Elfly Group has agreed to become the Scandinavian distributor for the all-electric Bristell B23 Energic light aircraft being jointly developed by BRM Aero and electric propulsion specialist H55. On December 16, Norway-based Elfly signed a memorandum of understanding covering a prospective order for three of the two-seaters, plus options for three more.

Nimbus Aerospace, a U.S. start-up planning to introduce an electric business jet, has flown a one-tenth-scale demonstrator aircraft for the first time. The Seattle-based company is targeting a range of about 1,000 nm for the six-passenger N1000 aircraft, which it said could enter service in 2032. 

Archer Aviation is teaming up with defense tech company Anduril Industries to develop a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that the two California-based partners intend to pitch to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Air New Zealand will accept delivery of an Alia CX300 electric airplane and several aircraft chargers from Beta Technologies in 2025 as the flag-carrier airline prepares to launch commercial cargo operations with the aircraft in 2026. After agreeing to purchase up to 23 Alia CX300 aircraft last year, Air New Zealand has opted to lease an additional “technical demonstrator” to use for familiarization practices ahead of service entry, Beta announced on December 11. 

Joby Aviation this week completed a series of aerostructures tests on its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft as it works toward FAA type certification. On December 17, the company announced the successful conclusion of static loading testing for the tail structure, for which it earned type certification credits with FAA officials present at its facility in Santa Cruz, California.

The European Union-backed Clean Aviation initiative issued an advance notice of its third call for decarbonization research and development proposals last week. Aerospace companies have been invited to apply for up to €380 million ($399 million) in EU funding as part of a program valued at a minimum of €950 million when contributions from industry and other entities are factored in.

Dubai is jockeying for a position to be among the first, if not an actual world-first, to offer eVTOL air taxi services. In February, the government granted Joby Aviation exclusive rights to the local market for a period of six years, and in recent months the manufacturer has indicated that it expects to start operations in the UAE before services start in major U.S. cities such as New York City and Los Angeles.