The FAA has selected eight proposals as part of the new Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).
Advanced Air Mobility
FAA Expands UAS Test Site Network for First Time Since 2016
The expansion of the test locations is designed to accelerate the integration of drones into the National Airspace System, including how they will share that space with manned aircraft.
Nation’s first AAM strategy released
The strategy and accompanying action plan outline 40 recommendations to “safely and efficiently support Advanced Air Mobility operations,” according to DOT officials.
Test flights begin for unmanned Cessna 208
Reliable’s flight tests will demonstrate regional air cargo operations in a terminal area in which maneuvers, procedures, ATC interactions, and implications of visual clearances for remotely piloted operations are assessed. Multiple data collection flights will be conducted, including flights designed to demonstrate contingency scenarios including lost link procedures, detect and avoid with visual observers, and Global Positioning System degraded and denied scenarios, according to officials with Reliable Robotics.
Virginia launches advanced air mobility and unmanned systems test site
Developed to support the deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), urban air mobility solutions, and other advanced aviation platforms, the program will serve as an operational proving ground for new capabilities that align with Virginia’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) strategy, public-private priorities, and long-term economic goals, according to state aviation officials.
Georgia Tech opens new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory
The Georgia Institute of Technology has officially opened its new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory, which is dedicated to advancing research in electric and autonomous flight in collaboration with academic, government, and industry partners.
Caravan flies 7,000 miles without a pilot
Joby Aviation recently completed a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology, logging more than 7,000 miles across more than 40 hours in a Cessna Caravan without a pilot.
GE Aerospace partners with BETA to advance hybrid electric flight
Under the new agreement, GE Aerospace and BETA plan to develop a hybrid electric turbogenerator for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications, including long-range Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, future BETA aircraft, and other potential applications.
Expanding electrification across Michigan
Avflight, in partnership with electric aerospace company BETA Technologies, has installed electric aircraft charging infrastructure at four of its Michigan-based FBOs.