FutureFlight

Universal Hydrogen plans to fly the first-ever hydrogen-powered regional airliner by the end of this year using a hydrogen-fuel-cell-based powertrain housed completely in one of the nacelles of a de Havilland Dash 8-300 turboprop. Now in the late stages of testing the powertrain architecture in an iron bird test rig at its facility in Hawthorne, California, Universal Hydrogen has partnered with Aerotec to perform the engine integration and fly the aircraft out of Moses Lake, Washington.

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A memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday during the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh calls for an eventual purchase of 100 Lilium eVTOL aircraft and the development of seamless feeder connections to Saudi Arabian Airlines hubs.

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Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Ampaire anticipate the development of training for a worldwide network of ground engineers, potential component pooling, and operational data analysis to support the introduction of a hybrid-electric 19-passenger regional aircraft. The partnership could also support plans to develop all-electric aircraft.

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Hyundai's advanced air mobility division Supernal says Honeywell's new Anthem integrated flight deck will support its eVTOL aircraft's need for high levels of connectivity as well as the transition to simplified vehicle operations. Rival eVTOL developers Lilium and Vertical Aerospace are also using the technology.

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New German regional airline Evia Aero has committed to ordering 25 all-electric Alice commuter airplanes from electric aircraft developer Eviation. A prototype of the nine-passenger model made its first test flight on September 27.

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AeroDelft, a student-run team of engineers at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands, is working with Airbus to accelerate the development of zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered aircraft. Airbus and AeroDelft will collaborate on the hydrogen powertrain for AeroDelft's two-seat Phoenix full scale aircraft.

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MagniX, a developer of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for zero-emission aviation, plans to add hydrogen fuel cells to its product portfolio. The hydrogen fuel cells will complement MagniX's electric and hybrid propulsion systems.

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On the Radar
Berg Insight Report Predicts More Gradual Ramp-up for Electric Aircraft

Market research specialist Berg Insight sees electric aircraft, including eVTOL vehicles, gaining traction more slowly than many advanced air mobility (AAM) pioneers have projected. Still, it expects them to be a major part of the air transportation industry by the 2030s. In a new report, the Swedish company predicts a “high value rather than high volume” start for the sector.

While acknowledging that a few piloted eVTOL aircraft will enter service by the end of this decade, Berg Insight analyst Henrik Littorin feels it will be between 2031 and 2035 before the ecosystem for advanced air mobility is in place to support larger-scale operations and public acceptance of the aircraft takes root. During this period, he predicts, as many as 20,000 vehicles will be delivered globally.

Beyond that, Berg Insight sees an acceleration in the scaling up of the AAM market with 60,000 deliveries of electric aircraft between 2036 and 2050. “In our most positive scenario, we have come to the conclusion that deliveries could reach up to 150,000 vehicles between 2025 and 2050,” Littorin commented. “This scenario is based on a favorable regulatory environment where the long-term airspace management has been solved as well as the approval of autonomous flights.”

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Flight simulation software developer X-Plane released the latest version of its simulation software last week. Called X-Plane 12, the flight simulator now includes Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft. The Alia 250 is the first eVTOL aircraft available on X-Plane 12, and it’s the only aircraft on the software platform that doesn’t require fuel or a runway.

X-Plane 12 includes flight simulators for a total of 19 aircraft, both fixed-wing and helicopters, including Cessna’s Citation X business jet, the Cirrus SR22 airplane, the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, Robinson’s R22 Beta II helicopter, the Airbus A330-300 commercial airliner, and Boeing’s 737-800. Users can download a free demo of the X-Plane 12 software through the company’s website, and the full version is available to purchase as a digital download for $59.99.

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Featured Program

The all-electric Alia eVTOL aircraft is now the main focus of Beta Technologies' efforts to break into the emerging urban air mobility market, but the fixed-wing design will be able to fly routes of over 250 miles.

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Featured Person
Kevin Cox
 

Kevin Cox is the CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports, a Spain-based rail and airports infrastructure group. In October 2022, Cox joined the U.S. Department of Transportation's Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee, which provides advice on issues related to drones and advanced air mobility. Cox has more than 30 years of experience in the aviation industry and spent 16 years as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Cox holds a juris doctorate law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University.

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
November 8 - 10, 2022 / Cologne, germany

European Rotors is the continent's leading vertical flight trade show, encompassing helicopters and new VTOL aircraft. The annual event is organized by the European Helicopter Association, with the support of aviation safety regulator EASA and the Helicopter Association International.    

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