NASA is transitioning long-running hypersonic technology studies increasingly toward potential commercial applications and has awarded two new contracts supporting high speed design and propulsion work to Aerion Supersonic and GE Aviation respectively.
Large-scale flight demonstrations are planned in seven countries under a European program to expand its U-space concept of operations for unmanned traffic management to include urban air mobility.
Europe’s SESAR air traffic management research program has launched a follow up to the Gulf of Finland’s U-space project focused on the safe and secure integration of unmanned aircraft and air taxis in urban airspace.
The founding executive of JetBlue Technology Ventures, the airline’s eye-catching corporate venture capital wing, has moved over to take a leadership role at Joby Aviation, one of the fund’s most notable investments and a high-profile urban air mobility startup.
A just-completed European research program has advanced technology for structural batteries and supercapacitors that could eventually reduce the safety risks in storing massive amounts of energy onboard electrified aircraft.
A software framework developed by NASA to ensure autonomous aircraft follow programmed rules of behavior has been delivered to several other agencies for potential application to a range of aircraft, military and civil.
Israel plans to conduct simultaneous flights by multiple drones from different manufacturers in managed urban airspace under government-supported pilot programs to improve the country’s transportation options.
A European Union-funded project is researching the use of urban air mobility for emergency medical services, with test flights in Finland, Germany and Norway planned for 2023.
Organizers of the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, scheduled for May 18-20, have canceled the live event in Geneva and will host a virtual event, the associations announced Feb. 4.
London-based aircraft dealer Steve Varsano warns that the burgeoning urban air mobility industry may herald the end of the helicopter business, and, in the longer term, it could supplant the light jet segment too.
Steve Varsano, founder and owner of London-based aircraft dealership The Jet Business, found himself the victim of two police raids at his office after reports of a large party. But the attendees were cardboard cutouts.
Studies exploring how unmanned air systems could be used to help respond to oil spills at sea will be undertaken by a partnership of UK firms FlyLogix and Oil Spill Response Ltd.
GKN Aerospace is to lead the study of a “park-and-ride” concept for urban air transport under the UK’s Future Flight Challenge to develop a next-generation integrated aviation system.
In a bid to accelerate the commercial availability of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, the German government has commissioned aerospace research agency DLR to plan a pilot plant for the production of electricity-based fuels on an industrial scale.
A South Korean team including an airport operator, air-taxi developer and communications provider has been formed to commercialize urban air mobility in the country beginning in 2025.
