2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Two business aviation groups are stepping up efforts to be part of advanced air mobility

eVTOL Developer Supernal Teams with Blade and Clay Lacy

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Straight talk about an industry that is making a lot of promises

Cutting Through the eVTOL Aircraft Hype With Independent Expert Sergio Cecutta

Automakers are increasingly investing in the eVTOL industry

Hyundai-backed Supernal Spells Out Its Plans For eVTOL Air Taxi Services

David Donald

The all-composite assemblies made at GKN plants on the Isle of Wight and in Bristol 

GKN Delivers Wings for Supernal eVTOL Demonstrator

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Some competitors are running low on cash, and some big dark horses await their moment

Race to Market Heats Up For eVTOL Aircraft Pioneers

Hyundai subsidiary Supernal is developing a four-passenger eVTOL aircraft

Singapore and Supernal Develop Advanced Air Mobility

Supernal has revealed its first full-scale mockup of the eVTOL aircraft it aims to bring to market in 2028. It is showcasing the four-passenger S-A2 aircraft this week at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where the company has constructed a vertiport exhibition to give show attendees a taste of the urban air mobility experience.&nbsp;
Three years ago Supernal, which is a subsidiary of Korean automotive giant Hyundai,&nbsp;debuted its first eVTOL cabin concept, called the S-A1, at CES 2020. Since then the company has shown off the cabin concept at trade shows such as Farnborough, NBAA-BACE, and EBACE, where visitors had the opportunity to experience <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/hyundais-supernal-previews-its-evtol-air-taxi-experience">a virtual eVTOL ride</a> over a simulated cityscape.&nbsp;
Now the U.S.-based company has built out the rest of the aircraft, including the wing and rotors, and made some improvements to the interior. For example, the seat frames have been upgraded with energy-absorbing materials to improve safety in the event of a hard landing. The S-A2 also has new lighting features that Supernal says will “allow the cabin to feel larger” and provide visual cues for passengers.&nbsp;
“S-A2 is a true representation of ‘auto meets aero,’ drawing on the competence of Supernal’s top aerospace engineers and Hyundai Motor Group’s world-renowned automotive designers to create human-centric design that maximizes passenger experience and safety,” said Luc Donckerwolke, president and chief creative officer of Hyundai Motor Group.
The five-seat eVTOL aircraft features a V-shaped tail and eight tilting rotors that provide both vertical lift and forward propulsion. It is designed to carry four passengers plus one pilot on short hops of around 25 to 40 miles (40 to 64 kilometers), flying at an altitude of 1,500 feet and a cruise speed of 120 mph (190 kph). Supernal has previously said it is targeting a maximum range of about 60 miles (100 kilometers) on a single charge and that it will take less than seven minutes to fully recharge the battery-powered aircraft in between flights.&nbsp;
According to Supernal, the electric aircraft will be significantly quieter than helicopters or airplanes, generating about as much noise as a dishwasher. During takeoff and landing, the aircraft produces about 65 decibels, which drops down to 45 decibels during cruise flight.&nbsp;
Although Supernal's eVTOL&nbsp;aircraft will initially fly with pilots on board, the company is also developing autonomous flight technology that it hopes will someday enable remotely piloted air taxi operations with up to five passengers on board.&nbsp;

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Supernal Debuts S-A2 eVTOL Air Taxi Mockup at Consumer Electronics Show

Supernal has confirmed plans to develop the landing gear for its four-passenger <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-06-23/supernal-adds-suppliers-and-manufacturing-partners-sa-1-evtol-air-taxi">SA-1 eVTOL aircraft </a>as it prepares&nbsp;to start flight testing a technology demonstrator by the end of 2024. During the Seoul ADEX air show in South Korea on October 18, the company announced a partnership with Italy’s Mecaer Aviation Group and the Hyundai WIA parts manufacturing subsidiary of its parent, Hyundai Motor Group.
Macaer specializes in designing and building landing gear, having developed systems for a variety of helicopters and business and general aviation aircraft. It has already been selected by rival eVTOL manufacturer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-31/archer-picks-mecaer-supply-landing-gear-midnight-evtol-air-taxi">Archer Aviation</a> to develop the landing gear for its Midnight eVTOL vehicle. Hyundai WAI has experience in manufacturing and precision machine tools in the automotive and aerospace sectors.
Under the agreement, the partners will jointly address key issues such as weight, structural efficiency, energy absorption, and electronic systems integration for the SA-1’s landing gear. The design will feature wheels rather than skids, giving greater flexibility to maneuver the all-electric aircraft on the ground, according to Mecaer CEO Bruno Spagnolini.
“Our collaboration with Hyundai WIA and Mecaer is a testament to Supernal’s commitment to innovation and the highest standards of safety, design, and manufacturing for advanced air mobility,” commented Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “This partnership unites our collective strengths and expertise to deliver aerospace-grade eVTOL landing gear in record time and ensure their scalability and sustainability. These types of automotive and aerospace strategic alliances are key to the growth and success of our emerging industry.”

Managing Editor

Supernal Teams with Mecaer and Hyundai To Develop eVTOL Aircraft Landing Gear

Hyundai’s urban air mobility subsidiary Supernal has partnered with Honeywell Aerospace to develop ground control stations for uncrewed and remotely piloted aircraft such as Supernal’s eVTOL aircraft.&nbsp;
Supernal plans to certify a piloted, four-passenger version of its eVTOL air taxi, called the SA-1, which is expected to enter into service in 2028. Eventually, the company aims to introduce a six-seat version of the aircraft that would fly without pilots on board.
Rather than piloting an aircraft from the flight deck, an air taxi pilot could remotely operate one or more eVTOL aircraft from a ground control station using real-time flight data, Supernal said.
“The Honeywell ground control station features a certified, decentralized, and redundant architecture that offers persistent connectivity for remote operations,” said David Shilliday, v-p and general manager of Honeywell Aerospace’s advanced air mobility division. “This integrated solution ensures seamless and reliable command and control over remote vehicles.”
Honeywell Aerospace, which is also supplying its Anthem integrated flight deck for Supernal’s SA-1 vehicle, will work with <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-06-23/supernal-adds-suppliers-and-manufacturing-partners-sa-1-evtol-air-taxi">Supernal </a>to develop ground control software solutions for remotely piloted aircraft operating beyond the visual line of sight. According to Honeywell, this will enable the flight testing of Supernal’s first full-scale technology demonstrator, which the company hopes to start by the end of 2024.&nbsp; Supernal has not said when the SA-1 might operate without a pilot on board.
“The collaboration with Honeywell brings unparalleled technological prowess to our flight-test program,” said Supernal chief commercial officer Adam Slepian. “Its ground control station doesn’t just meet our current needs but also offers scalable solutions for the future.”
<h3 class="subheading">FBOs Could be Ground Service Providers For eVTOL Air Taxis</h3>
According to Supernal's head of business development, Matthew Sattler, the company is increasingly focused on working with stakeholders including city officials and infrastructure providers on the details of, "what it will take to build advanced air mobility." This work is being done as Supernal's engineering team continues to work on the technology demonstrator and on a pending type certification application that could be submitted to the FAA before the end of this year.
Sattler told&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;the company has recently held talks with an undisclosed FBO operator about the possibility of using their airport location as a base for eVTOL operations. They concluded that the site could accommodate maybe one or two eVTOL landing pads but struggle to handle larger anticipated throughputs of flights.
According to Sattler, FBOs, which generally provide ground support for business aircraft, have the right blend of skills and low-touch service provision to deliver ground support for eVTOL services. "In the U.S., we believe FBOs, and especially the larger chains, will be receptive to working with advanced air mobility, partly because commoditizing electricity will make a lot of sense to them and they have extra space."
&nbsp;

Supernal and Honeywell Develop Ground Control Stations For eVTOL Aircraft

Supernal, Hyundai’s urban air mobility subsidiary, has officially opened its research and development facility in Fremont, California, the company announced Thursday. Located right on the edge of Silicon Valley, the 72,000-sq-ft facility is dedicated to the advancement of batteries, autonomous systems, and other technologies that will enable electric air travel and urban air mobility.&nbsp;
“Batteries are the linchpin of advanced air mobility and critical to powering the next generation of flight, which we see as everyday electric air travel,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “Fremont, with its vibrant tech ecosystem, offers a robust talent pool that will enable Supernal to continue advancing the power and energy capabilities of safe aviation-grade batteries.”
Supernal is working to certify <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/hyundais-supernal-previews-its-evtol-air-taxi-experience">a four-passenger eVTOL air taxi</a> by 2028. While the aircraft&nbsp;will initially have pilots on board, the company is also developing autonomous flight technology that it hopes will someday enable remotely piloted air taxi operations.&nbsp;
More than 100 employees are already working at Supernal’s Fremont facility, and the company says it intends to hire another 20 engineers there this year. Specifically, Supernal says it is “seeking engineers with experience in autonomy, battery development, and intelligent systems.”&nbsp;Open positions are listed on Supernal’s <a href="https://jobs.supernal.aero/">website</a>.&nbsp;
Supernal's Fremont facility is the third location the company&nbsp;has opened this year. In July, Supernal&nbsp;announced the opening of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-26/supernal-opens-new-engineering-headquarters-california-evtol-aircraft">engineering headquarters in Irvine, California</a>, where most of the development work for the company’s eVTOL aircraft is taking place. Then in August, it opened a policy hub in Washington, D.C., to oversee commercial operations and regulations.&nbsp;

Supernal

News

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Cutting Through the eVTOL Aircraft Hype With Independent Expert Sergio Cecutta

Hyundai-backed Supernal Spells Out Its Plans For eVTOL Air Taxi Services

GKN Delivers Wings for Supernal eVTOL Demonstrator

Race to Market Heats Up For eVTOL Aircraft Pioneers

Singapore and Supernal Develop Advanced Air Mobility

Supernal Debuts S-A2 eVTOL Air Taxi Mockup at Consumer Electronics Show

Supernal Teams with Mecaer and Hyundai To Develop eVTOL Aircraft Landing Gear

Supernal and Honeywell Develop Ground Control Stations For eVTOL Aircraft

Supernal Opens R&D Facility in Silicon Valley

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