ITA's eVTOL, lots of SAF and more (The Allplane Newsletter #84)
So here’s this week’s recap!
Electric flight
Ampaire has begun testing its Eco Caravan, the hybrid-electric version of a Cessna Gran Caravan, which succeeds the EEL aircraft (which we have got the chance to cover a few times). Apparently, the Eco Caravan is the first hybrid electric aircraft to enter the FAA certification process. LINK.
And, in Europe, another hybrid-electric aircraft, VoltAero’s Cassio 1, is reaching the 10,000 miles flown mark. LINK. (you can read more about this French startup here).
The certification process of the first electric eBeaver seaplane is delayed until at least late 2023. Harbour Air had already been performing tests flights, but it will need certification to use it in regular commercial operations. LINK.
magniX is partnering with AeroTEC and Air Tindi to participate in the NASA Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration programme. AeroTEC will integrate the propulsion system and Air Tindi, an air operator based in Canada’s far north, will provide an aircraft. LINK.
Advanced Air Mobility
A vertiport has been opened in Coventry, England, by Urban-Air Port, even if there are no eVTOLs to fly to and from it yet. The prefabricated structure is more of a proof of concept and drone-testing spot for now. LINK.
ITA Airways and Airbus partner to bring the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL to Italy. Very cool looking, but perhaps the latest iteration of Alitalia should first focus in making sure its core business work this time. LINK.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Quite a few major SAF announcements this week and great reporting by Tony Harrington on GreenAir on all cases:
A new massive SAF plant in California with a capacity of 340M gallons per year (part of a project that will also have a hydrogen production component). LINK.
Another big SAF project in Germany, this one combining CO2 from a Cemex plant with green hydrogen. LINK.
SAF projects in Japan as well. LINK
Good explanation of Synhelion synthetic SAF technology on IATA’s site. None of this will sound like a novelty to the listeners of the Allplane podcast!
In the meantime, here is a map by 4Air with the location of SAF supply points throughout the world. LINK.
Turkish Airlines joins the SAF wave and is even painting an aircraft to let everyone know. LINK.
Other interesting stuff
Energy density of several potential energy sources for aircraft, by green energy thought leader Michael Liebreich. LINK.
Easyjet to partner with GKN to develop Aerospace’s Hydrogen Combustion (H2JET) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell (H2GEAR) technology. Interesting, considering Easyjet is also collaborating with Wright Electric, but, still, a long, long way before any of these programmes can deliver anything that is suitable for Easyjet’s business model. LINK.
What else in aviation?
The airline bankruptcy list for 2022 has been updated. LINK.
I was on the No U-Turn Podcast talking about aviation, airlines, advanced air mobility and other stuff. This was, actually, a few weeks ago, but I finally posted a note on the site about it. Check it out!