Recent Updates

Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Interim NYC Police Commissioner Tom Donlon announced the city’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. The initiative is now active in five commands (two drones each) within three of the city’s five boroughs. Missions include missing persons searches, alerts from the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, robberies/grand […]

Vermont-based Beta Technologies has announced the completion and initial test flight of its first production Alia conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft last week. It’s the first all-electric aircraft built on Beta’s new-build production line in South Burlington, Vermont. The company also plans a vertical takeoff (VTOL) version of the Alia. Beta CEO, founder and […]

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 […]

The United States Marine Corps completed its investigation into the 2023 F-35B crash in Williamsburg County last year, attributing the incident primarily to pilot error. According to the report released Thursday, the pilot experienced multiple system failures while attempting to land in heavy rain at Joint Base Charleston. After losing his helmet display and other […]

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’ […]