Rotorcraft News

Tag: Air Taxi

Eve’s Vision: An Interview With Co-CEO André Stein
Industry

Eve’s Vision: An Interview With Co-CEO André Stein

Eve has been developing urban air traffic management software, which plays a crucial role in coordinating the operations of eVTOL aircraft. (Photos: Eve) In a recent interview with Avionics International, André Stein—Co-CEO of Eve—shared valuable insights into the company’s priorities and strategies for the upcoming year. Stein emphasized the significance of staying on track with their development and also talked about supplier selection, aircraft design, urban air traffic management software, and considerations for infrastructure. Eve’s primary focus is ensuring steady progress. “It goes in line with the philosophy of working in building blocks—moving one step at a time so that we don’t go backwards,” he explained. Stein highlighted their longstanding relationships with suppliers, indicat...
Piasecki Aircraft Corporation Acquires Former Sikorsky Heliplex Facility for Advanced R&D Center
Industry

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation Acquires Former Sikorsky Heliplex Facility for Advanced R&D Center

Piasecki Aircraft Corporation has acquired the former Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Heliplex in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, to transform the plant into an advanced VTOL R&D facility. (Photos: Piasecki Aircraft Corporation) Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC) has purchased the former Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Heliplex facility in Pennsylvania. PiAC intends to convert the facility into an advanced research and development center for next-generation VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, UAS (uncrewed aerial systems), and other technologies. The company’s PA-890 helicopter, the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell rotorcraft with zero emissions, will be constructed at the facility and undergo testing there. Set to open in the fall, the facility features state-of-the-art amenities for engine...
Lilium Signs Agreements With Air-Dynamic and ASL Group
Industry

Lilium Signs Agreements With Air-Dynamic and ASL Group

Both Air-Dynamic SA and ASL Group signed agreements with Lilium, according to announcements made this week. The eVTOL developer also released its Q1 Shareholder Letter for this year. (Photos: Lilium) This week, Lilium and Air-Dynamic SA signed an agreement that includes pre-delivery payments for up to five of Lilium’s eVTOL aircraft. Air-Dynamic is a private jet and helicopter company based in Switzerland. The company plans to handle operations of the aircraft for customers in Switzerland and Italy. “The first project’s goal is to connect Lugano directly with Milan City Center and in parallel to establish a good connection in Italy for the most touristic destinations such as Lake Como and Capri,” remarked Air-Dynamic CEO Raffaella Meledandri.  Lilium also announced an agreement this week w...
DOT Wants Public Input on AAM Acceptance in U.S. Skies
Industry

DOT Wants Public Input on AAM Acceptance in U.S. Skies

The U.S. Department of Transportation is calling for public input on safety challenges and general acceptance of AAM (advanced air mobility) operations in the airspace. (Photo: Eve Air Mobility) To prepare a blueprint for advanced air mobility (AAM) operations in the U.S., the Department of Transportation is calling for public input on safety challenges and general acceptance of air taxis and other electric aircraft ferrying passengers short distances in the national airspace.  The Department of Transportation is required by law to invite public comment on advanced air mobility under the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act passed by Congress in 2022. DOT has formed an interagency working group to gather public comment in preparation for a national AAM strategy scheduled f...
French Startup Ascendance Raises €21M for Testing, Certification of its Hybrid VTOL
Industry

French Startup Ascendance Raises €21M for Testing, Certification of its Hybrid VTOL

Ascendance Flight Technologies has raised €21 million in funding so far. The startup has developed a full-scale prototype of its VTOL aircraft concept, Atea. (Photos: Ascendance Flight Technologies) French startup Ascendance Flight Technologies announced in late March that it has raised €21 million (about $22.8M USD) in funding. Ascendance has developed a full-scale prototype of its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft concept, Atea. The VTOL leverages the startup’s hybrid propulsion technology—Sterna—to reduce carbon emissions. The recent fundraising round provided the necessary resources for Ascendance to fly its prototype and begin the certification process. Previous investors Habert Dassault Finance, Céleste Management, IRDI, and M-Capital contributed additional funding to the...
FAA Updates Its Blueprint for Future Air Taxi Operations
Industry

FAA Updates Its Blueprint for Future Air Taxi Operations

The FAA has taken steps to plan for a smooth integration of advanced air mobility operations through the release of its Urban Air Mobility Concept of Operations 2.0 blueprint. (Photo: FAA) The introduction and integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) operations, which includes electric air taxis and autonomous vehicles, is one of the challenges currently facing the aviation industry. With a variety of developers inching closer to feasible prototypes and a multitude of operators demonstrating interest in beginning commercial service with AAM aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration has taken steps to plan for a smooth integration of this technology into pre-existing infrastructure through the release of its Urban Air Mobility Concept of Operations 2.0 blueprint. The release of this d...
PLANA Wins iF Design Award
Industry

PLANA Wins iF Design Award

eVTOL developer PLANA received the iF Design Award in the Professional Concept category. The company also launched a revamped version of its website this week and revealed the codename for its hybrid eVTOL, the CP-01. (Photo: PLANA) On April 17, 2023, South Korean aircraft developer PLANA announced that it won a highly-coveted iF Design Award. Winning in the Professional Concept category, this recognition highlights the developer’s commitment to its goal of creating sustainable air travel with electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Hosted annually in Germany, the iF Design Awards are widely viewed as one of the top award recognitions for designs (along with the Red Dot Design and IDEA). Due to its popularity, the program received thousands of submissions: the Professional...
Volocopter Opens eVTOL Production Facilities in Germany
Industry

Volocopter Opens eVTOL Production Facilities in Germany

Volocopter opened two new production facilities in Germany, including a final assembly/hangar and an airfield for flight testing. (Photo: Volocopter GmbH) Volocopter recently announced that it has opened its production facilities in Bruchsal, Germany, including a new hangar and airfield. The company has been expanding its production setup at this location for the last 18 months. Volocopter’s line of electric aircraft includes the VoloCity, VoloRegion, and VoloDrone. “We have officially opened two new facilities—the production facility and the final assembly/hangar,” a company spokesperson shared with Avionics International in a written statement. These new facilities are in addition to the building that Volocopter acquired in July 2021 along with the acquisition of composite aircraft produ...
Airbus Helicopters Partners With the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
Industry

Airbus Helicopters Partners With the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation

In a new partnership, Airbus Helicopters will explore the use of eVTOL aircraft for emergency medical services with the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation. (Photo: Airbus) Airbus Helicopters and the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation have formed a new partnership to explore the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for air medical services. The news was shared in an announcement during the HAI Heli-Expo event this week in Atlanta, Georgia. The partners will determine operational requirements for conducting air medical missions in Norway. These requirements will then be integrated into the configuration of the CityAirbus NextGen, the eVTOL aircraft that Airbus is developing. Two objectives of the partnership are to reduce emergency response times for air medical ser...
BETA Opens Engineering Hub in Montreal
Industry

BETA Opens Engineering Hub in Montreal

Electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has opened a new engineering hub in Montreal with a focus on structural engineering and materials processing. (Photo: BETA) BETA Technologies announced the opening of an engineering hub in Montreal, Canada, this week. Structural engineering and materials processing will take place at the new location. BETA is developing a fully electric aircraft, the ALIA, which is designed to perform short-haul and regional flights. More than 50 employees based in Montreal will be working at the new engineering hub. Their focus is in the areas of advanced design, flight controls, data science, and flight sciences in support of the design, certification, and manufacturing of the ALIA eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. Kyle Clark, BETA’s Fo...