Aerotime reports, “Airbus announced on January 27, 2025, that it is pausing the development of its CityAirbus NextGen electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft … Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the uncertainty over the capabilities of the current generation of batteries as the key reason for the suspension of this program.”
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Tag: eVTOL
FAA Introduces Downwash Caution Area for Vertiports
Aviation Week reports “When the FAA released draft updated engineering guidelines for vertiports in September 2024, it introduced the requirement for a caution area to provide protection from the high wind velocities produced by the propellers of electric air taxis during vertical takeoffs and landings. The introduction of the downwash caution area (DCA) was the result of flight surveys of multiple prototype electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the FAA.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Vertical Performs Piloted Thrustborne eVTOL Flight Test
Aerotime reports, “UK-based electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace has become only the second company in the world to perform a piloted thrustborne flight test in a full-scale vectored thrust aircraft. The full-scale eVTOL aircraft, known as VX4, took off on January 7, 2024, with pilot Simon Davies at the controls, at the Vertical Aerospace test center at Cotswold Airport (GBA).”
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Joby Aviation Completes FAA Aerostructure Tests
Aerotime reports, “Joby Aviation has completed a series of major aerostructure tests to gain certification approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In a press release published on December 17, 2024, the company announced it has completed static load tests on the tail structure of its electric air taxi. These are the first major aerostructure tests done with FAA representatives present for credit.”
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U.S. Airlines Eyeing Air Taxis for Airport Shuttle Service
Aviation Week reports, “Millions of dollars have flown into the nascent electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) sector over the past several years, as investors bet that quiet, emissions-free air taxis will unlock a new wave of demand for urban air mobility (UAM). While those services are not expected to reach scale until the next decade, air taxi startups are looking toward the airport shuttle mission as an initial launch application in the coming years, promising to shave long trips on congested urban road networks down to 10-20 mins. or less.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Eve Air Mobility Signs Agreement for Up to 50 eVTOL aircraft
Aerotime reports, “The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Eve Air Mobility has reached an agreement with Helicopters Inc. for up to 50 aircraft. Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Brazilian planemaker Embraer, confirmed on December 4, 2024, that a Letter of Intent (LOI) had been signed with the US-based helicopter operator.”
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Joby Receives FAA Approval to Launch Air Taxi Flight Academy
Flying Magazine reports Joby on Tuesday “said it received Part 141 flight academy certification from the FAA, laying the groundwork to begin training qualified aviators at its Joby Aviation Academy in Watsonville, California, a short air taxi flight away from its headquarters in Santa Cruz. The company intends to offer private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor courses, beginning at entry level. Graduates could go on to fly air taxis for Joby or a competitor.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Vertical Aerospace Begins Untethered Flight Tests
Aerotime reports, “British eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace has conducted the first untethered flight of its VX4 prototype, kicking off Phase Two of its development program. Until now Vertical Aerospace had conducted piloted flight tests, but with the aircraft always tethered to the ground by a cable.”
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CityAirbus NextGen Prototype Performs First Liftoff
Vertical Magazine reports, “The CityAirbus NextGen prototype eVTOL aircraft has performed its first liftoff, marking the official start of the type’s flight test campaign. The news was announced by Bruno Even, the CEO of Airbus Helicopters, on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Nov. 6.”
Full Story (Vertical Magazine)
Lilium Set to File for Insolvency Protection to Salvage eVTOL Aircraft Plan
Aviation International News reports, “Lilium is about to file self-administration proceedings in a German court, implementing a form of insolvency protection as it scrambles to line up further investment to complete the development of its eVTOL aircraft. The company announced the move on October 24, a week after the German parliament’s budgetary committee rejected its application for a €50 million ($54 million) loan guarantee, which blocked a matching €50 million loan from the state of Bavaria.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)