Flying Magazine
• Jonathan Welsh
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro, an electric aircraft designed for flight training, has secured EASA certification and recently received an FAA exemption. The regulatory milestones position the aircraft as an early example of electric propulsion moving from demonstration toward practical general-aviation operations.
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Pipistrel’s Velis Electro, an electric aircraft designed for flight training, has secured EASA certification and recently received an FAA exemption. The regulatory milestones position the aircraft as an early example of electric propulsion moving from demonstration toward practical general-aviation operations.
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Cathay Pacific and Google are expanding trials of AI-powered technology that identifies opportunities to avoid aircraft condensation trails, which can contribute to atmospheric warming. Cathay is Google’s first commercial airline partner in Asia-Pacific and the first carrier to test contrail avoidance on ultra-long-haul flights.
Beyond is working with airport partners in France and the UK to assess the fueling infrastructure and operational requirements for a fuel-cell-powered business jet. The research will examine the airport-side conditions needed to support hydrogen aircraft operations and inform the company’s development plans.
Airports are making progress on emissions they directly control, but supply-chain emissions remain the larger challenge. As the sector commits to net zero while planning for continued growth, some airports are exploring whether building less infrastructure can help reconcile expansion with climate targets.
Paddy Lowe, founder of Zero Petroleum, is calling on airlines and governments to take greater risks to scale sustainable aviation fuels, as the company works to certify a “100% replica” of Jet A-1 produced from air and water.
Hydrogen in Aviation says the UK has made progress against its 2024 goals but warns that momentum is insufficient to secure a leading position in hydrogen-powered flight. The report calls for concerted action to prevent more ambitious international competitors from capturing the technology and industrial opportunity.
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Hydrogen-electric business jet developer Beyond Aero is partnering with Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur to prepare airport infrastructure and operating procedures for hydrogen-powered business aviation. The effort focuses on enabling future aircraft operations at the French airport group’s facilities, linking aircraft development with the infrastructure required for commercialization.
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REGENT Craft’s full-scale, all-electric Viceroy prototype has completed its first human-crewed flight, flying 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds in a Rhode Island bay. The wing-in-ground-effect vehicle is intended for high-speed coastal transportation, with deliveries planned for late 2027.
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