China’s EHang and one of its local partners have become the first companies in the world to receive air operator certificates covering commercial passenger-carrying flights in eVTOL aircraft. EHang announced on March 31 that subsidiary Guangdong EHang General Aviation and joint venture Hefei HeYi Aviation had received the approvals from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Ethiopian Airlines and Archer Aviation are teaming up to lay the groundwork for an electric air taxi network in Africa using the latter’s four-passenger Midnight eVTOL aircraft. As a partner in Archer’s “Launch Edition” commercialization program, the East African carrier will receive “an initial fleet” of Midnight aircraft, but the partners have not specified the number of aircraft to be delivered or the delivery schedule. Announcing the collaboration on March 27, Archer noted the deal is worth up to $30 million.

Stralis Aircraft is advancing its plans for hydrogen-powered aircraft, starting with a technology demonstrator based on a Bonanza A36 model with which it is aiming to start flight tests by the end of 2025. The Australian start-up intends to apply for a supplemental type certificate covering the conversion of the single-engined aircraft. It also has longer-term plans to convert the larger Beech 1900D utility aircraft and to develop a clean-sheet regional airliner called the SA-1-HE.

Vertical Aerospace this week became the latest eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to adopt the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) battery charging system for the VX4 model it is developing. On March 31, the UK-based company confirmed that it has purchased a pair of the CCS chargers developed by Beta Technologies, which also uses them for its Alia CX300 and Alia 250 electric aircraft.

Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer TCab Tech has closed a Series B+ funding round, announcing on March 27 that it has now raised a total of $100 million. The Shanghai-based company did not disclose the amount raised in the latest round, which it said was backed by Grand NeoBay Venture Capital and Chifortune Venture Capital.

Advanced air mobility infrastructure specialists LynePorts and Bluenest have teamed with hybrid hydrogen-electric VTOL aircraft developer Lyte Aviation to pave the way for new vertiports at locations in the Middle East. The partners announced their alliance on March 27, saying that the initial focus of their joint efforts will be in Oman and the UAE.

Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 electric airplane stopped by Duncan Aviation’s FBO in Provo, Utah, during its cross-country tour this month to perform flight demonstrations for an audience of about 90 local leaders and officials. According to business aviation services group Duncan, the flights marked Utah’s first-ever electric aircraft demonstrations.