eVTOLs/Urban Mobility

Microsoft Flight Simulator “pilots” can now take the controls of a Joby Aviation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi. The Santa Cruz, California-based eVTOL developer announced today its six-motor aircraft’s profile will be included in the next generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. According to the company, Flight Sim players will be able […]

On Thursday, Archer Aviation announced it has entered into agreements with Soracle Corporation, a newly formed joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation, to bring advanced air mobility (AAM) services to Japan. Under the agreement, Soracle has the right to place an order for up to 100 Midnight aircraft—worth approximately $500 million—subject to certain […]

The FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office issued a request for information (RFI) this week to industry stakeholders seeking their input on research areas pertinent to technologies related to UAS and advanced air mobility (AAM). The goal is to explore methods for integrating new technologies into the National Airspace System (NAS). Officials said, “Ongoing […]

Eve Air Mobility says it has received the final version of the airworthiness criteria from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency for its urban mobility aircraft. The company, which is backed by Embraer, said its multicopter will be type certified under a “special class category” by the Brazilian agency. It’s not clear how that will mesh […]

eVTOL start-up Lilium has filed for bankruptcy days after the German federal government and the Free State of Bavaria have failed to guarantee $108 million in loans the company needs to stay in operation. In a Form 6-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Lilium said it’s out of cash and can’t pay its […]

GE Aerospace announced today it is joining with Munich, Germany-based Regional Air Mobility (RAM) developer Lilium “to build a solid safety foundation for this exciting new mode of travel.” With 1,000 employees (500 engineers), Lilium will share flight data and analytic platforms with U.S.-based GE, which boasts 52,000 employees worldwide. Plans for the partnership include […]

Toyota announced today it was investing a half billion dollars more in Joby Aviation. Since 2019, the carmaker has already invested some $394 million in the electric air-taxi developer. Toyota said the added investment is “to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies’ […]

One of the most unusual entries in the flying car sweepstakes says it has 3200 pre-orders and is getting set up for full-scale manufacturing. Alef Aeronautics announced it will buy parts from a joint venture by PUCARA Aero and MYX. Alef’s aircraft has a self-centering gimballed flight deck suspended in a screened platform that houses […]

The FAA’s long-awaited rules governing the operation of eVTOL (powered-lift) aircraft will be released in October, a couple of months ahead of the date mandated by Congress, according to a senior Department of Transportation official. Various outlets reported that Christopher Coes, acting undersecretary of transportation for policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation, told Honeywell’s […]

Archer Aviation’s eVTOL prototype Midnight completed 402 test flights so far this year, surpassing its goal of 400 flights in 2024, the company announced Tuesday. Over the past eight months, Archer has intensified its flight test operations in preparation for “for-credit” certification testing with the FAA. “When we first set our goal for 400 flights […]