U.S. startup Natilus is conducting wind tunnel tests of the initial regional feeder member of its planned family of blended wing body uncrewed cargo aircraft.
Airports Council International World has released a policy brief on advanced air mobility, advocating for a seamless integration of these new entrants into airports, alongside a knowledge center on drone risk mitigation to promote safe and secure operations at airports.
Joby Aviation has received its FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate, allowing it to begin aircraft operations ahead of the planned 2024 launch of commercial air taxi service with its S4 electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicle.
The pressure on the nascent advanced air mobility industry to move forward on certification is growing, including the industry’s focus on attracting regulatory experts as new hires.
SpaceX continued its weekly launch pace with liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket on May 25 carrying 59 small satellites and hosted payloads, marking the company’s fifth rideshare mission. Following launch at 2:35 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the rocket’s first stage returned to the launch site while the upper stage fired to place the Transporter-5 payloads into a preliminary polar orbit.
U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) on May 23 introduced bipartisan legislation to help communities prepare for the eventual integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies.
BAE Systems has taken delivery of and is preparing flight tests for a Pipistrel Electro Velis electric-powered light aircraft as part of an arrangement with the Slovenian manufacturer. The UK defense company announced in March that it was working with Pipistrel to examine military training applications for electric aircraft. The work is continuing after Textron’s acquisition of the light aircraft manufacturer.
