Having shelved plans to bring its SpaceJet M90 regional airliner to market, Mitsubishi is focused on offering a zero-carbon version of regional airliners, like the former Bombardier CRJ twinjet. ZeroAvia's efforts to certify its hydrogen fuel cell powertrains for commercial airlines also received backing this week from Alaska Air.

This week, Volocopter displayed its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft in Rome as part of an effort to win public acceptance for urban air mobility. Italy's civil aviation authority and air traffic management agency are supporting the aims of a partnership that brings the German start-up together with Atlantia, which is one of its investors, and airports group Aeroporti di Roma.

Connectivity technology group Skyward is improving the support its platform provides for drone operators using the FAA's low-altitude authorization and notification capability while investing in longer-term advances in the use of 5G networks. Beyond existing drone services, the improved connectivity will support autonomous operations for eVTOLs and other new air vehicles.

According to Helipass, sightseeing flights are likely to be among the first main use cases for new eVTOL aircraft, as well as city-to-airport transfer services. The company is urging all prospective eVTOL manufacturers to make their aircraft available to as many operators and other partners as possible in a bid to stimulate rapid growth.

Eve Urban Air Mobility is working with multiple partners, including prospective customers Helisul Aviation and Flapper, to test the viability and public acceptance of flights in its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. An initial trial operation in Rio de Janeiro will use chartered helicopters.

Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the launch customers for Vertical Aerospace's VA-X4 eVTOL aircraft, has expressed an interest in operating flights in and out of Heathrow Airport as part of a planned all-electric, short-haul network of domestic flights in the UK. The airport is partnering with the manufacturer to understand how to integrate the new aircraft.

In September, Airbus became the latest major airframes, after Embraer, Boeing, and Bell, to announce plans to bring an eVTOL aircraft to market. The CityAirbus NextGen is a fixed-wing, four-passenger design promising range of up to around 50 miles that is expected to enter commercial service in 2025. Despite the battering its airliner business has taken from Covid, Airbus is ready to make big investments in the electric aircraft as part of its wider strategy to decarbonize air transport.

Vertical Aerospace this week announced a further $205 million investment in its plans to bring the four-passenger VA-X4 eVTOL to market in 2024. The UK-based start-up’s latest financial backers include Mudrick Capital (through $200 million in secured notes) and Kouros France (with $5 millionin backing for Vertical’s public investment in private equity).

FutureFlight recently spoke with Vertical Aerospace president Michael Cervenka. In this video interview he explains what he feels sets the company apart from rivals in the crowded advanced air mobility sector as it prepares to complete a merger/flotation with Broadstone Acquisition Corp. He explains the premise behind key design decisions for the VA-X4 and how launch customers like American Airlines, Avolon, and Virgin Atlantic intend to use it in commercial service.

The Jetson One is a kit-built personal eVTOL vehicle developed by Swedish start-up Jetson. The company publicly opened its order book in October 2021 and says it will start making deliveries during 2022.