The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) this week expanded the scope of work that eVTOL aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace can do under the design organization approval (DOA) it received in March 2023. The UK-based company also announced on July 10 that an agreement has been reached between EASA and the CAA as to how the two regulators will collaborate over type certification activities for the four-passenger VX4 vehicle that Vertical wants to bring to market in 2026.

Developers and prospective operators of eVTOL aircraft remain hostage to multiple complex challenges as they seek to launch commercial services. Battery performance is high on that list, according to power technology specialist About:Energy, which is seeking to guide the ambitious advanced air mobility sector through a complex path to making the best of what is available and what yet might become available.

Deutsche Aircraft is pushing back the projected service entry for its D328eco regional airliner until the end of 2027. The German manufacturer has been working to modernize the 1990s-era twin turboprop and has aimed to achieve EASA type certification in 2026.

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions expects to close the first stage of its Series B funding round at the end of July, allowing it to accelerate plans to bring a hydrogen-powered regional airliner to market. However, it remains intent on bringing the first converted nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander into commercial service in 2027.

Heart Aerospace plans to reveal a technology demonstrator for its ES-30 hybrid-electric regional airliner in the fall. The Sweden-based company has changed the architecture for the 30-seater’s propulsion system to an independent hybrid configuration it said will allow more missions to be flown in all-electric mode.

SkyDrive is conducting a feasibility study to integrate air taxi flights using its three-seat SD-05 eVOTL aircraft with local railway services in Japan. On July 4, the company signed a cooperation agreement with Kyushu Railway, which operates services on Japan’s third-largest island.

At the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow, Supernal gave an international debut to its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft that at the time it designated the SA-1. The Hyundai-backed company has made a lot of progress since then. This year at the show, it will be providing updates on what it now calls the SA-2 model. Two years ago, AIN's video news team interviewed Michael Whitaker, who was then Supernal's chief commercial officer. Today he is the administrator of the FAA.