Advanced Air Mobility

Alphabet subsidiary Wing has paused some of its drone package deliveries in the suburbs of Canberra, Australia, after one of its drones was attacked by a raven.

Embraer subsidiary Eve Urban Air Mobility continues to build its orderbook of conditional commitments as it looks toward completing a deal to go public through a merger with a blank-check company.

China’s Autoflight has announced completion of a $100 million Series A funding round, which it believes may be the largest yet in the country’s fledging electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle industry.

After announcing a joint venture in June, startup Xeriant has agreed to merge with XTI Aircraft in a bid to secure the funding needed to develop the TriFan 600 hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing business aircraft.

Under the name Volocopter (Chengdu) Technology, the new venture aims to offer UAM solutions to China.

Airbus has committed to the advanced air mobility market targeting the certification of a winged multi-copter by 2025.

The startup has decided it wants to start flying people as soon as possible and so will certify the autonomous single-seat Heaviside H2 now in flight testing as its entry into the market.

Heart Aerospace has selected a supplier to complete preliminary design of the doors for its ES-19 all-electric 19-seat regional airliner while Deutsche Aircraft has chosen a company to produce the wing box and engine supports for its D328eco 40-seat regional turboprop.

The goal is to be able to fly missions longer than 200 km (125 mi.) with nine passengers and zero emissions.

Helicopter operator Bristow Group has announced a partnership with Vertical Aerospace to explore electric vertical-takeoff aircraft while Avolon is partnering with Brazilian airline GOL and transportation provider Grupo Comporte to commercialize an eVTOL ride-sharing platform in Brazil.

Los Angeles has already been identified as early launch market by urban air taxi developers Archer and Joby Aviation, and now Volocopter.

FAA’s Center for Emerging Concepts and Innovation addresses novel technologies in eVTOL, safety enhancements, electric propulsion, advanced flight controls and flight deck displays as well as advanced automation.

KVS Technologies has entered into agreement with Air Methods’ Spright, for one-stop linear inspection services for utility companies.

Aviation Week’s Advanced Air Mobility Report to date has covered the projects and companies that are staking ground in a market that they, themselves, are creating.

Universe of customers for eVTOL aircraft expands, with Europcar Brazil plans to order 50 eGyros from startup Skyworks Aeronautics.

South Korean automaker Hyundai and UK startup Urban-Air Port plan to develop 65 urban vertiports at key locations worldwide.

The 50-seat regional jet was a game changer in the early part of the current century. But the good times couldn’t last for small RJs.

Testing of U-space services designed to enable unmanned and manned aircraft to share low-altitude airspace have begun in Hamburg.

EHang has partnered with operator Heli-Eastern to develop a low-altitude airspace management system.

SPAC Zanite Acquisitio is bringing on a controversial Trump administration defense secretary to its board.

French startup Ascendance Flight Technologies has closed a €10 million ($12 million) funding round.

U.S. private equity firm AE Industrial Partners is rolling up UAV-related businesses under the UAV Factory brand.

Israel’s Urban Aeronautics has secured an initial $10 million of the at least $100 million it needs to raise through a Series A funding round to support development of the CityHawk vertical-takeoff air taxi.

Jet Luxe has launched a new charter, management and travel services business to respond to record levels of demand for the services.

David Neeleman has been appointed to the board of directors of Lilium N.V., effective upon completion of Lilium’s business combination with Qell Acquisition Corp.