Rolling Business Aviation Daily Briefs (April 2026)

April 13, 2026

Hopscotch Air To Help Archer Explore, Test Concepts

Long Island-based air taxi operator Hopscotch Air, which flies Cirrus SR22s, is working with Archer Aviation, providing input based on its experience as a regional air mobility operator to help Archer to explore and test concepts related to future AAM operations.

LAT Aerospace Lat One v0.2 Crashes On Roll Testing

Indian startup LAT Aerospace’ subscale technology demonstrator, Lat One v0.2, crashed during a ground roll test on Apr. following a successful first flight on Apr. 2. LAT plans to develop a ducted-fan blown-wing ultra-short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The v0.1 demonstrator crashed shortly after takeoff in January.

April 10, 2026

Doroni Aerospace Unveils H1-X eVTOL

U.S. startup Doroni Aerospace has unveiled a full-scale engineering model of its planned H1-X two-seat personal eVTOL. Targeting for deliveries beginning in 2028, the vehicle features a tandem wing configuration and electric ducted fan propulsion system.

FlyOnE Secures Investment

Australian electric aviation operator and infrastructure developer FlyOnE has secured additional strategic investment as part of a Series A funding round ahead of a planned initial public offering. Investors include Perth, Western Australia-based family office Aethereum Capital.

April 9, 2026

AEP 100 Turboprop Conducts First Flight

A 7.5 metric-ton uncrewed cargo aircraft powered by Aero Engine Corp, of China’s hydrogen-combustion AEP100 turboprop conducted its first flight on Apr. 4 in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, reached 220 kph (137 mph) and 300 m (980 ft.), according to the Xinhua news agency.

Cutter Aviation Opens New Colorado Maintenance Facility

Cutter Aviation, a Pilatus Authorized Sales and Service Center, has opened a new maintenance facility at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) in Broomfield, Colorado. The 22,000 ft2 facility, now fully operational and featuring hangar and office space, operates as a designated Service Bulletin Modification Center. The center is focused on completing service bulletins for the Pilatus PC-24. It also provides comprehensive maintenance support for the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24. Cutter Aviation plans to begin construction later in 2026 on a second hangar with 22,000 ft2 at the same location. Cutter operates five full-service maintenance centers across the Southwest.

April 8, 2026

Vertical Aerospace Selects Isoclima Group For Windshields

Vertical Aerospace has selected Italy’s Isoclima Group to supply the full set of transparencies for the Valo eVTOL air taxi, including bird strike-resistant windshields, adding to a supply chain that includes Aciturri, Evolito, Honeywell and Syensqo.

Battery System For XPeng’s Aridge XF-3 Rolls Off Production Line

The first battery system for XPeng subsidiary Aridge’s XF-3, the eVTOL half of its Land Aircraft Carrier drive-fly combination, has rolled off Chinese electric-vehicle battery maker CALB’s production line in Chengdu. The system uses CALB’s R46 solid-liquid hybrid cylindrical cell, which has an energy density of 360 Wh/kg.

April 7, 2026

 Sunvair Acquires Miami-based Med-Craft

Tulsa-based Sunvair has completed the acquisition of Med-Craft, a Miami-based, family-owned repair and overhaul aviation services provider. The deal includes Med-Craft and its Med-Air divisions. Med-Craft has been in business for 55 years. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition increases Sunvair’s overall capabilities and is part of the company’s growth strategy, officials say.

True Blue Power Adds TC800 Series Converters To Product Line

Wichita-based True Blue Power has introduced the new modular TC800 Series Converters designed for business and commercial aircraft, VIP cabins and special mission applications. The units convert 3-phase 115 VAC (360-800 Hz) into a 28 VDC output for IFE systems, USB chargers, avionics and other equipment. The units provide continuous power during input voltage dropouts when paired with the tC800 Series Hold-up Module.

April 3, 2026

ePropelled Opens Global Innovation Center

UK drone propulsion producer ePropelled has opened its Global Innovation Center in Coventry, England, as part of an expansion to scale production beyond 1 million propulsion systems annually by 2027. The company produces electric motors from 260 watts to 10 kW and works with Germany’s Hirth Engines on hybrid propulsion systems.

Gama Aviation Expands Training Portfolio

Gama Aviation has expanded its engineering training portfolio with the UK CAA’s approval of its Part 147 Training Needs Analysis and course approvals for the Leonardo AW139 twin-engine helicopter.

April 2, 2026

Aria Group Launches Aria Aerospace Technologies

Prototyping specialist Aria Group, which has worked with Otto Aerospace, Supernal, Wisk and Whisper Aero, has launched Aria Aerospace Technologies to expand its composites engineering, low-volume and serial manufacturing for the aerospace, AAM, defense, uncrewed aircraft and space sectors.

Diamond Aircraft Enhances Special Mission Capabilities

Diamond Aircraft’s Special Mission Aircraft Division has unveiled a number of technical developments for its Diamond DA62 MPP aircraft. For one, it demonstrated Starlink Mini connectivity through flight trials validating high-bandwidth airborne connectivity; certified its Maximum Take-Off Mass increase from 2,300 kg (5,070 lb.) to 2,360 kg, allowing operators to carry additional mission equipment, sensors or fuel; certified the DA62 for flight into known icing for dedicated MPP configurations, and certified the aircraft an integrated diversity transponder to improve visibility and communication robustness with ground-based and space-based ADS-B receivers. For 2026, Diamond will offer improved BLOS radome, a dedicated tail-mounted camera integrated into the Garmin G1000 MFD for improved situational awareness, introduce a supplemental type certificate for the installation of non-eye-safe lasers and a new pod for integration of multimission surveillance radars and a new universal mounting frame.

April 1, 2026

Advanced Aviation Adds Hourly Priced Jet Card

Advanced Aviation, a charter aircraft advisory firm founded by Gregg Brunson-Pitts, has introduced a new jet card program called Ambassador, an hourly-priced private aviation program, which pairs service with transparent hourly pricing.

AIR Books Preorders For AIR One eVTOL

Israel’s AIR says it has booked more than 3,300 preorders for its AIR One two-seat personal eVTOL, including roughly 350 secured by deposits and 25 confirmed, deposit-backed orders for the uncrewed heavylift cargo version, of which two aircraft have already been delivered.