FutureFlight Newsletter: September 1, 2022 | Aviation International News

MintAir Orders 40 Jaunt Journey eVTOL Air Taxis for Korean Market

Jaunt Air Mobility and MintAir are partnering to bring advanced air mobility services to South Korea. In a letter of intent announced on August 29, MintAir agreed to purchase up to 40 of Jaunt’s Journey eVTOL aircraft. The company will also be Jaunt's exclusive advanced air mobility partner in the Asian country.

Zeva Aero Introduces Z2 Wing-Body eVTOL Prototype

Zeva Aero, the company behind the flying saucer-shaped Zero eVTOL that made its inaugural test flight earlier this year, is working on a new prototype of its unique aircraft concept. Called Z2, the new prototype will be faster, more efficient, and more compact than Zeva’s Zero technology demonstrator, and the company says it is working to add autonomous flight capabilities.

Victoria Seeks Advanced Air Mobility Leadership Role in Australia

At this week’s AAUS Advanced Air Mobility Summit in Melbourne, the Victoria state government issued its Advanced Air Mobility Industry Vision Statement to spell out plans for a wide consultation in 2023 over how new electric aircraft could benefit its communities. During the same event, infrastructure group Skyportz published plans for what it says could be the country’s first vertiport in the Melbourne district of Caribbean Park.

EvFly Shops for eVTOL and eCTOL Aircraft To Support Asian Air Mobility Service

The start-up has agreed to launch its air mobility service with four-passenger Atea eVTOL aircraft being developed by Ascendance Flight Technologies. It is also seeking proposals for other new models, including a two-seat eVTOL vehicle for pilot training and a seven-passenger eCTOL model.

GKN and Partners Step Up Liquid Hydrogen Fuel System Tests for Aircraft

GKN Aerospace is working on fuel and propulsion systems for hydrogen-powered airliners that could use liquid hydrogen. Its research and development efforts are now being supported by new test equipment in the UK provided by Filton Systems Engineering and Fabrum.

Regent Says Approval in Principle Marks Key Step to Certification of Electric Sea Glider

Certification group Bureau Veritas issued an approval in principle for the wing-in-ground effect sea glider that Regent aims to bring into commercial service in 2025. The company will seek a design basis agreement from the U.S. Coast Guard as it prepares to start test flights with a prototype of the 12-passenger vehicle in 2023.

On the Radar

Researchers Devise New Method to Extend the Lifespan of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Viable post-electrode-engineering for the complete integrity of large-volume-change lithium-ion battery anodes

Among the biggest challenges that electric aircraft developers are facing today is the limitations of battery technologies. Unless scientists come up with new ways to make smaller and lighter batteries that hold more charge for longer periods, electric aircraft will be able to make only short, regional flights before needing to recharge.

To make matters more complicated, batteries degrade over time, reducing the amount of charge they can hold and shortening their life. Just as the lithium-ion batteries in cell phones and electric cars wear out every few years, electric aircraft using today’s battery technology will need their aging batteries replaced regularly. However, new research suggests that a minor modification to existing lithium-ion batteries could extend their lifespan, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, researchers at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea say they have come up with a new way to make lithium-ion batteries last longer. To do this, the researchers added an elastic web-like structure to the anode, or the negatively charged electrode on one side of a battery cell.

Vertical Aerospace Plans for Commercial eVTOL Operations as Prototype Prepares To Fly – FutureFlight

With its VX4 eVTOL aircraft prototype nearing a first flight, Vertical Aerospace is working with customers including American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways to plan how commercial services could launch in 2025. Much work remains to prepare infrastructure and operational processes. Meanwhile, as company president Michael Cervenka explained to FutureFlight, Vertical must learn how to achieve anticipated high rates of production, which could be aided through lessons learned from car makers like Ford and McLaren Automotive.

Watch Video

Featured Program

Speeder

The main focus for JetPack Aviation is advancing the Speeder VTOL vehicle, which was developed following the company's initial work on a personal jet pack. It hopes to get the Speeder into initial military operations by around 2024.

Featured Person

Mike Romanowski

In August 2022, Archer Aviation appointed Mike Romanowski as its head of government relations. He previously spent more than 14 years at the FAA in positions such as aircraft certification director of policy and innovation and director of NextGen integration and implementation and commercial space integration. Romanowski has previously served as aviation and aeronautics advisor to the U.S. chief technology officer and as executive director of the National Science and Technology Council Aeronautics Science and Technology Subcommittee in the Obama administration. He is a past vice president of civil aviation at the Aerospace Industries Association. He earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from Duke University and master's degrees from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Boston University.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 12 - 13, 2022 / San Francisco

Revolution Aero is a key event in the advanced air mobility calendar and the 2022 conference in San Francisco is expected to draw more than 300 experts, investors, business founders, regulators, financiers, and multiple other stakeholders. Bookings are now open.