Beta Technologies plans to build its Alia 250 and CX300 electric aircraft at an initial annual rate of 300 units. This will happen at the new assembly line that opened on October 2 at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in Vermont, where the facility has been developed to operate with net zero carbon emissions.

Having completed more than 1,000 remotely piloted flight tests with its eVTOL prototypes over the past 10 years, Joby Aviation has successfully flown its electric aircraft with pilots on board for the first time. Joby chief test pilot James “Buddy” Denham led the crewed flight campaign, which the company says was designed to evaluate and collect data on the aircraft’s handling qualities and pilot control interfaces.

This week, eVTOL aircraft developers Joby Aviation and Eve Air Mobility firmed up their plans to participate in South Korea's K-UAM Grand Challenge initiative to advance the introduction of air mobility services in its cities. Incheon—the site of the main airport for the capital, Seoul—is expected to be an early adopter, the city’s aviation director, Kwang-ho An, told the Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit in Singapore.

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Reliable Robotics says early findings from a joint evaluation of its continuous engagement of autopilot technology suggest that the remote piloting system could improve operational efficiency for large military aircraft, like the KC-135 Stratotanker. The company is working towards FAA certification for the system, which it intends to deploy as a conversion kit for existing aircraft in civil and defense applications.

Regulators from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the FAA, EASA, and Singapore appeared on a panel to discuss how a robust foundation can be established for new eVTOL aircraft. There were calls for the pace of engagement and collaboration with industry innovators to be stepped up.

Singapore hosted the Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit in September when the Philippines experienced no fewer than 40 earthquakes.  Concern is growing in Southeast Asia about the human cost of climate change, and Hui Ling Teo, a partner at the Singapore branch of the Reed Smith law firm, told delegates the region needs climate-resilient mobility infrastructure.

Privately owned Oxford Airport is investing in a new science park to attract innovative aviation companies, and this could be complemented by wider plans to establish a sustainable transportation hub at the site, which is 65 miles from London. One of the airport's tenants is aircraft management and charter group Volare, which plans to market and operate the four-passenger Pioneer Edition of the Lilium Jet eVTOL aircraft.

Pratt & Whitney and Collins join the Boeing/NASA X-66A Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project; plus Volocopter's eVTOL set to fly at NBAA-BACE business aviation show; VoltAero starts building hybrid-electric aircraft factory; Australia's Torres Strait Air commits to hydrogen-powered Islanders; the Choctaw Nation wants advanced air mobility in Oklahoma; EASA signs off on Aura Aero's manufacturing approval.

Collins Aerospace this week opened The Grid, its new advanced electric power systems laboratory in Rockford, Illinois. The RTX company is concentrating its resources and expertise on developing and testing key components for hybrid-electric propulsion and more electric systems as part of the aviation industry's objective of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The $50 million facility provides 25,000 sq ft of space for the Collins engineering teams and an initial test capability of eight megawatts of power. Collins will use The Grid to test its 1 megawatt motor for the RTX group's hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, as well as its 1 megawatt generator for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. It will also support work for the European Union's Clean Aviation Switch program. In this video, the company's senior leaders explained why they feel the investment will help Collins achieve its objectives in sustainable aviation.