL aircraft as being critical to public acceptance.
At the Vertical Flight Society's Electric VTOL Symposium, Joby Aviation's head of product, Eric Allison, indicated that commercial flights might be able to start ahead of the 2023 timeline established by Uber's Elevate program.
  • January 27, 2021
Joby Aviation S4 prototype

Fast-Growing Vertical Flight Society Moves Annual Forum Online

The Vertical Flight Society has been a strong advocate for eVTOL aircraft and advanced air mobility over the past six years.
The Vertical Flight Society's Annual Forum & Annual Technology Display will be held as a virtual event from May 10-14. The group signed up 36 new corporate members in 2020 and just signed a new training partnership with the U.S. Army.
  • January 26, 2021
Wisk Cora

Groups Call for Advanced Air Mobility to Ensure Access For Disabled Travelers

Ten percent of the world's population face major mobility impairment challenges.
A new white paper jointly published by disabled flying advocacy group Aerobility and advanced air mobility trade association CIVITA Global calls on regulators, as well as developers of eVTOL aircraft and supporting ground infrastructure, to consider accessibility needs at the early stages of planning.
  • January 26, 2021
Embraer Eve

Joby Stays Silent on Reports It Plans to Go Public Through SPAC Merger

Based on unnamed sources, a Reuters report says Joby has been in contact with investment banks to pursue a tie-up with a SPAC.
Front-running eVTOL aircraft developers Joby Aviation and Lilium are both reportedly in line to raise significant funding via a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company.
  • January 22, 2021
Joby eVTOL

Europe's SESAR Backs Urban Air Mobility Demonstrations

The air traffic management research body is funding eVTOL aircraft flight trials set to begin in 2022 in Spain, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Through the new EU-backed Air Mobility Urban-Large Experimental Demonstrations program, 17 companies and organizations from across Europe and the U.S. are looking to demonstrate the viability of using eVTOL aircraft for roles such as passenger and freight transportation, police surveillance, and emergency medical support.
  • January 22, 2021
Ehang Austria

Airbus Uses Flightlab Testbed to Mature Advanced Air Mobility Technology

This year work in the Airbus Flightlab will include the use of a camera image-detection solution to enable low-altitude navigation.
Airbus Helicopters has start flight testing new technologies around hybrid and electric propulsion, autonomous operations, and noise reduction. Its Flightlab facility is supporting work on new helicopters, as well as fixed-wing and eVTOL aircraft designs.
  • January 22, 2021
Airbus H130

UK Regulator Selects Consortium to Advance Urban Air Mobility Plans

The UK Civil Aviation Authority aims to produce a concept of operations for urban air mobility.
A consortium involving eVTOL aircraft developers Embraer, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter, as well as air traffic management specialists Skyports and Atech, will conduct simulated operations connecting London's Heathrow and City airports.
  • January 21, 2021
London

Airship Pioneer Encouraged by New Interest in Hybrid Electric Airlander

The aircraft could carry up to 90 passengers on point-to-point services and could also be used to carry cargo and missions like surveillance.
UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles says it could be close to securing a large investment that, along with a new booking for charter services, could reinvigorate its prolonged efforts to bring the Airlander airship into commercial service.
  • January 21, 2021
Airlander