UPS Flight Forward, the package carrier’s uncrewed aircraft division, is looking ahead to a vertical takeoff and landing demonstration flight direct to a UPS center using Beta Technologies’ Alia-250.
German urban air mobility startup Volocopter has secured an additional $182 million in funding, with Saudi Arabian smart city Neom and Hong Kong-based GLy Capital Management as new investors.
Slovenian manufacturer Pipistrel, now part of Textron Aviation, announced on Oct. 31 that it has delivered the first Velis Electro electric airplane in Canada.
Self-piloted recreational flights over the Hudson and East Rivers in New York could begin as early as 2023 using Lift Aircraft’s single-seat, semi-autonomous Hexa electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.
As it looks ahead to certification and operation of its urban air mobility vehicles, China’s EHang has formed a partnership with commercial aircraft maintenance provider HAECO Group to develop after-sales support for its autonomous air vehicles.
A Robinson R44 converted to electrified propulsion by Tier 1 Engineering has completed the first helicopter flight between airfields solely on electric power.
On the heels of listing publicly, startup Amprius has signed a 3-year agreement to supply its high-energy-density batteries to BA Systems’ Air business for use in electrically powered flight applications.
South Korea’s SK Telecom has signed an agreement with Daegu Metropolitan City to integrate urban air taxis into the future mobility ecosystem of the country’s fourth largest city and its planned new airport.
Another design has been added to the list of large uncrewed cargo aircraft under development in China, with Sichuan Tengden Science & Technology conducting the first flight of its Twin-Tailed Scorpion D on Oct. 25.
South Korean advanced air mobility startup MintAir plans to purchase up to 10 zero-emission aircraft from Australia’s Dovetail Electric Aircraft for proposed regional cargo services.
Saudi Arabian flag carrier Saudia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lilium for the proposed development and operation of an electric vertical takeoff and landing network.
Airports and fixed-base operators that plan to service electric air vehicles should have plans in place at least a year ahead of their arrival, says the developer of the Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Monte Aircraft Leasing has placed a firm order with hybrid-electric propulsion startup Ampaire for 25 Eco Caravans with an option for an additional 25 of the converted Cessna Grand Caravans.
The Advanced Air Mobility Composite for publicly held AAM stocks closed Oct. 17 down 4% for the five-day period compared to the previous five days of Oct. 3-10.
Detailing its plans for deploying the several types of advanced air mobility vehicles it has on order, Bristow Group says it is important for established operators to play an active role in ensuring the safe introduction of the new types of aircraft.
California-based electrical vertical takeoff and landing startup Overair has begun assembly of the XP-1 uncrewed full-scale demonstrator for the Butterfly tiltrotor air taxi which is expected to fly by the end of 2023.
