February/March is the eVTOL issue, check out a preview of our lineup of stories below.

Know anyone we should interview on these topics? Email us with suggestions!

eVTOL Power: What’re the Sources of Electric Air Taxi Power and Where are They Coming From?

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft of the future will require new sources of power to provide the same level of safety critical performance observed on in-service helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft today. Battery cell chemistry involves tradeoffs between specific power — the amount of power the cell can exert at once — and energy storage density, as well as cycle life.

High utilization and unique life cycle requirements, as well as stringent certification testing, are other considerations as more eVTOL aircraft developers move from concept to flight testing and eventually production. Who are the companies providing batteries and other sources of power for eVTOLs? We’ll talk to industry experts and suppliers developing eVTOL power to provide key insights on how this segment of the overall Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem will develop over the next 2-3 years.

Will Avionics OEMs Continue Expansion of eVTOL Systems Development?

Major avionics manufacturers and embedded systems suppliers have established new partnerships intending to create next-generation communications, navigation, and surveillance technology for eVTOL aircraft. COVID-19's impact on the industry has forced many difficult decisions and prioritization of research and development investments for companies across all segments of aviation.

This article will provide interviews with companies that have announced avionics eVTOL development projects over the last 18 months to understand the status of those technologies and what purpose they envision these systems serving in the future. The article will also seek to provide available imagery and perspectives on what eVTOL user interfaces will look like on autonomous and manned eVTOL vehicles.

10 eVTOL Aircraft Development Programs to Watch in 2021

Considering the growth of interest and lingering questions about the long-term financial viability of the eVTOL industry, there is a need to establish the list of players who are moving closer to reality than others and have a long-term path toward achieving ambitious UAM goals of using electric-powered air taxis to move people in point to point transport operations that would theoretically relieve traffic-choked city roads and highways to the extent that they possibly can.

Here, Avionics International selects 10 specific eVTOL aircraft development programs that have the most potential in achieving type certification and becoming a reality in the next 5-10 years.

Industry Updates from the Virtual Vertical Flight Society eVTOL Technical Symposium

The Vertical Flight Society’s annual Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Symposium has become the industry’s leading event for breaking technical advancements related to eVTOL aircraft development programs, air traffic management, and other related topics and subjects.

Executives from some of the leading eVTOL companies will participate in moderated panel discussions, Q&As and keynotes as part of a program advancing the technical aspects necessary to enable future Urban Air Mobility operations. This year, the society has taken the symposium completely remote due to COVID-19. Avionics will provide updates from the symposium most relevant to our audience.

The Past, Present, and Future of eVTOL Investor Money and Startups

Hundreds of millions have been invested into the future promise held by the development of electric air taxis in recent years. This is a trend that began when Uber Elevate held its first annual event in 2016, sparking a global interest and shift in thinking among even some of the largest aerospace OEMs toward the development of eVTOLs.

Among the hundreds of companies developing eVTOLs, there are also a wide range of investors funding them. Here, we talk to some of the investors funding development of future eVTOL vehicles and technologies to understand their thinking around how this business will become profitable in the future.