The futures of at least two eVTOL aircraft developers hang in the balance as Lilium and Volocopter scramble to firm up urgently needed new capital to prevent bankruptcy. Over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, the financial foundations at both German companies—launched respectively in 2015 and 2011—shifted precariously against a backdrop of ever-starker contrasts between the sector’s “haves” and “have-nots.”


Nearly a year after Honeywell International and NXP Semiconductors joined forces to develop “smart” solutions for optimizing energy consumption in buildings, the two companies announced today at the CES 2025 trade show in Las Vegas that they are expanding the scope of their collaboration to bring similar technologies into aviation products. Among these applications is Honeywell Aerospace’s in-development Anthem integrated flight deck. 

 



Vertical Aerospace has expanded the scope of flight testing with its VX4 eVTOL prototype. After the UK Civil Aviation Authority broadened the terms of its permit to fly, the company this week started piloted thrustborne hover trials at Cotswold Airport in the southwest of England.


Over the last few years, much of the hubbub about hydrogen in the advanced air mobility sector has revolved around hydrogen fuel cells, which could power eVTOL aircraft and small regional airplanes without producing harmful emissions. But hydrogen combustion technology has been picking up steam, too, with several companies preparing test campaigns with hydrogen-burning engines in 2025.

Manufacturers of traditional fossil fuel-burning engines—including Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Safran—are betting on liquid hydrogen as the most effective means of powering large passenger-carrying airliners more sustainably and helping the industry achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.



While various hydrogen propulsion options are under development for next-generation airliners, French start-up Beyond Aero for now appears to be the only company actively working to bring a hydrogen-powered business jet to market. The Toulouse-based company recently announced the completion of a $20 million Series A funding round taking its total funding to date to $44 million as it advances plans for a six- to eight-seat aircraft that could enter service in 2030.


As EHang continues to ramp up production and deliveries of its pilotless, two-seat EH216-S eVTOL aircraft, the Chinese company has been busy signing infrastructure deals and forging partnerships focused on the development of China’s “low-altitude economy.”


Beta Technologies nearly doubled the number of electric aircraft chargers in its nationwide charging network over the last 12 months, the Vermont-based company announced on January 7. With 30 new charging stations coming online in 2024, Beta now has chargers at 46 sites across 22 states. An additional 23 sites for both public and private use are in the planning and development stages, according to Beta.



UPCOMING EVENTS

  • 12 ANNUAL EVTOL SYMPOSIUM/TRANSFORMATIVE VERTICAL FLIGHT 2025
  • PHOENIX, ARIZONA
  • February 4 - 6, 2025
 
  • FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEAPLANES AND AMPHIBIOUS AVIATION
  • MIAMI, FLORIDA
  • February 11, 2025
 
  • VERTICON (FORMERLY HAI HELI-EXPO)
  • DALLAS, TEXAS
  • March 11 - 13, 2025
 

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FutureFlight editor Charles Alcock can be reached via email or at +1 201-345-0092.

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