FLYING took the opportunity to see what’s on the horizon in terms of both traditional helicopters and the red-hot powered-lift and eVTOL categories ahead of the Helicopter Association International’s HeliExpo in February at Anaheim, California.

Bell 525

The Bell 525 (at right) proposes to bring the first fully digital, fly-by-wire rotorcraft to the civil market, and Bell Helicopter has been hard at work getting the program to the finish line down at its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

So what does that mean? The FBW design logic on the 525 is different from an aftermarket add-on autoflight system such as the GFC 600H. In this case, Bell’s partnership with Garmin has translated to the G5000H flight deck.

Tim Evans, business development manager on the 525 program, gave FLYING a special update ahead of Heli-Expo.

“Broadly speaking, flight testing is continuing very nicely, with the good relationship we have with the FAA,” said Evans. “Last year, we were able to complete nine TIAs towards certification, and by the end of February, we should have only five events left. Two of them we’re already into, and the other two [should be complete] by midyear.”

• READ MORE: Bell 360 Invictus Prototype Advances with T901 Engine Delivery

At that point, all of the delegated activities that Bell is responsible for will be finished—and the team will turn things over to the FAA. From there, functional and reliability testing is the last milestone to cross, with 150 hours of flying with the FAA, putting the 525 through its operational paces.

As with similar Textron Aviation aircraft programs, Bell engaged its Customer Advisory Board, which gave a clear message.

“The overwhelming response?” said Evans. “It’s automation that will bring a level of safety seen commensurately on the fixed wing side—the redundancy will be game-changing to how the civil market functions.”

According to Bell, the 525 will deliver what the customer feedback told it was needed: “When you pull it into a hover and get to 20 to 30 feet—with no pedals—it will hold that attitude, essentially hands off.”

Pilots can also turn into an angle of bank, with no pedal inputs, and the 525 will do a full 360 at the input bank angle.

“The control laws are able to anticipate and calculate the pilots’ inputs,” said Evans, noting that the 525 also benefits from a level of redundancy not seen before in this class of rotorcraft. “We’re shaping some of the requirements in Part 29, so the FAA required a triple redundancy—three computers, three hydraulic [systems]—so [it’s] a safer aircraft at a foundational level.”

Several markets that Bell shaped the 525 for include offshore, VIP/head of state, and SAR/parapublic/Coast Guard—so Bell built certain provisioning into the airframe itself, though kitting will take care of the details. Bell has multiple launch customers and is in active negotiations, though it can’t say yet who those first deliveries will go to.

In closing our briefing, Evans also wanted to highlight the green side of the design.

“If you compare the 525 to others in the medium space, it’s going to be 30 percent more efficient than a [Sikorsky] S-92. That’s one we’re pretty proud of. We’ve also flown it on SAF fuel, a 30 percent blend, but capable of up to 100 percent.”

Leonardo AW09 and AW609

Two projects from Leonardo Helicopters have also been winding their way through the certification process along the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) track—the modern-yet-standard AW09 helicopter and the AW609 tiltrotor design.

The single-engine AW09 was originally developed by Kopter Group, a company acquired by Leonardo in 2020. Proposed as a multimission solution for VIP transport, emergency medical services, utility operations, and security teams, the AW09 will carry up to eight passengers.

A five-blade, all-composite rotor system will translate into smooth flight characteristics and a high degree of maneuverability. Up front, the Garmin G3000H flight deck offers pilots next-generation glass. The Safran Arriel 2K powerplant has dual channel FADEC with an auxiliary backup system. Projected retail pricing begins at $3.9 million.

• READ MORE: Leonardo Tests AI-Enabled Visual Awareness System for Rotorcraft

A year ago, on March 16 and 17, Leonardo began familiarization flight testing with EASA on the tiltrotor AW609, following on to FAA testing in February. The company plans dual certification, so it is moving through the process with both agencies concurrently. Leonardo pursues this strategy in hopes of making up for some lost time, as the AW609 began life in the 1990s as a joint project between Bell and Agusta, called the BA609.

That’s probably why it bears some resemblance to the more commonly known Bell V-22 Osprey. The AW609 similarly enters the powered-lift category with its ability to take off vertically and fly at high cruise speeds with props tilted forward—up to twice the speed of normal helicopters, according to the company. The expected service ceiling will be 25,000 feet msl.

Its projected certification timeline remains in the distance, with a proposed retail price beginning at roughly $24 million.

Up Next for Robinson?

Robinson continues to set the pace on the light GA end of the market with its line of piston-powered R22s and R44s, and turbine R66 helicopters.

• READ MORE: Airworthiness Directive Issued for Robinson Helicopters

While the Lycoming O-320-powered R22 is well known in training, the R44—with its O-360 engine—crosses over into the recreational and light transportation markets with the Raven and Raven II variants. The R66 fulfills a variety of roles, with added cruise speed—up to 110 knots—extra passenger capacity, and turbine reliability from its Rolls-Royce RR300 engine.

As of press time, the company indicated news on the horizon that it would be sharing at Heli-Expo—including the updated empennage for the R44—so stay tuned into FLYING’s reporting from the event.

eVTOLs Next?

As we gear up for Heli-Expo, we know that the show floor will host an entire flight line of eVOTLs in various stages toward initial FAA certification. While we covered Joby Aviation’s prospects in detail in our “First Look: Joby’s eVTOL Future” piece in this issue, it is far from the only player in town.

Archer Aviation’s Midnight has recently passed its Phase 1 flight testing program, hot on Joby’s heels. The company announced in late January that it would be ready for the beginning of for-credit flight testing with the FAA later in 2024. The Midnight cuts a similar profile to the Joby aircraft—carrying one pilot plus four passengers—but with six fixed rotors in a forward flight position and six fixed for vertical flight. The test unit has yet to make the transition from vertical to forward flight as of press time, but we expect this to come soon.

Beta Technologies launched its program with a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft

called the Alia to test its electric propulsion system in a more traditional airframe before moving forward into the powered-lift space. As of late January, Beta had conducted multiple flights with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Defense in both on-base and cross-country ops as part of the Agility Prime program. While it tests the applicability and cost reduction

possible—using electric aircraft in missions including casualty evacuation to go operational in 2025—Beta hopes to take what it learns and produce an eVTOL version by 2026.

Overair’s Butterfly eVTOL is also coming up quickly, as the Southern California-based company signs on several new customers in South Korea as well as Houston-based Bristow Group. Overair is now working through its G-1 Stage III means of compliance documentation with the FAA, with testing of the full-scale, six-seat prototype to begin later this year.

Meanwhile, south of the equator, Eve Air Mobility recently saw Brazilian aviation authority ANAC release the proposed airworthiness criteria for its design, along with bringing a list of key suppliers on board. Eve broke ground on its manufacturing facility in Taubaté, Brazil, earlier this year as well.

Many other players, including Volocopter, Lilium, and Jump Aero continue to chug along—and the race is really heating up as to who will make it to certification first. Oh, wait—that honor already belongs to EHang, which obtained CAAC’s blessing for its EH216-S in China in late 2023—and made the first commercial demonstration flights with it by December.

This feature first appeared in the March 2024/Issue 946 of FLYING’s print edition.

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The company’s Arabia Aircraft and Maintenance Services subsidiary on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Helicopter and Jet Company (THC), a provider of commercial helicopter services wholly owned by the government of Saudi Arabia, to explore advanced air mobility (AAM) initiatives and “other collaborative vertical lift endeavors” in the country.

The MOU provides a framework for the partners to adopt emerging technologies—such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) or short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft—and grow Saudi Arabia’s aviation ecosystem, Bristow said.

“THC has demonstrated amazing success in a short period of time,” said Chris Bradshaw, president and CEO of Bristow. “We are excited about this new agreement, and our partnership with THC underscores Bristow’s intent to grow our business in the Middle East. Bristow has collaborations with multiple leading AAM manufacturers to provide critical safety, operational, certification, and logistics expertise.”

The partnership with THC is just the latest AAM-related agreement for Bristow, which has steadily pivoted from operating solely rotorcraft. In recent years, the company has shifted focus to vertical flight more broadly, embracing technologies such as eVTOL and eSTOL.

For example, Lilium, which has a deal to sell as many as 100 eVTOL Lilium Jets to Saudi flag carrier Saudia, also signed a nonbinding agreement with Bristow that includes the option to purchase up to 50 aircraft. Under the agreement, Bristow would provide maintenance services for the manufacturer’s planned Florida AAM network.

In addition, Bristow has deals for up to 50 eVTOL aircraft from Vertical Aerospace, as many as 55 from Beta Technologies, and up to 80 from Volocopter. It also agreed on preorders for 100 Elroy Air Chaparral eVTOL cargo drones and up to 50 Electra.aero eSTOLs.

The new additions will serve customers in the U.S. and other regions within Bristow’s network—including, potentially, Saudi Arabia.

“This agreement will also allow us to help transform Saudi Arabia’s general aviation industry through our forward-thinking work, cementing our role as a regional leader and an increasingly global player,” said Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC.

The Middle East is quickly becoming a hotbed for AAM activity, with manufacturers attracted by the high levels of investment and cooperation by the Saudi government and the companies it backs. Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Lilium, Volocopter, and EHang are among those looking to fly in the region. 

Some are even eyeing Saudi Arabia. Lilium, for example, is working with airline Saudia to launch a nationwide eVTOL network. Another German manufacturer, Volocopter, is looking to build its own network in the planned smart city of Neom.

In addition, Joby this month signed an exclusive six-year deal to operate electric air taxis in Dubai, shutting out competitors such as Archer and Embraer’s Eve Air Mobility that had previously announced plans to fly in the city.

Archer is now looking elsewhere within the United Arab Emirates, working with the city of Abu Dhabi and local operators Falcon Aviation and Air Chateau to bring AAM to the country. China’s EHang also intends to expand operations to Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

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The manufacturer and vertical flight provider on Wednesday hosted more than 100 spectators for a demonstration of Beta’s electric Alia conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft—which the company intends to launch commercially in 2025—in Houma, Louisiana, about 50 miles southwest of New Orleans. The companies claim the aircraft is the first of its kind to arrive in the state.

Beta also asserts that the Alia CTOL is the first electric aircraft to be flown by the U.S. Air Force, Army, FAA, and now Bristow pilots. Bristow placed a firm order for five vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Aria variants, with an option for 50 more, in August 2022. When Beta announced plans for the CTOL model, the operator placed an additional deposit-backed order for 50 conventional aircraft.

“We designed Alia with the goal of carrying out the most critical missions in a safer, cleaner, and more efficient manner,” said Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta. “We’re excited to fly Alia into Bristow’s home base in Louisiana, marking the first time an electric aircraft has flown in the state and the next step of our partnership together as we look to execute real missions in the market.”

In addition, Bristow has placed orders for 50 electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft from Electra.aero, as many as 80 Volocopter VoloCity eVTOLs, and up to 100 Elroy Air Chaparral VTOL cargo drones.

Bristow primarily provides services to offshore energy companies and government entities, conducting missions such as personnel transport and search and rescue. Now, the company is looking to introduce electric, zero-emission aviation to its markets worldwide, complementing its catalog of vertical flight offerings with advanced air mobility (AAM) services.

The nearby Gulf of Mexico is one of the firm’s largest service regions, but it also has customers in 17 countries.

“Our vision is to be an innovator in flight solutions,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Bristow. “We believe aircraft like Beta’s Alia can expand our offerings and complement some of our current services. Our thinking is our current customers are natural AAM customers initially. We believe it will open up many new possibilities in the Gulf region.”

Among the more than 100 attendees at Beta and Bristow’s demonstration in Houma were local politicians, airport officials, customers, and subject matter experts. Spectators watched the CTOL make several passes over the airfield to exhibit its maneuverability.

“These new technologies have the potential to make certain missions more efficient, quieter, more accessible, and more sustainable,” said Chris Bradshaw, president and CEO of Bristow. “We view AAM as a natural extension of Bristow’s core competencies of safe and reliable vertical flight solutions, and we see multiple avenues for Bristow to participate in the emerging AAM value chain.”

Added Clark: “Bristow has built a strong reputation doing this across the globe, and continues to lean forward to what’s next. The team has been a crucial partner to Beta over the years, providing input and support every step of the way from design to mission application to aircraft handling feedback.”

The CTOL’s visit to Bristow—one of its first stops on the way back to Beta’s Burlington, Vermont, headquarters—follows the conclusion of Beta’s first electric aircraft deployment for the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field (KEGI) in Florida. There, the aircraft flew simulated missions including the first simulated casualty evacuation with an electric aircraft.

Beta said Alia, en route to Duke, became the first electric aircraft to fly in the flight restricted zone of Washington, D.C., stopping at nodes in Beta’s expanding electric charging network along the way. That network includes a charging station at Duke, which was the first electric aircraft charger to be installed at a Department of Defense site. According to the company, nearly 20 locations are now online, with a further 50 in development.

Beta’s charging network will support AAM operations nationwide when the time comes, opening up as many airfields as possible for Alia, as well as all electric aircraft and ground vehicles, the company says. The firm hopes to introduce the CTOL in 2025, followed by the VTOL variant in 2026.

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The Houston-based operator on Wednesday placed a deposit on early delivery positions for five hybrid-electric, ultra-short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft from manufacturer Electra.aero. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding for the preorder of up to 50 aircraft in 2021, and Bristow is expected to be Electra’s principal launch operational customer.

“This cash deposit is a real show of confidence in our eSTOL aircraft and a validation of our development roadmap,” said John S. Langford, chair and CEO of Electra. “Bristow is a true AAM leader, and we look forward with anticipation to the future delivery of our aircraft to Bristow’s fleet.”

Bristow will use the eSTOL aircraft to offer zero-emission, regional air mobility (RAM) passenger services, with routes spanning 50 to 500 sm (43 to 434 nm). The design can take off and land in locations as small as 300 by 100 feet—less than the size of an American football field—which opens up operations out of remote or underutilized airports.

Electra achieves this through a unique blown-lift architecture, wherein slipstream flows are directed back over the wings into large flaps and ailerons, which direct the flows downward to augment lift. According to the company, this allows the aircraft to takeoff at “neighborhood driving speeds,” shortening the runway requirement.

“Bristow looks forward to being among the first AAM companies to add the Electra eSTOL aircraft to our fleet and offer our customers the advantages of this new class of aircraft,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer of Bristow. “Electra’s eSTOL aircraft aligns perfectly with our vision, while enabling new markets at substantially lower operating costs.”

Bristow’s deposit comes just a few days after a major milestone for Electra: the maiden voyage of its EL-2 Goldfinch demonstrator, which was unveiled in June. The company claims the 23-minute, 30 sm (26 nm) flight was the “world’s first” of a hybrid eSTOL design.

The aircraft’s eight electric motors run on a small turbogenerator, which uses hybrid-electric power to recharge its batteries. Electra says this reduces emissions (by 30 percent) and noise (75 dBA at 300 feet, equivalent to a vacuum cleaner) below those of traditional airplanes or rotorcraft. There’s also the benefit of added range and payload, stemming from the eSTOL’s lack of reliance on ground-based electric chargers and the reduced energy requirements of blown lift.

Unlike air taxis manufactured by Joby Aviation or Archer Aviation, for example, Electra’s design uses fixed wings and rigid propellers, so there is no hover or transition to forward flight. The configuration gives it a path to be certified as a multiengine, Level 3, low-speed airplane under FAA Part 23 and be operated with a standard pilot’s certificate in the airplane category.

Electra’s isn’t the only electric aircraft design Bristow has looked to snap up over the past few years.

In 2021, the helicopter operator announced a partnership with the U.K.’s Vertical Aerospace for the delivery of up to 50 VA-X4 air taxis, positioning them as some of the earliest additions to the firm’s eVTOL fleet. The following year, it added an order for up to 50 Lilium Jets and another for as many as 55 Alia-250s from Beta Technologies.

More recently, Bristow in September placed deposits for the early delivery of five Elroy Air Chaparral cargo drones, the first shipment of its preorder for up to 100 aircraft. Just a few days later, the company agreed to order as many as 80 Volocopter VoloCity air taxis, placing a firm order for two of them.

The operator’s other commitments include 20 to 50 Butterfly eVTOLs from Overair and 100 air taxis from Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility.

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Now for this week’s top story:

Volocopter Enters the U.S. eVTOL Fray

What happened? U.S. manufacturers of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, beware. Germany’s Volocopter, the highest-ranking non-U.S. company on SMG Consulting’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Reality Index (a nifty tool I use often to evaluate eVTOL firms), will take off and land in America with Houston-based Bristow Group in the coming years.

Coming to America: Bristow and Volocopter agreed to a deal that will see the former buy two VoloCity eVTOLs with the potential to acquire another 78, for a total of 80. The agreement also calls for the two to explore commercial, operational, and eVTOL maintenance services for the U.S. market.

When it arrives, the German company will compete mainly with Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, considered the two titans of the yet-to-be-formed U.S. eVTOL air taxi industry. It’ll also need to worry about Boeing’s Wisk Aero, which is expected to launch a bit further out. But perhaps the reality is that those companies should be worried about Volocopter.

The velocity of VoloCity: As things stand, Volocopter is a very real threat to steal market share from Joby, Archer, Wisk, and others. The firm expects VoloCity to receive European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification in 2024, with FAA approval following soon after. The goal is to fly it over Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games before launching it commercially—a year before the U.S. anticipates starting its first eVTOL air taxi services.

The German company also finished work on its main production facility in Bruchsal, earning EASA approval to build up to 50 VoloCity aircraft there every year. In addition to Paris, it’s looking to fly in Rome and Singapore in 2024.

Quick quote: “With this collaboration, Volocopter surpassed 500 pre-orders accumulated, including nearly 30 firm orders from reputational partners. I am filled with excitement toward the vast potential of the U.S. and U.K. markets and looking forward to working with Bristow’s experienced team as we prepare for operations,”said Christian Bauer, chief financial officer and chief commercial officer of Volocopter.

My take: Bristow and Volocopter’s partnership was picked up heavily by aviation media, and rightfully so. While nothing is final, Volocopter’s hypothetical U.S. entry would make waves.

In an industry that’s entirely up for grabs, the early entrants will have a major advantage in gobbling up market share and securing the funding they’ll need to scale up in the future—and perhaps no company is better positioned to fly now than Volocopter. VoloCity is one of the most well tested eVTOL designs out there. And while Joby, Lilium, and others have pushed back their certification targets, Volocopter has stayed right on schedule, delivering promising update after promising update.

The company may just have an excellent PR team. But keep an eye on Volocopter’s certification process and the status of its Paris Olympic Games demonstrations. If all goes according to plan, the company has the potential to beat out Joby, Archer, and other U.S. manufacturers.

Deep dive: Bristow to Bring Volocopter Air Taxis to U.S. Via New Partnership

In Other News…

NASA Astronaut Rubio Sets U.S. Spaceflight Record

What happened? On Monday, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio set the U.S. record for most consecutive days spent in space, having orbited on the International Space Station for 355 days. By the time his mission ends later this month, Rubio will become the first American—and just the seventh human—to spend a year straight in space.

An unexpected record: When Rubio departed for the space station last September, he only planned on staying for six months. However, when a meteorite poked a hole in the Russian Soyuz capsule that carried he and two Roscosmos cosmonauts to the orbital lab, stranding them, their mission was extended to a full 365 days and change.

Rubio’s journey to the space station is his first trip to space. But the first-time astronaut has handled the situation like a pro, helping NASA conduct zero-gravity experiments for three separate research efforts. Rubio is also the first person of Salvadoran descent to reach space.

Deep dive: NASA Astronaut Sets U.S. Spaceflight Record with Yearlong Mission 

FAA Extends Remote ID Compliance Deadline

What happened? Well, something was supposed to happen Saturday. But the FAA’s enforcement of its Remote ID rule for drone operators was pushed back to March 2024, giving them another six months to get their drones in order. Remote ID technology acts as a “digital license plate in the sky,” allowing the FAA and other regulators to keep an eye on them.

What’s the holdup? It appears the FAA is accounting for some unanticipated difficulties operators are facing, potentially due to its own actions. The agency did not release a means of compliance for its Remote ID rule in the Federal Register until August 2022, giving manufacturers just one month to adhere to new requirements for producing drones and remote ID broadcast modules. That’s now trickling down to operators, who have had trouble acquiring the right tech.

The FAA hinted at last week’s Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas that a change would be coming to Remote ID. However, it’s safe to say this was somewhat unexpected. The good news is that drone operators now have more time to comply: check out FLYING’s handy guide on what you’ll need to do.

Deep Dive: FAA Extends Drone Remote ID Compliance Deadline by 6 Months

And a Few More Headlines:

• Electric aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace tapped Honeywell to install the flight control system for its ES-30.

• Joby-backed startup H2Fly completed piloted flights of its HY4 demonstrator running on liquid hydrogen.

• The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) assembled an Avengers-like team of industry stakeholders.

• Drone delivery firm Flytrex said it will deploy technology to cut delivery times in half with Papa Johns, Little Caesars, and more.

• Virgin Galactic completed its third commercial space tourism flight and scheduled a fourth for next month.

Spotlight on…

Jump Aero

I like to think I’ve got my finger on the pulse of the AAM industry—this week it’s the JA1 Pulse first responder eVTOL from Jump Aero.

Most eVTOL makers are focused on passenger air taxi services. But Jump thinks the design is better suited to emergency response scenarios, even claiming its aircraft could beat an ambulance to the scene. The vision is to fly emergency personnel and equipment anywhere within a 31-mile radius in less than eight minutes.

Pulse’s development is backed by an Air Force AFWERX contract. That’s helped Jump test some of the aircraft’s more novel features, such as the pilot’s prone orientation (à la Superman) when in forward flight. The design could one day allow pilots to land on 10-degree slopes or in previously inaccessible locations, such as on a two-way residential street in front of a home.

Deep Dive: Startup Jump Aero Reveals Air Force-Backed Emergency eVTOL Design

On the Horizon…

Let’s dig into Remote ID a little more. Prior to the FAA’s update, drone operators had just a few days to get their equipment in order. Now they have six more months—but is that good for the industry?

Manufacturers and operators will obviously say yes. For those still installing Remote ID technology in their aircraft or equipping them with beacons, they would have faced fines for flying off the radar. But some stakeholders, such as AUVSI, urged operators to comply with the requirements as soon as possible to avoid potential safety concerns.

Separately, AUVSI has apparently been busy assembling an Avengers-like consortium of industry stakeholders to advance new drone-related policies. It includes some major players such as Draganfly, DroneUp, Skydio, and Workhorse Aero.

Among the group’s stated goals are to push for policies that prop up the U.S. drone industry while eating into China’s outsized market share. It will support legislation that includes the establishment of manufacturing tax credits, supporting access to critical minerals, and providing funding to agencies transitioning away from foreign-made fleets.

The consortium is still in its infancy. But with a roster of high-profile industry catalysts on board, the group could one day become a powerhouse on Capitol Hill.

Mark Your Calendars

Each week, I’ll be running through a list of upcoming industry events. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Aerospace Summit wrapped up Wednesday in Washington, D.C., but here are a few conferences to keep an eye on:

• Defense and Security Equipment International 2023—September 12-15 in London
• DroneX 2023—September 26-27 in London
• World Aviation Festival—September 26-28 in Lisbon, Portugal
• Airtaxi World Congress—October 2-5 in San Francisco
• FAI World Drone Racing Championship—October 6-9 near Seoul, South Korea
• Intergeo 2023—October 10-12 in Berlin
• Dronitaly—October 11-13 in Bologna, Italy
• World’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Conference—November 12-14 in Jerusalem

Tweet of the Week

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I want to hear your questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms about everything in the modern flying space, whether they’re about a new drone you just bought or the future of space exploration. Reach out to jack@flying.media or tweet me @jack_daleo with your thoughts.

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Volocopter, the German manufacturer that’s been a mainstay near the top of SMG Consulting’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Reality Index, on Thursday announced a partnership with Houston-based Bristow Group that will bring the company’s VoloCity eVTOL to the U.S. and U.K. Bristow placed a firm order for two VoloCity with the option to acquire another 78, for a total of 80 aircraft.

The partnership will combine the vertical flight expertise of Bristow, which primarily operates helicopter services, with eVTOL aircraft from Volocopter as the partners develop an urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem in the U.S. “Immediate cooperation” between the two firms will involve regulatory discussions, research on infrastructure requirements, and building local partnerships.

The joint development agreement also calls for the two to explore commercial, operational, and eVTOL aircraft maintenance services. It includes the adaptation of Volocopter’s proprietary digital platform, VoloIQ, which optimizes the allocation of batteries and other ground infrastructure, provides fleet service and management, automates routing and digital flight operations, and even connects users with cabs, scooters, and other ground transportation after they land.

Volocopter expects to receive European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification for VoloCity in 2024. A concurrent certification path with the FAA could allow it to begin operations in the U.S. shortly after. Prior to Thursday’s update, the company had not announced any services in the U.S. market.

“With this collaboration, Volocopter surpassed 500 pre-orders accumulated, including nearly 30 firm orders from reputational partners,” said Christian Bauer, CFO and CCO of Volocopter. “I am filled with excitement toward the vast potential of the U.S. and U.K. markets and looking forward to working with Bristow’s experienced team as we prepare for operations.”

Bristow earlier this week placed deposits for early deliveries of five Elroy Air Chaparral cargo drones. The commitments add to the firm’s orders for up to 55 Beta Technologies Alia-250s, up to 50 Vertical Aerospace VA-X4s, 20 to 50 Overair Butterfly eVTOLs, 50 Lilium Jets, and 100 eVTOL aircraft from Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility.

Bristow mainly flies helicopter services around the world, including in Australia, Africa, Latin America, the U.S., and the Caribbean. But the company is making it clear that other vertical-lift aircraft are in its crosshairs.

“Launching this collaborative effort with Volocopter marks a major milestone in Bristow’s effort to usher in a new era of vertical transportation solutions,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Bristow. “Volocopter has taken a pragmatic approach to certification with a simple and elegant initial aircraft design and is leading the pack in its efforts to bring their aircraft to market.”

Volocopter, meanwhile, does not yet operate commercially. But it’s set to fly VoloCity over Paris at the 2024 Olympic Games through an agreement with international airport operator Groupe ADP, the French Civil Aviation Authority, and the Paris Region. The initiative is similar to the FAA’s Innovate28 plan for air taxi demonstrations at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. But it’s scheduled to take place a full Olympic cycle before the U.S. effort.

The company first unveiled its VoloCity design in 2019. Its two seats provide room only for a pilot and one passenger, but 18 rotors powered by nine lithium-ion battery packs give it a 440-pound payload, a 22 sm (19 nm) range, and a 68 mph (59 knots) cruise speed. Volocopter claims the design is four times quieter than a small helicopter.

VoloCity will be certified in the EASA special condition—VTOL (SC-VTOL) category. The company obtained design organization approval (DOA) in 2019, giving it permission to begin developing its design. It followed that up with a production organization approval (POA) in 2021, giving it the green light to begin producing its type-conforming aircraft. 

Now, it’s seeking the coveted type certification which so far no eVTOL manufacturer has achieved. That would be a major step toward commercial operations. If the company doesn’t obtain type approval by 2024, it would need special permission from regional authorities to fly in Paris.

In January, Volocopter formed a new company and applied for an air operator certificate to fly commercial services with VoloCity. Normally, a company would first need to obtain type certification. But the firm has an agreement with regulators that has allowed it to pursue both in parallel. It’s serving as somewhat of a test case for authorities as they draw up AAM regulations.

The company also recently completed its Bruchsal, Germany production facility, noting that it received regulatory approval to manufacture 50 VoloCity aircraft per year there. In addition to Paris, Volocopter is looking to fly in Singapore and Rome in 2024, as well as in the planned city of Neom, Saudi Arabia as soon as construction allows. It just wrapped up the first eVTOL test flights in the country in June.

Looking a bit further out, the company is also developing the longer range VoloRegion model. It’s expected to connect cities and suburbs with UAM routes and first flew in 2022. The VoloDrone heavy-lift cargo drone is also in development.

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The post Bristow to Bring Volocopter Air Taxis to U.S. Via New Partnership appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Bristow on Tuesday announced it placed deposits for early deliveries of five Elroy Air Chaparral VTOL cargo drones, part of the company’s letter of intent to preorder 100 Chaparral systems in  July 2022. The move ensures Bristow will receive some of the first commercially certified Elroy aircraft off the production line and will add the first VTOL cargo models to its aircraft portfolio.

Elroy expects the first deliveries of Chaparral will happen in 2025. Bristow, which already operates a global network of helicopter services, plans to deploy the aircraft internationally to support advanced air mobility (AAM) use cases in cargo logistics, healthcare, and energy.

A Bristow spokesperson told FLYING the early stage of Chaparral’s development and certification make it difficult to pinpoint an exact delivery date. But the company sees it becoming an integral part of its global fleet to compliment its services in existing markets.

“There is an increasing demand for the movement of time-sensitive cargo for logistics, healthcare and energy applications,” said Dave Stepanek, executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Bristow. “Securing these early delivery positions underscores our commitment to leading the [AAM] market and builds on our 75-plus year legacy of vertical lift innovations. At Bristow, we’re excited to usher in a new era of vertical lift operations and collaborate with Elroy Air to meet the emerging market of express shipping cargo in cities and regions, without relying on existing or new airport infrastructure.”

Elroy’s Chaparral, unveiled in January 2022, is a hybrid-electric, lift-plus-cruise VTOL drone with a 300 pound payload—far larger than most drones—which makes it ideal for heavy cargo operations. Those could one day include middle-mile commercial logistics, industrial cargo services, humanitarian aid shipments, and aerial lines of support for U.S. Navy ships and military bases.

Chaparral has two core components: the aircraft and its cargo pods. The drone itself cruises at 143 mph (125 knots) and can fly up to 300 sm (260 nm) —about the distance between Houston and the U.S.-Mexico border. A hybrid-electric powertrain powers eight vertical and four forward propellers, relying on both conventional turbines and electric propulsion for flexible fueling. With a 26-foot wingspan and a length of 19 feet, the airframe can be configured to fit inside a 40-foot shipping container or the cargo hold of another aircraft.

Chaparral also comes with two different cargo pods designed to load heavy or light cargo. An autonomous ground navigation system uses advanced perception and robotic technology to guide the aircraft to the pod, which is intended to be preloaded by ground personnel. Cargo loaders can then sit back and watch as the aircraft’s lift-and-latch cargo handling mechanism grabs the pod entirely on its own.

The automated ground navigation and cargo handling systems allow Chaparral to retrieve cargo before takeoff, release it after landing, and taxi to the next pod by itself. That minimizes turnaround time and operator interaction on the ground, creating what Elroy calls a “bidirectional conveyor belt through the sky.”

The company in May demonstrated Chaparral’s autonomous ground capabilities at Travis Air Force Base in California as part of the Air Force’s Golden Phoenix Technology Demonstration Event.

“Getting to this stage of the process—reserved delivery positions secured with deposits—underscores our relationship built with Bristow and we are extremely pleased to be at this stage in development,” said Kofi Asante, vice president of business development and strategy for Elroy. “Bristow’s expertise is a strong catalyst for bringing new aircraft like ours to the market. Their rotorcraft expertise, global footprint, and innovative mindset have made them a strong partner and we are excited for the next chapter together.”

Chaparral adds to Bristow’s other VTOL purchases, of which it has made a heap over the past 24 months. The company has orders for up to 55 Beta Technologies Alia-250s, up to 50 Vertical Aerospace VA-X4s, 100 eVTOL aircraft from Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility, and between 20 and 50 Overair Butterfly aircraft. It also plans to buy 50 Lilium Jets and agreed to provide maintenance for the German company’s Florida network in addition to its future networks in the U.S. and Europe.

As of January, Elroy has sold more than 900 Chaparral systems representing more than $2 billion in purchase demand. According to SMG Consulting’s AAM Reality Index (ARI), that places it behind only Eve, Vertical, and China’s EHang among the major AAM players. It ranks seventh in overall ARI rating, which measures a company’s ability to produce thousands of units of commercial products per year. Rival Beta ranks second, with Vertical, Lilium, and Textron’s Pipistrel—all of whom look to serve the cargo industry—also in the mix.

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The post Bristow Group Secures Early Deliveries of 5 Elroy Air Chaparral Cargo Drones appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company calls the CX300 an “eCTOL,” or electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft. It resembles an ALIA-250 without rotors for vertical flight. Beta said that for years it has been testing two versions of its prototype aircraft, one for hovering flight and the other for wing borne cruise flight. This arrangement allowed the company to gather a broad range of performance data quickly.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies: An eVTOL Developer That’s All About Flying

The airframe, batteries, propulsion, and other systems used in the CX300 will be the same as those of the ALIA-250, which is already moving through the FAA certification process, the company said.

Beta said its eCTOL test aircraft has reached a number of milestones during development flights, including covering a total distance of more than 22,000 miles and completing evaluation flights with test pilots from the FAA, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army. The aircraft also made a flight of more than 386 miles from Jamestown, New York, to the company’s test facility in Plattsburgh, New York.

Beta said it designed the eCTOL and eVTOL test aircraft “to fulfill essential missions for its customers, optimizing payload and range to enable short-haul and regional operations with zero operational emissions and much lower operational costs.” Expected customers include cargo, medical, defense, and passenger operators. The company said new and existing customers have placed orders for the eCTOL aircraft.

• READ MORE: Bristow Group Places Firm Order for Beta Technologies eVTOLs

“We have been flying our eCTOL prototype airport-to-airport for a few years now to drive technological advancements in propulsion and systems, and now we’re seeing that there is a clear market for this product in addition to our eVTOL aircraft,” said Beta’s founder and CEO, Kyle Clark.

Beta said it applied for type certification of the CX300 with the FAA last year and is planning to complete certification and begin delivering aircraft in 2025.

“We continue to progress our ALIA eVTOL design through certification, in harmony with the eCTOL program. The two aircraft are common in their design, allowing us to economize validation of our high performance solutions,” Clark said.

The company said Air New Zealand, biotech company United Therapeutics, and Bristow, a provider of vertical flight services, are among its customers for the CX300. Beta said it is nearing completion of its final assembly facility in Vermont and expects to begin manufacturing of aircraft this summer.

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