November 19, 2023, marked a special day for two North American firms – Gulfstream and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney. Why? A G600 business jet, made by the former, with two PW815GA turbofan engines manufactured by the latter, flew from Savannah, Georgia, USA, to Farnborough, Hampshire, United Kingdom, using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). That made it the first transatlantic flight to be solely powered by SAF.

The Gulfstream G600 was fed with 100 per cent Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA), which lowers lifecycle CO2 emissions by at least 70 per cent compared to fossil-based aviation fuel. The SAF used was produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services.

Also Read: Pratt & Whitney Signs A 10-Year Contract With Emirates

Last month, Maldives-based carrier Beond invited TCI to check out its first aircraft in Dubai – an Airbus A319 with 44 lay-flat seating, luxurious appointments and a starting fare of about EUR 1,500. Now, the airline has commenced commercial flights. The first one was from Munich to Male, wowing onlookers with its dark livery and copper highlights. Beond will fly this route twice weekly.

That’s not all, as the carrier also flew its inaugural flight to its hometown in Male from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Riyadh. The passengers boarded the flight from ALTANFEETHI – a private terminal for those uber-wealthy passengers.

Besides Munich and Riyadh, Beond has already announced services from Zurich, Milan and Dubai. Over the next five years, the airline intends to serve 60 destinations worldwide. It will expand its fleet to 32 aircraft, including new Airbus A321 jets due next year.

At the Dubai Airshow 2023, French firm VoltAero unveiled a universal mobile charger for electric aeroplanes. The charger will solidify the company’s strategy of creating a supporting infrastructure for its Cassio family of hybrid-electric aircraft. And since it is mobile, replenishing an electrified aeroplane in remote places is where it will come in handy. Regarding charging speed, it can recharge the Cassio 330 aircraft in about 30 minutes. That variant of the Cassio family packs a 41.5kWh battery.

Alongside the mobile charger, VoltAero showcased the two internal combustion engines that will work with the electric powertrain to propel the aircraft – a four-cylinder motor and a six-cylinder mill, both sourced from Kawasaki. In the aircraft, these engines will use hydrogen as their fuel. A demonstrator is being readied for 2025.

Also Read: Eve And Kookiejar To Join Forces For Urban ATMS Ops In Dubai

The ATMS mentioned in the title has nothing to do with Automated Teller Machines. What it actually stands for is Air Traffic Management System. To develop one for Dubai’s urban areas, two companies have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) – Eve Air Mobility from the USA and Kookiejar from Sweden. A well-established ATMS is a must to support vertiport operations. Both firms have agreed on a phase-wise approach, in which networks of vertiports will be connected via Eve’s Urban ATM system to complement Dubai’s urban air mobility. The duo aims to commercialise the partnership in 2025-2026.

This is Eve’s first Urban ATM agreement in Dubai, and Kookiejar is its tenth Urban ATM and fifth vertiport customer. Backed by Embraer, a renowned name in the aviation industry, Eve engages Atech, Embraer’s Air Traffic Control technology and system integrator company. Kookiejar, on the other hand, is already working with stakeholders in Dubai to evaluate the possible routes for eVTOLs within existing VFR (Visual Flight Rules) corridors used by helicopters. The company is also in talks with its partners Vertiport Hub at Air Chateau and Dubai South. Of course, regulatory approvals are key before any of it is implemented. Moreover, proper support from various service providers, fleet operators, vertiport developers and airports will play a vital role.

Also Read: Dubai Airshow 2023: An MoU Signed For Air Taxi Service

India, are you ready for an electric air taxi service? It could happen as soon as 2026. At least, that’s what the newly signed memorandum of understanding between InterGlobe Enterprises and Archer Aviation claims. The two companies aim to introduce an all-electric air taxi service across India after receiving clearances and approvals from regulatory authorities. They intend on using the American firm’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, capable of providing sustainable, low-noise air travel that’s cost-competitive with ground transportation.

As things progress, the duo plans to finance the purchase of up to 200 Archer Midnight aircraft for India operations. The said aircraft is a piloted, four-seater eVTOL that, for instance, can complete a 27km trip from New Delhi’s Connaught Place to Haryana’s Gurugram in about 7 minutes. That journey, the firms believe, typically takes between 60 to 90 minutes by car.

Besides launching air taxi services, the two companies plan to use eVTOLs for other operations, such as cargo, logistics, medical and emergency services, and company and private charter services.

Also Read: Dubai Airshow 2023: An MoW Signed For Air Taxi Service

GAL-AMMROC (Global Aerospace Logistics – Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Centre) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Archer Aviation at the Dubai Airshow 2023. Where the former firm provides aircraft readiness solutions, the latter is a USA-based company with expertise in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The agreement is to join forces and launch an electric air taxi service using Archer’s Midnight eVTOL in the UAE and other regions, beginning in 2026. The said aircraft requires a pilot and can seat four passengers. With it, Archer aims to replace 60-90-minute car commutes with 10-20-minute (an approximation) air taxi flights that are sustainable, low on noise and cost-competitive compared to conventional ground transportation.

GAL-AMMROC is working with Archer Aviation to develop support services for the eVTOL operations.

Also Read: Arcosjet Places Order For Ten Lilium Jets