Maritime Energy Heli Air Services has agreed to purchase 10 of Jekta's 19-passenger PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft as part of its plan to decarbonize regional air services to smaller communities in India. Under the agreement announced with the Swiss manufacturer, it will be the launch operator for the new all-electric aircraft in Asia and could buy another 40 units following initial deliveries in 2029.

Having completed multiple successful flight tests of a Dash 8 turboprop retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system from an airport near Moses Lake in central Washington state, Universal Hydrogen has relocated its flight testing activities to the Mojave Air & Space Port in Southern California. The company’s Dash 8 testbed, nicknamed “Lightning McClean,” recently completed the journey from Moses Lake to its new flight test center, making four stops along the way across Oregon and California.

SK Telecom is investing $100 million in Joby Aviation's plans to develop a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. The South Korean company will jointly participate with California-based Joby in the government-backed Korea Urban Air Mobility Grand Challenge.

Having been issued FAA special airworthiness certification, Aska is flight testing its four-seat A5 hybrid-electric vehicle, which is expected to serve as an SUV on roads and take off vertically or conventionally from either helipads or runways. The company says the A5's engine will run on conventional premium gasoline, allowing for a projected range of up to 250 miles, with the vehicle being suitable to be parked at a home or office and then driven to and from local airfields.

Flight automation specialist Skyryse has kicked off a full flight test campaign with its FlightOS highly automated flight control system, which the company says could improve safety and reduce pilot workload for a variety of aircraft. The California-based start-up is now conducting daily flights with a FlightOS-equipped Robinson R66 light helicopter, the first aircraft for which it plans to obtain a supplemental type certificate from the FAA. The R66 testbed includes a production-representative version of the flight control system as well as the suite of sensors that provide real-time situational awareness.

Supernal, a Hyundai subsidiary dedicated to urban air mobility, has announced three key partners for the development and production of its SA-1 eVTOL air taxi. In addition to supplying lightweight aerostructures and electronic components, the new partners will work to enable high-rate manufacturing processes that will scale the production of Supernal’s piloted, four-passenger aircraft, which is scheduled to enter service in 2028. 

Maeve taps the software expertise of Siemens to make progress with its plans for a 44-seat electric airliner, plus composite materials specialist Solvay expands its role in aircraft production, the state of Michigan wants to see how MightyFly's Cento cargo drone could boost mobility for its industries, the French start testing a hydrogen-powered UAV, and regulators in Europe and Brazil say they will work together over the type certification of eVTOL aircraft.

Archer was one of more than 10 eVTOL aircraft developers vying for attention on the world stage at the recent Paris Air Show. The U.S. company says it is getting close to the start of flight testing with its full-scale Midnight prototype. At the same time, it is stepping up construction of its planned production facility in Georgia and intends to achieve high volume rates of manufacturing with backing from its car-making investor and partner Stellantis. Recently, the company hosted members of President Joe Biden’s Advanced Air Mobility Federal Interagency Working Group to its test facility in California, where they witnessed a flight test. The-70-strong group included representatives from the White House, the Department of Transportation, the FAA, NASA, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Communications Commission.