Beyond Aero has reported that it has achieved technology readiness level 6 with the hydrogen-electric propulsion system it is developing for its planned BYA-1 business jet. On October 1, the French start-up said it had demonstrated a full-scale example of the powertrain at its headquarters in Toulouse.

Thermal management is proving to be one of the more significant safety and performance challenges for developers of electric aircraft propulsion systems. Australia’s Conflux Technology is applying a combination of advanced additive manufacturing and niche design experience honed in the world of Formula 1 racing cars.

To help fulfill the U.S. Air Force’s need for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA)—next-generation “loyal wingman” drones that can collaborate with crewed military jets—major engine manufacturers have set their sights on a new class of small, affordable engines for uncrewed aircraft systems. Engine manufacturers GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney highlighted their new CCA offerings last month during the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. 

The FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule for normalizing unmanned aircraft systems beyond visual line of sight operations “introduces significant changes to how aircraft share the low-altitude airspace where vertical flight operations routinely take place,” according to Vertical Aviation International. The National Business Aviation Association also expressed concerns about the anticipated regulations.

MightyFly has signed a $50 million deal with a California-based healthcare diagnostics firm to offer same-day deliveries of medical test kits using autonomous, hybrid-electric cargo freighters. Under the five-year contract, the delivery services will launch in California and Nevada before expanding nationwide. 

Carbon conversion technology company Airco has reached a milestone at its pilot sustainable aviation fuel production facility in Brooklyn, New York. For the first time, it brought together the core elements of its innovative carbon dioxide-to-fuel process into a single, fully integrated system.

AIN is boosting its coverage of the commercial aviation sector by featuring a selection of special reports from Leeham News & Analysis (LNA). Increasingly, the two outlets are collaborating on content since AIN Media Group acquired the latter respected independent platform in June, and there are synergies with the focus of the FutureFlight channel with its focus on new aerospace technology and air transport business models.