Page 67 - World Airnews Magazine January 2021 Edition
P. 67

NEWS



                                   UK AEROSPACE BOOST



                                            system, integrating the turbine and flight   only for the UK aerospace sector, but the
                                            e-motors.                          sustainable aerospace sector globally.
         In exciting times for the aviation industry   Nova Systems, a global leader in aircraft   “We are honoured to announce
          with Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates showing their   design, test, evaluation and certification,   our collaboration with these leading
          support for sustainable aviation, Faradair   will assist Faradair through the early   organisations. Their input will enable us
          Aerospace has revealed a powerful   prototype development stages, re-assuring   to deliver the BEHA prototype by 2024
          consortium of partners to bring back large   certification authorities that the aircraft is   and subsequent Part 23 certification for
                                                                               operational trials from 2026. Gaining such
                                            being developed and built to the standards
          scale aircraft production to the UK.   of existing and future regulations for   support validates our business model and
           The British start-up, headed by aviation   sustainable aviation technologies.  capability of the BEHA.”
          entrepreneur Neil Cloughley and based   In line with UK Government ambitions   Vice president and general manager
          at the historic airfield at IWM Duxford,   for sustainable air transport, the British   for UAS/UAM at Honeywell Stéphane
          Cambridgeshire, announced it had   designed and built BEHA will emerge in   Fymat said, “We are proud be part of
          attracted a strong consortium of partners   hybrid electric/turbine configuration,   this development programme that works
          to help it deliver 300 of its new bio electric   but engineered for evolution into a fully   toward new methods of transportation
          hybrid aircraft by 2030, in a global demon-  electric ‘net zero’ commercial aircraft when   that are quieter, cleaner and more efficient.
          stration of regional air mobility and special   power generation technology delivers   Our work with Faradair demonstrates our
          missions.                         the power density levels required for an   ongoing commitment to supporting the
           Faradair welcomed Honeywell, magniX,   18-seat utility aircraft.    future of flight.”
          Cambridge Consultants and Nova Systems,   The BEHA is specifically designed for   Tim Butler, fixed wing programme
          all leaders in the emerging sustainable   low cost, quiet, environmentally friendly   manager and test pilot at Nova Systems
          aviation sector, to its existing partnership   flight, qualities that enable it to deliver Air   said, “We are delighted to team with
          team.                             Mobility as a Service (AMaaS) to all.  Faradair on this exciting, innovative British
           Faradair will work with Honeywell on   The ambition is to deliver an initial   project. Nova looks forward to providing
          the BEHA turbo generator, comprised of   portfolio of 300 Faradair-owned BEHAs   its significant experience in flight testing to
          Honeywell’s gas turbine and generator   between 2026-2030, in the largest proof   help solve the complex problems of making
          technologies, with the ability to run on   of concept air mobility programme ever   a cutting-edge concept into an everyday
          sustainable aviation fuel, to support the   created. Of these, 150 aircraft will be built   reality. Working on game-changing
          hybrid-electric aircraft design in addition to   in firefighting configuration, 75 as quick   programmes and developing green aviation
          other technologies, including avionics and   change (QC, passenger to cargo) aircraft,   technology, is exactly what excites us at
          flight control systems.           deployed at general aviation airfields   Nova and we can’t wait to get the BEHA
           MagniX is regarded as the leading   globally and 50 as pure freighters.  The   flying.”
          provider of electric motors to the   final 25 aircraft will be demonstrated in   Talks have advanced at pace with
          aviation industry and the BEHA will use   non-civilian government roles, including   investors and aircraft finance organisations
          two magni500 e-motors and associated   logistics, border and fisheries patrol, and   to enable the full programme of devel-
          magniDrive control system technology for   drug interdiction.        opment to scale up and meet the target
          flight propulsion.                  Commenting on these significant part-  objectives.  Meanwhile, Faradair is building
           Cambridge Consultants, widely    nerships, Faradair Founder and Managing   its executive and engineering team, and
          recognised as a global leader in R&D   Director Neil Cloughley said, “The year   expects to make further announcements
          engineering, brings its vital expertise in   2020 has been an extremely tough year   early this year.
          hybrid propulsion architecture to the devel-  for aerospace and I am delighted to be   “The age of the Electric Jet has begun,”
          opment of the BEHA’s hybrid propulsion   able to share this positive news today, not   said Neil Cloughley. Q

                  NEWS DIGITAL



                                   ELECTRIC HELICOPTERS



                                    Valley Economic Partnership   in making pro-active safety   by United Therapeutics. With
                                    Innovation Hub and Accelerator   decisions.”        zero in-flight carbon emissions,
         Spidertracks has gone      Campus, with Ecomax on-de-  Eco Helicopters chose the   advanced avionics and with
          into partnership with Eco   mand services initially available   revolutionary Spider X from   performance comparable to
          Helicopters which recently   in the greater Los Angeles   Spidertracks for their world   a traditionally powered R44,
          announced the launch of its   metropolitan area.    record-breaking aircraft, an   Eco will be on the vanguard of
          Ecomax on-demand urban air   Eco CEO Ric Webb said,   electrically powered Robinson   eco-friendly urban air mobility
          mobility service.         “Spidertracks is an important   R44 helicopter developed by   service.
           Based on the EcoMax      technology to incorporate into   Tier 1 Engineering and Martine   “We chose Spidertracks for
          all-electric helicopter, EcoMax   EcoMax urban air mobility   Rothblatt.      this venture because of their
          urban air mobility will com-  service. It will provide access to   A certified version of the elec-  solid and trusted reputation
          mence early this year.    real-time, actionable fleet data,   tric R44 is being developed to   in the industry and because
           Eco’s corporate offices   enabling efficient on-demand   provide zero-emissions delivery   they offer the latest in safety
          are located at the Coachella   scheduling and will also assist   of human organ transplants   technology.” Q

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