The Future of Advanced Air Mobility
Charles Alcock

Charles Alcock

Charles Alcock is a senior editor with AIN Publications, having returned to the company in 2019 to launch FutureFlight.aero. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. In his new UK-based role, he focuses on covering new aerospace technologies and international news.

Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at Manchester University in the northwest of England and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

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Lyte Aviation and AAM Institute Develop Business Case for Seattle-area VTOL Shuttle Flights

Lyte Aviation is developing a 40-seat hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft called the SkyBus LA-44 that it says will have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and speeds of 300 km/h.
Lyte Aviation and the Advanced Air Mobility Institute believe they can transform daily commutes from Washington state's Bainbridge Island to Seattle and the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, replacing ferries with high-capacity, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft like the in-development SkyBus LA-44.
Lyte Aviation says its SkyBus LA-44 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft could help Seattle-area commuters.

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ZeroAvia's Hydrogen-electric Propulsion System Will Power Natilus's Kona Cargo Drone

With a 3.8-ton payload and range of up to 900 nm, the Kona is the smallest member of a planned family of autonomous freighters.
Natilus's Kona autonomous cargo aircraft is a blended-wing-body design, which the company says is well suited to storing hydrogen fuel to maximize payload and range. It will use the ZA600 hydrogen-electric propulsion system being developed by ZeroAvia.
Natilus Kona autonomous freight aircraft.

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Merlin Extends Autonomous Flight Trials to New Zealand

The company is seeking concurrent U.S. and New Zealand approval for the supplemental type certificate under which it will convert the flight decks of existing aircraft.
Merlin has deployed a pair of Cessna Caravan aircraft to continue testing of its autonomous flight technology at its new facility in New Zealand. The company says this process will include joint cargo delivery operations with local company Freightways.
Merlin is flight testing its autonomous technology.

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FutureFlight Weekly News Roundup

FutureFlight.aero's Weekly Advanced Air Mobility News Roundup
NASA is using a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to evaluate communications infrastructure for advanced air mobility, plus Electra.aero leaders are recognized for aeronautics achievements, ZeroAvia partners with Gen-H2 for hydrogen supplies, Moove launches an AAM modeling tool, and Ryse switches to a carbon fiber frame for its Recon personal eVTOL vehicle.
NASA is assessing communications infrastructure for low altitude flights in urban areas around Cleveland.

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Lilium Displays Mock-up of Pioneer Edition eVTOL Aircraft and Books Eleven More Orders

Swiss-based private aviation group Air-Dynamic has agreed to add five of the all-electric aircraft to its fleet.
Business aviation professionals attending he European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva this week were able to sit in a full-scale cabin mock-up of the four-seat Pioneer Edition of the Lilium Jet eVTOL vehicle. Swiss operator Air-Dynamic agreed to purchase five of the all-electric aircraft and ASL Group confirmed an earlier memorandum of understanding to a firm order for six aircraft.
Lilium has produced the first cabin for its Pioneer Edition Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft.

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Review of Certification Process and Key Supplier Contributions Prompted Vertical's eVTOL Aircraft Program Delay

The UK company now expects its four-passenger vehicle to complete concurrent UK and EASA type certification in late 2026.
Vertical Aerospace is raising further funds to get its VX4 into commercial service with operators that include major airlines and South Korean ride-hailing group Kakao Mobility, which this week preordered 50 vehicles. But chief technology officer Michael Cervenka says its cash burn is stable compared with those of rival manufacturers.
Vertical Aerospace has been conducting tethered hover flight tests with its VX4 eVTOL aircraft.

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FutureFlight Weekly News Roundup

FutureFlight.aero's Weekly Advanced Air Mobility News Roundup
This week, FutureFlight has updates on Merlin's progress toward the certification of its autonomous flight technology and how Eve Air Mobility is using a wind tunnel to test its eVTOL vehicle. Plus: how the design for SkyDrive's SD-05 eVTOL has been praised by industry experts...Jetson is adding a safety parachute to its single-seat eVTOL...VoltAero is building a factory to manufacture its Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft...and Doroni is seeking funds to bring its personal eVTOL to market.
Merlin plans to convert existing aircraft to use its autonomous flight control technology.

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Alton's Experts Say Advanced Air Mobility Pioneers Face Obstacles to Delivering on Bold Promises

The consultancy is supporting manufacturers, operators, airports, and other stakeholders in completing key tasks leading to the launch of new air services.
Alton Aviation Consultancy sees eVTOL aircraft developers facing significant and costly challenges in the run-up to service launch in 2025 at a time when cash reserves are being rapidly spent. Besides getting new vehicles certified, companies need to step up plans for manufacturing and product support, and convince their prospective customer base why it should care about the new mode of public transportation.
Alton Aviation Consultancy is based in Singapore, which is expected to be an early adopter of new eVTOL air services.

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Aura Aero Unveils Redesigned Hybrid-Electric Regional Airliner Building on Progress With Electric Trainer

The French start-up is developing an all-electric Integral E flight training aircraft and a 19-seater commuter that it says will halve current operating costs.
Based on technical input from prospective customers and from partners including Safran, Stellantis, and Thales, Aura Aero has redesigned its hybrid-electric ERA 19-seater, which will now have eight electric motors and a pair of turbogenerators. Time spent changing the configuration, which the company says is now frozen, will push back the aircraft's first flight to 2026 and type certification to 2028, but the French start-up believes the resulting performance will deliver greater cost and carbon reductions for operators. Aura Aero is also preparing to start flight testing its Integral E all-electric training aircraft.
Aura Aero's Electric Regional Aircraft.