Supported by its new electric propulsion subsidiary Ampaire, private air transportation group Surf Air Mobility intends to convert 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to hybrid-electric propulsion in 2024. The aircraft, currently powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine, will be flown by partner operators that post the availability of aircraft and flights on Surf Air's booking platform.

The latest court filing in the intellectual property dispute between eVTOL aircraft developers Wisk Aero and Archer Aviation urges federal judge William Orrick to reject Wisk's motion for a preliminary injunction. Archer's lawyers say Wisk has not proven any of its allegations that Archer's Maker eVTOL demonstrator is based on designs developed by Wisk that were passed on by former employees moving between the California-based companies.

Aachen in the west of Germany is cooperating with neighboring cities in Belgium and the Netherlands to integrate eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft into their public transportation networks. They say local citizens want flexible and environmentally sustainable services for moving in and around cities, including Maastricht, Liege, Hasselt, and Heelen.

Under the terms of a purchase contract for five eFlyer 800s, Rheinland Air Service will act as a distributor for the eight-seat electric aircraft, as well as provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Porsche Consulting's projected $32 billion value for the global eVTOL air taxi market by 2035 is tempered by expectations that achieving this number will require investments across the industry totaling $20 billion. Its new report, which updates an earlier study conducted in 2018, provides details on the number of anticipated passengers, ride frequencies, and operating locations.

Energy group EDP, which produces and distributes electrical power worldwide, is helping Embraer's eVTOL aircraft developer Eve to research what it will take to efficiently recharge electric aircraft in large-scale commercial operations. Eve, which aims to bring its four-passenger eVTOL model to market in 2026, is working with a diverse array of international partners to develop all aspects of the urban air mobility ecosystem.

Having tested several prototypes of its planned two-seat eVTOL aircraft, Air is now building a full-scale technology demonstrator that it intends to start flying early in 2022. The company claims that owners will require minimal flight training to operate the aircraft, thanks to unspecified "fly by intent" flight control technology based on systems previously employed on drones.

Urban Aeronautics is preparing a redesigned version of its CityHawk VTOL aircraft, with plans to power this model with a combination of electric motors and hydrogen fuel cells to drive its patented Fancraft ducted fans. While working on the new model, the Israeli company recently completed a round of flight testing with the original technology demonstrator. This is powered by a Safran Arriel 2N turboshaft helicopter engine, and the company says it may press ahead with a turbine-powered VTOL to meet early use cases such as emergency medical operations. The aircraft, which weighs around a ton, has been operating fully autonomously at low altitudes of around 15 meters over rural terrain.

Opener has consistently been one of the most secretive of the eVTOL aircraft developers. According to some sources close to the program, the company is making good progress but it is hard to independently verify this assessment.