Advanced Air Mobility

The 2022 edition of the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) is the second since COVID-19 first threatened business aviation’s existence then turbocharged the industry’s growth.

Raytheon Technologies has made a minority investment in Swiss electric propulsion startup H55, a technology spinoff from the Solar Impulse solar-powered, around-the-world aircraft project.

The center will fabricate composite aircraft structures, such as wings and fuselages, for customers using automated and high-rate processing with smart manufacturing technologies

U.S. regional air travel provider Surf Air Mobility has agreed to the main terms of a $450 million deal with leading turboprop lessor Jetstream Aviation Capital to fund the growth and electrification of its aircraft fleet.

Delta Air Lines has signed a deal with Joby Aviation to provide a premium home-to-airport service, beginning in New York and Los Angeles.

The Advanced Air Mobility Stock Composite for the industry’s publicly held companies declined by 1% for the 10-day trading period between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10.

Sierra Nevada Corp. is moving into the original equipment manufacturer world for large uncrewed aircraft, announcing Oct. 10 it has acquired the UAV portfolio and intellectual property from Volansi.

The Advanced Air Mobility OEM Reality Index and Infrastructure Readiness Index reflect continued progress in the industry, from first flights to demonstrations that prove out flight, operations and infrastructure.

American Airlines has made a second strategic investment in hydrogen-powered aviation, backing logistics startup Universal Hydrogen.

Two new investments in Eve Holding and SkyDrive have increased the advanced air mobility industry’s total investments to $7.47 billion as of Oct. 10.

United Airlines has provided a glimpse of how it expects its sustainability plays to change the carrier’s fleet makeup by 2030, with its first electric-powered aircraft planned to be in service by then.

Long-range cargo drone startup Dronamics has selected German composites manufacturer Cotesa to produce its Black Swan uncrewed aircraft.

Flying personnel or equipment around U.S. Air Force test ranges has been identified as a likely early application for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.

Dutch low-cost carrier Transavia has invested in Netherlands-based startup FlyWithLucy, which plans to establish Europe’s first all-electric airline.

Sweden’s Heart Aerospace may have moved up to 30 seats to increase the appeal of its planned electric regional airliner, but French startup Aura Aero continues to pursue a 19-seater and has announced letters of intent for another 130 aircraft, taking the total to more than 330.

The first crewed electric vertical takeoff and landing flight in Italian airspace has been conducted from the country’s first fully functional vertiport at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport.

Hydrogen propulsion pioneer ZeroAvia has acquired HyPoint, a startup developing high power-density hydrogen fuel cells for aviation.

Lessors have played a major role in boosting the conditional orderbooks of electric aircraft startups, from Avolon’s preorder for 500 Vertical Aerospace four-passenger air taxis to Rockton’s letter of intent for 40 Heart Aerospace 30-seat regional airliners.

South Korean telecommunications provider KT has completed the country’s first 5G wireless network dedicated to urban air mobility.

The Eurodrone medium altitude long endurance uncrewed aircraft system program has passed its Integrated Baseline Review, a key milestone toward upcoming design reviews.

Switzerland’s RUAG has entered the electric vertical takeoff and landing market through a partnership with Swiss startup Dufour Aerospace.

Volocopter is looking ahead not only to where its urban air taxis will fly but to the airspace and vertiports they will need to operate.

Chinese startup AutoFlight has opened a U.S. office as it pursues plans to develop and certify its electric urban air taxi in Europe, manufacture the vehicle in China and market it globally.

Regent and TotalEnergies plan to explore the use of an electric seaglider to support the operations of offshore energy platforms such as oil rigs and wind turbines. The two companies plan to develop requirements and validate using one of Regent’s seagliders for offshore operations support, Regent said Sept. 30.

As calls grow within the advanced air mobility community for demonstrations that will show the public and policymakers the potential benefits of this new form of transportation, startup Electra.aero is making plans to fly its technology demonstrator between Washington and Richmond, the Virginia state capital.