Major Investors Expect First Commercial eVTOL Passenger Routes to be Operational by 2026 – February 27

Major Investors Expect First Commercial eVTOL Passenger Routes to be Operational by 2026 – February 27

New Horizon Aircraft Ltd., doing business as Horizon Aircraft (“Horizon Aircraft” or the “Company”), a leading hybrid electric Vertical TakeOff and Landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft developer, publishes new global research* that indicates global investors are anticipating the first commercial passenger routes of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to be operational in the next few years as the Future Air Mobility market continues to advance rapidly. 

Its global study with senior executives at leading investment firms in Japan, the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia responsible for more than $1.787 trillion assets under management reveals increasing optimism about the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market with two in five (40%) investors stating they think the first commercial UAM routes will be operational by 2026. Only 4% of professional investors believe the debut date for commercial passenger routes will extend beyond 2030. 

This study also revealed that nearly all (96%) professional investors agree that the growing demand for better and more efficient transportation systems across the world, combined with the need to reduce the environmental impact caused by more vehicles on the road and advances in technology improving the safety and viability of eVTOLs, will drive improvements in the regulatory framework and fuel investment in the sector over the next five years. Only 1% of investors did not agree that overcoming any potential obstacles would inevitably see increased investment in the eVTOL market. 

The main factors concerning the eVTOL market that will need regulation highlighted by professional investors are Information and Communications Networks followed by Air Traffic Control and Security.

Horizon is targeting the future production of a manned seven-seat capacity hybrid electric eVTOL called the Cavorite X7 which includes room for a pilot and six passengers. It has been developed in response to demand from potential customers in the medevac, business aviation and commercial cargo sectors.

Brandon Robinson, CEO of Horizon Aircraft, said: “Private equity, venture capital and family office investors have been closely monitoring the Future Air Mobility sector for some time, but are now seeing an acceleration towards the launch of the first commercial eVTOL passenger routes. The sector has already attracted significant investment, and we anticipate that this will only increase as ongoing developments in technology and regulation provide new investment opportunities in this rapidly expanding market that has the potential to revolutionise transportation.” 

Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 hybrid eVTOL aircraft is anticipated to carry 1,500 lbs of useful load at speeds up to 250 miles per hour and have an average range of over 500 miles with fuel reserves. Horizon believes that this experimental aircraft, if eventually licensed for commercial use, would be well-positioned to excel in medical evacuation, critical supply delivery, disaster relief, and special military missions. The Company believes that the proposed aircraft would also be attractive for Regional Air Mobility – moving people and cargo 50 to 500 miles.

Unlike many in its category, the Cavorite X7 is being designed with a hybrid electric power system such that it could, after its vertical takeoff, re-charge its batteries enroute when it is flying in a configuration like a traditional aircraft. After a vertical landing and completion of a mission, the aircraft is being designed to recharge its battery array in under 30 minutes in order to be ready for its next mission.

Horizon believes that its innovative approach and technology will allow the Cavorite X7 to fly 98% of its mission in a very low-drag configuration like a traditional aircraft. The Company believes that flying most of the time as a normal aircraft is also safer and will make the aircraft easier to certify than other radical new eVTOL designs. The Company is continuing the testing of its 50%-scale aircraft that it believes will reduce technical risk moving forward as it continues to develop its full-scale aircraft

* Horizon Aircraft commissioned the market research company PureProfile to survey 200 senior private equity, venture capital and family office professionals representing institutions managing with more than $1.787 trillion assets under management to capture their views on their eVTOL market. Respondents were based in Japan, Canada, the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The survey was conducted online in November 2023.

The post Major Investors Expect First Commercial eVTOL Passenger Routes to be Operational by 2026 – February 27 appeared first on Avionics International.

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Joby Acquires Facility in Ohio, Begins Hiring to Support Initial Manufacturing Operations – March 5

Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has acquired an existing facility at Dayton International Airport and begun hiring in support of the Company’s initial manufacturing operations in Dayton, Ohio.

The facility acquired by Joby will be fitted out to support initial manufacturing operations in Dayton, which are expected to begin later this year. The facility will be used for the manufacturing of aircraft parts in support of Joby’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California.

Joby’s acquisition of the on-airport facility is the first step in the Company’s plan to develop facilities capable of building up to 500 aircraft per year in Dayton, which is expected to include the design and construction of a larger greenfield factory.

“We’re pleased to be able to acquire an underutilized facility at Dayton International Airport and repurpose it as a modern, high-tech manufacturing center to serve as our initial manufacturing footprint in the region. Later this year, we expect to begin subtractive manufacturing of titanium and aluminum aircraft parts as we continue to grow our workforce in Dayton,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

“I am deeply appreciative to the Dayton community, and Ohio more broadly, for the warm welcome we have received as well as the high level of interest in joining our team. We look forward to continued collaboration and to growing our presence in the Miami Valley region as we build the future of flight in the birthplace of aviation.”

Joby announced in September 2023 that it had selected Dayton, Ohio, as the location for its scaled manufacturing facility, capable of producing up to 500 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft per year, with plans to invest up to $500 million and create up to 2,000 high-quality, clean manufacturing jobs in the region.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

The post Joby Acquires Facility in Ohio, Begins Hiring to Support Initial Manufacturing Operations – March 5 appeared first on Avionics International.

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Pivotal Delivers Four BlackFly light eVTOLs for U.S. Air Force evaluation; Contracted for Eight Aircraft

Pivotal, a market leader in light electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced it has delivered four of eight BlackFlys and two flight simulators for lease to MTSI for evaluation by AFWERX and the United States Air Force. The Air Force is evaluating Pivotal aircraft performance by assessing a host of benefits across diverse applications for the company’s proven tilt-eVTOL architecture, and testing a range of remotely piloted missions. Selected by AFWERX and Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) to participate in the Agility Prime initiative, Pivotal is providing the Air Force with pilot training and support services in addition to the aircraft and flight simulators. The program will operate out of New Braunfels National Airport, Texas, and from the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, Ohio.

“AFWERX’s and MTSI’s decision to partner with Pivotal is a strong endorsement of our platform’s maturity and a milestone on our journey to mission relevance,” said Ken Karklin, CEO, Pivotal. “With over 12 years at the forefront of light eVTOL aircraft development, it is an honor to join forces with AFWERX and MTSI to demonstrate the utility and versatility of Pivotal’s patented eVTOL architecture.”

“Over the next eight months, we will fly eight BlackFly eVTOL aircraft in different environments to test their mission effectiveness and suitability in military uses,” said Vance Drenkhahn, Executive Vice President, DSD, MTSI. “Pivotal’s amazing light eVTOL platform offers an opportunity to support AFWERX and solve real-world challenges.”

“AFWERX continues to look for ways to accelerate our understanding of eVTOL operations, maintenance, logistics and potential use cases.” said Lt Col John Tekell, AFWERX Agility Prime branch chief. “1-2 person eVTOLs have potential for several missions including special operations, surveillance, and disaster and emergency response with local command and control at a much lower price point than traditional helicopters.”

The post Pivotal Delivers Four BlackFly light eVTOLs for U.S. Air Force evaluation; Contracted for Eight Aircraft appeared first on Avionics International.

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Joby Completes Third Stage of FAA Certification Process

Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has become the first developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to complete the third of five stages of the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) type certification process.

During the third stage of the process, Joby submitted certification plans that cover all of the aircraft’s structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, as well as the Company’s intended certification approach to cybersecurity, human factors, and noise.

These certification plans, which detail the tests and analyses that Joby will use to certify every aspect of its aircraft for commercial use, have now all been reviewed and accepted by the FAA, laying the groundwork for Joby to submit test plans and begin for-credit testing across every area of the Company’s aircraft program.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, commented: “Joby continues to lead the industry towards bringing electric air taxis to the commercial market. Our certification and engineering teams are best-in-class and, working closely with the FAA, continue to support U.S. leadership in this new area of aviation.”

Joby is now fully focused on the fourth stage of the certification process, where the Company will complete tests and analysis for FAA credit covering every component and system on the Joby aircraft – as well as the entire aircraft itself.

“With all of our certification plans  accepted by the FAA, we are now completely focused on the execution phase of the certification process. We have a clear path to certifying every aspect of our aircraft, and the team is full steam ahead on executing against that path as we continue to lead the industry to commercialization,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Joby completed 30 for-credit tests covering a number of flight electronics units as well as structural materials. The testing methods and processes validated through these tests lay the foundation for the Company’s continued expansion of FAA for-credit testing.

Joby also recently received its Part 145 Repair Station Certificate from the FAA, allowing the Company to perform select maintenance activities on aircraft and marking another key step on the path to commercializing Joby’s electric air taxi service.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

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Sikorsky-Boeing Select New Honeywell Engine To Power FLRAA Offering

Sikorsky and Boeing said Thursday they have selected Honeywell’s new HTS7500 turboshaft engine to power its Defiant X helicopter offering for the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition.

Honeywell said the new HTS7500 is based on its T55 engine, which powers the Army’s Chinook heavy-lift fleet, noting it’s 42 percent “more powerful” than that system and “has the lowest total weight compared to other engines in its horsepower class.”

“This engine builds upon the battle-proven architecture of the T55, but the HTS7500 takes engine performance, reliability and efficiency to a whole new level,” Dave Marinick, Honeywell Aerospace’s president for engines and power systems, said in a statement.

The Sikorsky-Boeing team and Bell, offering its V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft, are the two competitors for the Army’s FLRAA program to find a replacement for its Black Hawk helicopters.

A production contract for FLRAA is set to be awarded in late fiscal year 2022.

“Defiant X is a transformational aircraft, and Honeywell is giving us a transformational engine to power it,” Paul Lemmo, president of Sikorsky, said in a statement. “Defiant X is optimized for operational effectiveness, sustainment and interoperability with the enduring fleet, and will transform the Army.”

Honeywell called the new HTS7500 engine its “most technologically advanced model,” and said it’s designed to exceed FLRAA’s mission power and fuel consumption requirements. 

“The new engine comes equipped with a modernized control system, which enables a highly secure flow of engine data,” Honeywell wrote in a statement. “The control system improves operating capabilities, reduces life-cycle costs, and ensures engine health status through its digital thread road map.”

Sikorsky-Boeing’s Team Defiant told Defense Daily they have used the Honeywell’s T55 engine in its SB>1 Defiant technology demonstrator platform informing the Defiant X offering as well as in the Propulsion System Test Bed used to gather data for furthering FLRAA development.

Last month, the Sikorsky-Boeing team detailed a recent full FLRAA mission profile flight test with SB>1 Defiant, to include conducting low-level flight and confined-area landings, reaching a speed of 236 knots and conducting 60-degree banked turns.

The post Sikorsky-Boeing Select New Honeywell Engine To Power FLRAA Offering appeared first on Avionics International.

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