Experts say that 2022 needs to be a year in which eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft developers focus more squarely on meeting demanding engineering objectives, putting complex infrastructure in place, and convincing prospective customers that they should view advanced air mobility as progress. After a year in which new capital appeared to be readily available, at least to the front runners, 2022 could see a significant narrowing of an extraordinarily crowded advanced air mobility field as cash-strapped start-ups face harsh realities.

The new 5G Intelligent Air Mobility Experience Center in the Chinese city of Guangzhou is the latest addition to EHang's planned 100 Air Mobility Routes Initiative to support the rollout of eVTOL air services across urban areas. The 5G telecommunications technology will be incorporated into EHang’s command and control system to manage flight operations.

With the first commercial eVTOL aircraft flights due to start in just over 24 months from now, much work remains to be done in certifying the new models. But there is arguably at least as much complexity to be resolved to meet the requirement to develop the ground infrastructure needed for these aircraft to operate from, and vertiports are already being planned in cities worldwide.

UK-based start-up Autonomous Flight will launch a $100 million Series C funding round in early 2022 to support plans to bring its six-seater Y6S Plus eVTOL aircraft into commercial service during 2024. It is also ready to start taking preorders for the all-electric vehicle, which will have a range of 100 miles.

Without the drawer of factors such as state government tax breaks, Vermont is looking to attract aviation-focused high-tech start-ups, like Beta Technologies, which is developing the Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft in Burlington. According to technology campus and business accelerator vertical capital fund Hula, the northeastern U.S. state is now a magnet for well-educated, highly skilled employees who can increasingly pick and choose where they live and work.

Hill Helicopters aims to bring its HX50 and HC50 light helicopters to market from 2023, which is around the same time that the first of the new eVTOL aircraft could be achieving type certification. In a recent presentation, the UK company's founder Jason Hill was dismissive of the potential for electric VTOL technology, arguing that it won't deliver viable performance at a competitive cost.

Joby has developed a flight simulator for the four-passenger eVTOL aircraft it has in development. AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber, who is an experienced jet-rated pilot, recently had the opportunity to fly the simulator and in this AIN Debrief podcast he provides a lot of detail on what's inside the cockpit and how the new model differs from many other aircraft types. He "flew" around Washington, D.C., taking off from National Airport and landing at the Pentagon's helipad.

Autonomous Flight intends to launch its Y6S Plus eVTOL aircraft into commercial service from 2024. The six-seater aircraft should be able to operate on routes of up to 100 miles.