UAM oppdateringer - Future Flight

 

Israeli eVTOL Aircraft Developer Turns to United Arab Emirates for Partnership Israel-based Urban Aeronautics is likely negotiating with UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala to forge a partnership with its Strata division, which might build the CityHawk eVTOL model at its plant in Al Ain. In a solicitation for a $50 million Series A funding round, Urban Aeronautics shareholder the Besadno Group also touted prospective deals with the U.S. and Israeli militaries. READ MORE

Airbus E-Fan Alumni Chart a New Course with Atea eVTOL Aircraft Ascendance Flight Technologies is pressing ahead with plans to have the Atea eVTOL aircraft ready to enter commercial service by 2025. The French start-up, formed by a group of young former Airbus engineers, plans to appoint key program partners during 2021 and will likely be in the market for a funding round before the end of 2022. READ MORE

Pipistrel Unveils Plans for 20-Seat Electric Miniliner to Connect Small Communities Pipistrel sees the Miniliner operating from short runways of no more than 1,000 meters in length that could be merely grass landing strips. The company is evaluating several electric and hydrogen-based powertrain options for the aircraft and is open to partnerships. READ MORE

Varon Adds Weather Prediction to Its Air Mobility Infrastructure Plan Varon Vehicles is developing a package of infrastructure and services to support eVTOL aircraft operations. Initially, the Colombian company is targeting highly congested South American cities and intends to own and operate aircraft under a business-to-business model that would support consumer service providers. READ MORE

French Government Backs Zéphyr Hydrogen Propulsion Project with Covid Grant French start-up Avions Mauboussin will need higher levels of investment to get its Alérion M1h and Alcyon M3c aircraft into commercial operations. To provide flexibility while hydrogen fueling infrastructure is put in place, the company intends to launch both fixed-wing aircraft with early hybrid versions that will burn existing jet-A fuel or sustainable aviation fuel. READ MORE

Aerospace Veteran GKN Seeks to Stretch Itself with a Future in Advanced Air Mobility GKN Aerospace, which started life 262 years ago, is looking for new directions for its extensive aerospace business. The tier-one aerostructures supplier hasn't ruled out becoming a full-blown aircraft manufacturer, backed by the experience of companies it has acquired in recent years, such as Fokker of the Netherlands. But first, chief technology officer Russ Dunn says, it needs to fully understand where the real opportunities lie for advanced air mobility. READ MORE

On the Radar EHang Pushes Back Against Wolfpack's Claims That It Has Misled the Market on Aircraft Sales and More Wolfpack Research report on EHang EHang has strongly refuted claims by Wolfpack Research that the eVTOL aircraft developer is “a stock promotion destined to crash and burn.” In a statement issued late on February 16 in response to a report issued earlier in the day by the self-proclaimed “activist research firm” that largely focused on taking short positions on equities, the Chinese company said that the accusations made by Wolfpack were based on “numerous errors, unsubstantiated statements, and misinterpretation of information.” In trading on New York’s Nasdaq exchange, EHang’s stock closed the day almost 63 percent down at $46.31. This ended a surge that had seen the stock peak at $124.09 as recently as February 12, more than halving the company’s valuation from above $6 billion to just over $2.5 billion. Wolfpack’s inflammatory report accuses EHang of fabricating revenues “based on sham sales contracts” and of boosting its perceived value “with a collection of lies about its products, manufacturing, revenues, partnerships, and potential regulatory approval” for the EH 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle. Much of the report focuses on a company called Shanghai Kunxiang Intelligent Technology that Wolfpack says is a major customer for the aircraft sales that EHang claims to have made. Based on investigations conducted in China, Wolfpack characterizes Kunxiang as a “sham customer," alleging that it bought shares in EHang before its December 2019 initial public offering and has connived to boost the value of this equity by ordering aircraft. READ MORE

On the Radar More eVTOL Developers Added to AAM Reality Index as SMG Adjusts Ratings SMG's Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index February 2021 After a relatively slow start in the first half of January, the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector has resumed its wild ride in recent weeks, with eVTOL aircraft developers jostling for attention and fresh funding. To some observers, talk of billion-dollar mergers points to a trend that could see a small group of leading contenders pulling away from the unwieldy field of wannabes. Arizona-based consulting firm SMG has taken the opportunity to update the AAM Reality Index (ARI) that it unveiled at the start of the year. The company committed to periodic updates as new information comes to light but seems determined to be selective in how many companies it chooses to rate. This may be an attempt to nudge other companies to be more transparent about where their programs stand, rather than sticking to the tired mantra of “take my word for it, I’m a serial entrepreneur who made a small fortune from an app for ordering donuts and this is the freshest concept since the Wright Brothers discovered spruce wood and silk and before you know it the skies will be dark with our eVTOLs.” If greater candor results from this exercise then it is welcome and the approach taken by SMG certainly prompts questions as to how to assess new aircraft programs. READ MORE

United Airlines to Operate eVTOL Aircraft As SPACs Hover For Merger Deals – FutureFlight Archer Aviation just announced plans for a share flotation through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company called Atlas Crest Development. At the same time, United Airlines said it plans to buy up to 200 of the start-up's new eVTOL aircraft for commercial passenger flights. Watch Video

Featured Program MOBi-One Airspace Experience Technologies is developing a tiltwing eVTOL aircraft that it says will be used for multiple applications, including cargo and passenger transportation. During 2020, the company made significant changes to the wing and propulsion system, and the revised aircraft was announced in early 2021 under the name Sigma Six. It intends to stop using the MOBi-One program name but, as of February 2021, had yet to confirm a new name. READ MORE

Featured Person Rafi Yoeli   Dr. Rafi Yoeli founded Metro Skyways' parent company Urban Aeronautics in 2003. He is a former senior engineer with Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing. Yoeli also founded a technology development company, Aero Design and Development, and is a reserve officer in the Israeli Air Force.

UPCOMING EVENTS   March 10, 2021 / Helsinki, FInland The Ecological and Electric Aviation conference is being organized by MAF Finland and will feature companies and organizations from across Europe and also North America.  READ MORE