Electric batteries group Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) is set to make a strategic investment in eVTOL aircraft developer AutoFlight. On August 3, the Chinese companies announced that CATL would invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” in AutoFlight and would collaborate in battery development and manufacturing for eVTOL vehicles, including the four-passenger Prosperity model.

Beta Technologies has received FAA authorization to begin dual-seat pilot training in its Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, the Vermont-based aircraft developer announced Wednesday. The FAA letter of authorization allows student pilots to operate Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft, so long as they share the dual flight controls with one of Beta’s powered-lift test pilots.

For decades, the team at TE Connectivity (TE) has been helping design safe and efficient electrical power management systems for everything from military planes to moon landers. Now TE is supporting a new frontier: the emerging Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) industry.

Air New Zealand remains committed to exploring the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft despite an announcement this week that it is scrapping a net-zero carbon reduction target for 2030. A spokesperson for the carrier told AIN it is “still progressing all our work on next generation aircraft” when asked about the status of cooperation agreements it reached in December 2022 with Eviation, Beta Technologies, VoltAero, and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions.

Joby Aviation has filed an application with Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to have the pending FAA type certification for its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft validated in the country. On August 6, the U.S. company announced the start of the process, which will be based on CASA’s bilateral agreement with the U.S. regulator.

Moya Aero has started work on a hybrid-electric version of its planned autonomous eVTOL aircraft in response to demands from prospective customers for more range. The Brazilian start-up this week announced it will prioritize this model over the original battery-electric version in order to increase the range from around 60 nm to 163 nm, with a projected payload capacity remaining at 440 pounds.

U.S. regional cargo carrier Alpine Air Express has provisionally agreed to purchase up to 75 of Aura Aero’s hybrid-electric, 19-passenger ERA aircraft, the French manufacturer announced on July 31. The letter of intent Aura and Alpine signed last week builds upon a partnership they formed in June 2023 to collaborate on certification efforts for the aircraft, as well as operational and customer support services. 

Archer Aviation has erected the walls of a 400,000-sq-ft factory in Covington, Georgia, where the Silicon Valley-based aircraft developer plans to mass-produce its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL air taxi. According to Archer, construction is on track for completion by the end of this year. 

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Wright Electric a contract to develop high-power-output rechargeable batteries. Under the Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research contract announced on August 7, the New York-based start-up will explore options for using its new thermal batteries to power multi-rotor uncrewed air vehicles.