Charles Alcock

News

Volocopter Makes a Move on the U.S. Urban Air Mobility Market

The German eVTOL developer is eyeing the launch of commercial services in U.S. cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Germany's Volocopter says the FAA has accepted its application to concurrently validate its anticipated type certification under EASA's new Special Condition VTOL rules. It is already in talks with prospective U.S. partners and stakeholders.

January 15, 2021

News

Aviation Gets a Voice In New French Government Hydrogen Council

Airbus engineering vice president Jean-Brice Dumont will represent the company and industry group GIFAS.

The French government is investing $8.5 billion to support efforts to use hydrogen in place of carbon-based fuels as part of a national effort to decarbonize and rebuild its economy in the wake of the Covid pandemic. In the U.S., the Vertical Flight Society is forming a hydrogen committee to focus on possibilities for eVTOL aircraft.

January 14, 2021

News

Walle Commits to Using Jaunt Journey eVTOL Aircraft For Italian Air Taxi Services

The startup is looking at starting operations in the Milan and Naples areas.

Walle says it will start air taxi services in 2026, using Jaunt Air Mobility's five-seat Journey hybrid-electric aircraft. It will focus on short routes of up to around 30 miles, even though the Journey's range is expected to be at least 80 miles.

January 14, 2021

On The Radar

Could Defense Exports Support or Disrupt Baykar's Plans For Personal Air Vehicles?

The Turkish company is looking to expand export sales of military equipment such as its TB2 tactical drones while also developing plans for personal air vehicles in consumer markets.

January 13, 2021

News

Aviation Takes a Low Profile At Virtual Consumer Electronics Show

General Motors hinted that it is working on a Cadillac-branded personal air vehicle.

The only surprise announcement in the aviation sector from this week's Consumer Electronics Show has been a glimpse of a General Motors concept for an all-electric personal air vehicle. Japan's SkyDrive and Pal-V of the Netherlands also participated in the event.

January 13, 2021

News

Vertical Flight Society Says Covid Has Not Slowed eVTOL Progress

The industry group has tracked a total of 407 eVTOL aircraft concepts from 245 different companies.

The Vertical Flight Society will hold its 8th annual Electric VTOL Symposium from January 26-28. The group said that investment in new eVTOL aircraft programs is still being made at a rate of around $1 billion per year.

January 12, 2021

News

Former Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders Joins Lilium Board

Five years after being launched in 2015, Lilium is valued at just over $1 billion, according to some estimates.

Tom Enders spent more than two decades with European aerospace group Airbus, including almost 12 years as CEO. He brings extensive aviation experience to the board of eVTOL developer Lilium.

January 12, 2021

News

Autonomous Flight Advances Larger Y6S Plus eVTOL Aircraft

The UK startup has launched a $25 million funding round to support its efforts to have a prototype flying by the end of 2023.

UK-based Autonomous Flight has made changes to its eVTOL aircraft design in the belief that it will need at least six seats to be commercially viable in its plan for scheduled shuttle operations.

January 12, 2021

News

Fiat Chrysler Backs Archer's eVTOL Aircraft Plans

Archer plans to unveil and fly its first full-scale eVTOL prototype during 2021.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Archer have announced a partnership that will see the U.S. carmaker provide composite materials and engineering support for the startup's planned four-seat all-electric aircraft.

January 12, 2021

News

GE Aviation Seeks Buyers For Airxos Unmanned Traffic Management Unit

GE has said it will close Airxos on February 1 but is open to offers for the company.

Covid-related financial pressures have prompted GE Aviation to close the Airxos unmanned traffic management specialist it launched in June 2018. The company's Air Mobility platform supports operations by unmanned aircraft.

January 12, 2021