Executives from Embraer and special purpose acquisition company Zanite rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on May 10 to celebrate the public listing of Eve Holding. Under the terms of the business combination, Embraer now holds a 90 percent stake in the new company while Zanite shareholders and several other investors control the balance.

While hinting at some changes in its approach to regulating flight training and operations, the FAA insisted that its approach to certifying new eVTOL aircraft remains unchanged. The Vertical Flight Society and General Aviation Manufacturers Association have expressed frustration at what they view as ill-considered changes to planned rule-making.

Airbus has named California-based electric-motor specialist Magicall to provide the complete electric propulsion system for its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft. The company is aiming to start flight testing the first full-scale prototype in 2023.

While several companies work to advance fuel cell technology using hydrogen gas for generally small aircraft, the application of liquid hydrogen likely will show the most promise for larger airliners due to its superior energy density and versatility. The use of liquid hydrogen stored in a cryogenic tank onboard to power turbine engines presents the most straightforward means of introducing a passenger-carrying aircraft to the market, according to experts in the field.

ZeroAvia will soon be flight testing its 600-kW ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain on a pair of Dornier 228 twin-turboprop aircraft, with one now positioned at its California headquarters and the other in the UK. The company says it will soon announce new partners to evaluate potential applications for converted aircraft.

Avionord says that it plans to add up to 15 of Manta's hybrid-electric ANN eVTOL aircraft to its fleet of business jets and helicopters, beginning in 2026. The Italian operator specializes in emergency medical and organ transplant flights and believes that eVTOL aircraft could improve the efficiency of these operations by avoiding airports and ground transportation.

Hydrogen fuel cell developer Hydroplane has signed its second U.S. Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer contract to demonstrate an engineering-model hydrogen fuel cell-based powerplant in a ground and flight demonstration in partnership with the University of Houston. The company expects to fly its demonstrator aircraft next year.

Embraer recently concluded a series of experimental flights to evaluate autonomous flight technology. The flights were conducted with Eve Urban Air Mobility and partners including artificial intelligence specialists Daedalean, Iris Automation, and Near Earth Autonomy as part of the process for developing an eVTOL aircraft concept of operations for the Brazilian mega-city Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian aerospace group released video showing piloted helicopters being used for data collection and real-time evaluation of several technologies in urban environments as part of its so-called Project EASy Embraer Autonomous Systems development work. The helicopters were operated by Helisul, which is Eve’s partner for developing urban air mobility services in Brazil. Its plans for operating eVTOL air taxis across Rio de Janeiro were highlighted in this recent YouTube video.

Air is an Israel-based start-up working to bring its Air One two-seat personal eVTOL aircraft to market by the end of 2024.