Sweden's Heart Aerospace now claims to have commitments for more than 400 of its ES-19 electric regional airliners, with United Airlines and regional affiliate Mesa Airlines getting behind the program with an investment and a provisional order for the 19-seater. From 2026, the aircraft is expected to enter commercial service on routes out of Chicago and San Francisco.

Beta Technologies announced the appointment of former U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Will Roper to its board, and investment banker Edward Eppler is joining the eVTOL aircraft developer as chief financial officer. The company is expanding the scope of flight trials with its Alia 250 prototype as it works toward FAA Part 23 type certification for the six-seat model in 2024.

Urban Aeronautics is aiming to retain the CityHawk's current projected range, speed, and payload when it replaces the aircraft's current Safran Arriel turboshaft engine with a propulsion system based on HyPoint's new hydrogen fuel cells. The company recently completed the latest round of initial flight trials using the current technology demonstrator and aims to build the first of the new version in 2022.

Universal Hydrogen intends to convert regional airliners by replacing turboprop engines with hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors, with hydrogen supplied directly to the aircraft in capsules. European carriers Icelandair and Air Nostrum have signed letters of intent to convert their respective Dash 8 and ATR72 aircraft, and Alaska's Ravn Air has also agreed to convert some Dash 8s.

Under the terms of an arrangement to develop eVTOL aircraft pilot training, Volocopter has agreed to buy a simulator developed by CAE, which is to invest $40 million in plans to prepare flight crew for the launch of commercial services. CAE will be deploying artificial intelligence, virtual and mixed reality technology, and data analytics to develop a training program and courseware for new and existing pilots.

Though flight and passenger volumes for eVTOL air taxi services initially will be very low compared with what we see in the airline and business aircraft sectors, Joby wants to ensure that carbon credits for these operations are available to consumers. It is working with partners JetBlue and Signature Flight Support to establish the basis for this trade.

The first of the four-seat Cassio 330 aircraft is expected to roll off the production line in the fourth quarter of 2023. VoltAero is also developing six- and 10-seat Cassio 480 and 600 models and plans to produce up to 150 units per year in a purpose-built final assembly line at Rochefort Airport in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwest France.

Developers of new eVTOL aircraft increasingly talk about the need for an ecosystem to support their plans for urban air taxi services, cargo deliveries, and regional transportation between communities. Ground infrastructure is arguably the dominant feature of this ecosystem and much work remains to be done to ensure that the new aircraft have places to land and takeoff safely, while also being readily accessible by passengers. In the latest in our series of "explainer" videos, FutureFlight spoke with independent expert Darrell Swanson about the work he and his colleagues are engaged in to lay the groundwork for advanced air mobility.

After launching its CityHawk development on the assumption that its Fancraft ducted fans would be powered by a conventional Safran turboshaft engine, in July 2021 Urban Aeronautics confirmed that it will prioritize the development of a hydrogen-powered aircraft. It also unveiled a significant redesign of the fuselage for the eVTOL vehicle.