On Wednesday at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., the company announced it received a preorder for 100 Integrity air taxis from Australia’s Wilbur Air, a recently launched operating subsidiary of eVTOL infrastructure specialist Skyportz.

Skyportz has been developing a network of vertiports—akin to heliports but with electric chargers for eVTOL aircraft—to be built across Australia for the past half decade. Wilbur, which also has plans to fly U.S. manufacturer Electra’s hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, will operate Crisalion’s Integrity across that network.

The zero-emission air taxi, designed to seat as many as five passengers plus a pilot, has an expected range of 80 sm (70 nm) when cruising at about 70 knots with a payload of around 880 pounds.

Its calling card is the company’s FlyFree propulsion system, which comprises 16 motors arranged in two arms on either side of the aircraft and running on lithium-ion batteries.

“Each arm can independently adjust its thrust vector in both pitch and roll, using the differential thrust of the motors,” Crisalion said.

The firm says the patented design is meant to boost stability across phases of flight, including in adverse weather.

Additionally, the aircraft’s interior can be configured to support passenger transport, aerial tourism, logistics, and emergency situations.

Crisalion expects to certify Integrity in 2028 ahead of a 2030 commercial rollout. Wednesday’s preorder agreement is the company’s first in the Australian market.

Skyportz on its website displays a large map of potential hubs in its planned vertiport network, which includes several locations in Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. Those markets may be the next to see Integrity fly under the partnership.

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The German firm on Wednesday announced it will work with Groupe ADP, which manages 23 airports around the world, including Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport (LFPG) and Le Bourget Airport (LFPB), to prepare eVTOL infrastructure in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Separately, at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., Lilium on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SEA Milan, which operates the Italian city’s airports, and vertiport developer Skyports Infrastructure to build a Lilium Jet network in Italy’s Lombardy region.

These regions are envisioned as early launch markets for the Lilium Jet, a zero-emission, six-passenger design capable of cruising at 162 knots on city-to-city trips spanning 25-125 sm (22-109 nm).

Groupe ADP, working with fellow German eVTOL manufacturer Volocopter, is developing an air taxi network connecting five vertiports across the Paris region, including at Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget.

The original plan was for air taxi public transport and tourism routes to be ready for the 2024 Olympic Games, which open Friday in Paris, though that appears to be out the window. The French government signed off on heavily restricted, nonpassenger carrying flights, but Paris’ city council said it will fight the authorization in court.

Although it looks like the Paris Olympics won’t quite be the eVTOL launchpad for which Groupe ADP had hoped, it could make history by bringing the Lilium Jet to the region. With a projected commercial launch in 2026, the jet—which takes off like a helicopter but cruises on fixed wings—will likely be the first of its kind to hit the market.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that some of the very first eVTOL flights will happen in France, and this partnership brings that milestone closer into view,” said Sebastian Borel, chief commercial officer of Lilium. “Groupe ADP has an impressive portfolio of airports, both in France and around the world, in markets that will be key to Lilium’s commercial operations.”

Earlier this year, Lilium said it was in “advanced talks” with the French government to install manufacturing facilities in the country. It is also collaborating with Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur and vertiport developer UrbanV to create a network in the French Riviera.

Groupe ADP will now work to accommodate the six-passenger design, which is significantly larger than Volocopter’s air taxi, at vertiports throughout Paris.

“We are thrilled to officialize the work we have been conducting with Lilium to ensure the development of new services by eVTOL in the Paris region and worldwide,” said Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Groupe ADP.

The partnership will also extend to Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia, where Lilium is planning another network with flag carrier Saudia. The airline this month agreed to purchase 100 Lilium Jets. On Monday at Farnborough, the manufacturer said it signed an MOU with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to prepare eVTOL regulations in the country.

Italy is set to be another important market for Lilium as the company partners with SEA Milan and Skyports to serve the Lombardy region, home to an estimated one-fifth of the country’s population. The manufacturer, airport operator, and infrastructure specialist hope to bring a network online by 2027.

“We’ve been working with our partners at SEA for some time, and we’re excited to prepare to open the doors of our vertiports and see eVTOL aircraft take flight over Lombardy,” said Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.

SEA will manage airport hubs and will operate vertiports jointly with Skyports, which will lead the development and construction of the sites. An initial route will connect Milan Malpensa Airport (LIMC) with the Milan city center.

In 2022, Lilium secured an order for 12 jets from operator Globe Air, which plans to fly them in the French Riviera and Italy—it’s unclear whether these aircraft will be part of the planned network.

The German manufacturer also has plans for the U.S. With newly established operating partner UrbanLink Air Mobility, it intends to fly in Florida, California, and the Caribbean U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

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On Monday at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., Wisk, in an expansion of its partnership with vertiport developer Skyports, announced an electric air taxi network that it hinted could be ready in time for the marquee event.

Wisk and Skyports in 2022 gave an early look at their vision for an eVTOL air taxi network, complete with infrastructure for vertical takeoff and landing, or vertiports. They will function much like heliports with electric aircraft chargers to juice up Wisk’s air taxi.

The partners now are working with the Council of Mayors of Australia’s South East Queensland (SEQ) region, with which Wisk has collaborated since 2022, to devise a network for the company’s Generation 6 model.

A prototype of the flagship design has a range of 90 sm (78 nm) with reserves and charge time of 15 minutes. Like designs from competitors Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation, the Gen 6 features tilting propellers that aid in both vertical and forward flight. Wisk, though, is one of a handful of firms in the industry looking to fly autonomously at launch. It projects a commercial rollout will happen by the end of the decade.

Wisk and Skyports will pick out hubs for the air taxi across the SEQ region, home to an estimated 4 million and growing. The partners said they will study regional travel patterns, conduct feasibility studies, and speak with local communities about what to expect from the service.

They also noted that the region is already preparing for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games, saying they expect to plan out air taxi infrastructure in time for the big event.

“We’re excited to see this evolving industry bring high-value local jobs to SEQ and support improved services like medical and tourism,” said Scott Smith, CEO of the SEQ Council of Mayors. “To secure our place as a global destination, we must be at the forefront of adopting emerging technologies.”

Wisk is developing a similar network in Japan in partnership with flag carrier Japan Airlines.

It likewise has plans for the U.S. in the Greater Houston region of Texas and is working toward bringing the Gen 6 to Long Beach, California. Officials in Los Angeles are preparing for the introduction of air taxis ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, though it is unclear if Wisk will meet that deadline.

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Under the terms of the purchase agreement, which was announced Tuesday during the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., deliveries will begin next year.

Originally designed for the Brazilian Air Force in 1999, the A-29 offers armed reconnaissance, close air support, light attack, and advanced training mission capabilities. It is currently operated by 16 air forces, according to the company.

• READ MORE: Super Tucano Takes First Flight for Nigerian Air Force Program

The PAF intends to deploy the aircraft as part of its mission “safeguarding territorial integrity,” according to the service’s top official.

“To face emerging threats, we are in the process of modernizing our aerial and detection capabilities, and we intend to be up to the technological standards that allow us to correctly apply the measures established in the Law on Surveillance and Protection of Paraguayan Airspace in a to effectively contribute to the preservation of regional and international peace and security,” Air General Júlio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, commander of the Paraguayan Air Force, said in a statement. 

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Three years after Max airplanes were grounded in the wake of two deadly accidents, multiple Max variants garnered the lion’s share of Boeing’s 176 orders, eclipsing total orders for airliners manufactured by rival Airbus.

This year’s event marked the first time airliner manufacturers and customers have gathered at Farnborough since the COVID-19 pandemic cratered air travel in 2020, hobbling the airline industry. 

As air travel ramps up this summer, Boeing’s largest order came from Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which ordered 100 737 Max 10s—now rebranded as 737-10s. Delta’s first new Boeing order since 2011 had been preceded by large Delta orders for Airbus A321 and its fuel-efficient A321neo variant. 

“The aircraft will complement Delta’s high-performance A321neo fleet,” Delta said in a statement. The order will bring the carrier’s total 737 fleet to more than 300 aircraft, Delta’s second-largest fleet family behind Airbus’ A320. 

Delta acknowledged the 737-10 variant is still awaiting final certification from the FAA—expected in 2023. “In the event of a delay, the agreement has adequate protection in place, including allowing Delta to shift to another model of [the] Max family if necessary,” Delta said.

• READ MORE: Boeing CEO Won’t Rule Out Canceling 737-10

Other Significant Orders

Airbus benefited from Delta’s spending spree as well, firming up 12 options for Airbus A220-300s, the larger version of the single-aisle airliner. 

The total number of Airbus orders at Farnborough this year was smaller than Boeing’s, but included 56 orders from EasyJet for A320neos, including 18 previously ordered A320neos converted to orders for larger A321neos. 

In fact the ultra-efficient A321neo received 17 orders from LATAM.

Nonetheless, Airbus orders at Farnborough totaled only 85 aircraft—a lower number than analysts expected. “If they really have some unfinished deals in the making, it remains to be seen,” Richard Schuurman of industry consultant AirInsight told FLYING. This week yielded the lowest number of Airbus orders at a major European airshow since the Paris Air Show in 2017, Schuurman said, “although they have already sold over 500 aircraft this year.”

Airbus Leaves Early

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and chief commercial officer Christian Scherer skipped the company’s traditional week-ender news conference to announce final order tallies. Instead, they left the airshow on Wednesday, a day earlier than expected, the Seattle Times reported. 

Times reporter Dominic Gates reported Scherer told him, “Don’t worry about our sales ability. We’re doing really well, thank you very much.”

As day three at Farnborough ends, both Airbus CEO Faury and sales chief Scherer have left the Air Show.
There’ll be no major Airbus sales announcement press conferences on Thursday
“Don’t worry about our sales ability. We’re doing really well thank you very much” Scherer told me

— Dominic Gates (@dominicgates) July 20, 2022

Embraer

Brazil-based Embraer reported orders for eight E175 airliners for Horizon Air and two E190 converted freighters for Nordic Aviation Capital.

Embraer also reported receiving letters of intent (LOIs) to purchase more than 250 of Embraer’s new 70- and 90-seat turboprops. The next-gen airliner is expected to be launched next year in Paris, Schuurman said. “It would almost double their order backlog and drastically improve their business case.”

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The Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) certificated the A3R system following a collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Airbus announced Tuesday at the U.K.’s Farnborough International Airshow.

The A3R system is designed to reduce the workload of air refueling operators, while also optimizing air-to-air refueling transfers, all while requiring no additional equipment on the receiving aircraft.

Airbus first tested automated contact with a boom system in 2018, during a joint operation with the Royal Australian Air Force, according to Jean-Brice Dumont, head of military air systems at Airbus Defence and Space.

“Since then, we’ve achieved more aeronautical ‘world firsts’ thanks to the support of our customers, especially with the key participation of our partner the RSAF, a launch customer and the first operator to benefit from this game-changing capability,” Dumont said.

The A330 MRTT, which is based on the A330-200 widebody civilian airliner, is able to haul up to nearly 245,000 pounds of fuel, which according to Airbus, “is the highest capacity of all tanker aircraft, even those with additional fuel tanks in the cargo deck.” The aircraft can also offload about 55 tons of fuel during a four-hour loitering mission at a range of more than 1,000 nm from the departure point.

By comparison, Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus operated by the U.S. Air Force, tops out its fuel capacity at 212,299 pounds. The KC-130J tanker operated by the U.S. Marine Corps has a maximum fuel load of 61,364 pounds, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

To date, Airbus has delivered at least 51 of 66 A330 MRTT aircraft ordered by customers including Australia, France, NATO, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and the U.K.

Autonomous Refueling

Airbus is working to take air-to-air refueling automation even further. In late 2021, the company launched development work on technology that would make the A330 MRTT fully autonomous. Unlike the traditional air-to-air refueling operations, the autonomous capability—known as A4R—would not require any crew onboard to monitor fuel transfers.

“A4R is a kind of unmanned execution of the refueling operation and for long-range combat missions we see the need for predictable, deterministic, reliable AAR capability,” Dumont said during the Airbus Defence and Space Trade Media Briefing late last year, Australian Defence magazine reported.

Like the A3R capability, Airbus intends for the unmanned A4R version to not require retrofitting receiver aircraft in order to accommodate operations, he said. 

Airbus is gearing up to test the concept soon. Through its subsidiary Airbus UpNext, the aircraft manufacturer has launched an “Auto’Mate” demonstrator to develop, adapt, and evaluate technologies that enable autonomous air-to-air refueling.

The company aims to flight test the technology in 2023. A final end-to-end demonstration using an A310 as a tanker refueling flight testbed and DT-25 target drones as receiver aircraft is planned the following year.

“The set of technologies developed in the Airbus Auto’Mate demonstrator will enable a disruptive step forward in the autonomy level of current air-to-air refueling (AAR) operations, to reduce crew fatigue and training costs, improve safety and efficiency, and pioneer unmanned air-to-air refueling operations (including unmanned-to-unmanned AAR operations), a highly demanded capability for future defense scenarios,” Airbus said in a statement.

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Even though airlines’ passenger capacity has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, travelers have rushed back to the sky, and many airlines cannot keep up. In its report, Embraer suggests that the industry would eventually recover from the pandemic slump by 2024 and that demand for air travel would grow 3.2 percent annually over the next 20 years. Last year, the company predicted a slightly higher growth rate of 3.3 percent but said this time that the disruption caused by the Russia-Ukraine war caused it to trim its expectations.

Various Trends Drive Growth

The protracted rebound from the pandemic has kept many remote-work policies in place, which means companies have figured out how to stay productive without face-to-face interaction. Furthermore, with a tight labor force and the unemployment rate of 3.6 percent at a nearly 50-year low, according to the Bureau of Labor, companies in the aviation sector are grappling to find enough workers to meet demand. Embraer cites this corporate embrace of remote work as a plus for its business, which means its airline customers will prefer lower-capacity aircraft. 

However, as it stands, the airline customers who currently operate many Embraer jets are regional airliners who’ve struggled with an extreme pilot shortage that has caused them to park their airplanes because there are not enough pilots to fly them. American Airlines ([NASDAQ: AAL] said its business suffered when it parked 100 regional jets in June. Therefore, Embraer is betting on mainline carriers adjusting their fleet strategy to meet its digitalization and regionalization prediction.

The company also said that increasing focus on sustainability and the aviation industry commitment to be net-zero by 2050 presents an opportunity for airline customers to prefer its aircraft. “New green technologies tend to focus on smaller-capacity aircraft where innovations are refined before introduction on larger platforms. In this context, smaller airplanes are a key element for more sustainable air travel while also enhancing connectivity,” the report said. 

The final highlight is based on the rise of e-commerce experienced in the pandemic. This has caused the cargo jet market to multiply. Embraer has positioned itself for that market and recently launched a passenger-to-cargo conversion program for some of its aircraft. The company predicts that the growing e-commerce market will expand for smaller-capacity, all-cargo jet aircraft, especially for regional routes.

Projection By the Numbers

Embraer predicts that there will be a global demand for 10,950 new aircraft with a capacity of up to 150 seats representing a market value of $650 billion. The company also predicts that the fastest growing region would be the Asia-Pacific region, which is expected to grow 4.3 percent annually, followed by Latin America—4 percent—and Africa, at 3.8 percent. 

Moreover—and similar to the Boeing Commercial Market outlook for Asia (which states that Asian markets account for roughly 40 percent of long-term global demand for new airplanes)—Embraer projects that 42 percent of revenue for regional jets would come from the Asia-Pacific region. That is more than the 38 percent expected from Europe and North America combined. 

However, while the Asia-Pacific region might account for most of the revenue, Embraer expects North America to lead the way in deliveries with over 2,740 jets, representing nearly 32 percent of all deliveries. 

Finally, as the company has indicated plans to build a sustainable turboprop, it also predicts that the Asia-Pacific market would lead the way in deliveries, with as many 960 turboprops, or 42 percent of those to be built over the period going to that region. That is more than double the 400 expected to go to North America over the same period.

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The company announced the release of Flight Data Animation Tuesday at the U.K.’s Farnborough International Airshow. According to GE Digital, “The animation provides realistic visual tools to facilitate pilot training and debriefing post-flight to identify compliance and safety hazards.

“Flight data animation can be used to validate and investigate flight events and assist with pilot operational or airport awareness training.” 

The animation module comes from GE Digital partner Applied Informatics and Research Inc. (AIRINC), a Canadian software firm that provides aviation products and data services to the aerospace industry. GE Digital has been working with AIRCINC since February to create the animation tool.

Flight Data Animation can be used to validate and investigate flight events and assist with pilot operational or airport awareness training by using software to build realistic animations of flights down to the replication of cockpit instrumentation and advanced flight path reconstruction.

“Operating our flights in the safest and most efficient manner is our core objective, and we continuously strive to adopt the latest tools and technology to achieve this goal,” says Capt. Hassan AlHammadi, divisional senior vice president of flight operations for Emirates. “We successfully released FlightPulse to our pilots in August 2021. Now we are working on adding the Flight Data Animation module in FlightPulse, and to release this to our pilots in near future. This will further empower our pilots and help them operate their flights in a safe and efficient way.” 

Andrew Coleman, general manager of GE Digital’s Aviation Software business adds, “FlightPulse is designed to provide pilots with insights and information to enable them to make smarter decisions around safety and fuel consumption.”

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Now, in a bid to put its newest airplane in front of some of its best potential customers, the company flew one of the G800 test platforms from Savannah, Georgia (KSAV), to its Farnborough Service Center at EGLF in Farnborough, U.K., on July 15.

Because the test aircraft, N800G, had met at least one of its long-range test goals—a flight of more than eight hours and ops beyond the M_MO of Mach 0.925 and 51,000 feet msl—it could make the milestone journey.

“To take the G800 on this trans-Atlantic trip so close to first flight is extraordinary,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “Thanks to our strategic planning and the investments Gulfstream has made in our new aircraft programs, we are able to fly the G800 with remarkable efficiency and bring the aircraft directly to customers early in the flight test program, as we have in Farnborough. 

“The Gulfstream Farnborough Service Center is one of our newest and most modern, and it’s fitting that the G800 has made its international debut here.” The center boasts 225,000 square feet of facilities space, able to accommodate up to 13 of the biggest models in the Gulfstream lineup. It opened recently—in summer 2020.

The Trip: By the Numbers

G800 Preliminary Specs

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But folks will have to step outside to catch the main reason why many pilots strive to attend the show—those brand-new and still-in-development transport category jets that put on a marvelous aerial display not seen anywhere else. While we may have EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, each year and amazing performers twirling across the skies, the airspace over these Hampshire hills throbs with the string of massive airliners—otherwise rarely deviating from straight and level—that swoop in for steep turns after low passes.

First Time Since 2019 in Paris

The aerospace industry has not gathered at Farnborough or its sister event, the Paris Air Show, for three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we expect exhibitors to go all out in their quest to entice new customers and entertain old friends.

The show, which runs from July 18 through 22, is open only to the trade on the first days of the event, after which it opens to the public—those who purchase a pass—on Friday. For those visiting from the U.S., you’ll have the benefit of some of the lowest pound-to-dollar and euro-to-dollar exchange rates in recent history. Is it low enough to pick up a shiny new A321neo? Probably not. But we can dream.

The schedule gives you the highlights, but here are a few of our favorite picks to catch whether you’re on site (and trying to stay cool) or watching online.

The Airplanes

Pilots love airplanes—and for some, only the big ones will do. And Airbus, Boeing [NYSE: BA], and Embraer [NYSE: ERJ] will have their flagship new models open (many by appointment only) to tour. Look for these headliners, some of which had already arrived earlier this week:

• Airbus A220-300
• Airbus 350-900 Innovation Demonstrator
• Boeing 737 Max 10
• Boeing 777X
• Embraer E190-E2
• Embraer E195-E2

However, the more intriguing aircraft may not be the biggest on the static display, but those that the various OEMs have brought in to showcase their bids towards a more sustainable future.

I’m going to carry a bucket around #FIA22 and charge people a quarter every time they say the word sustainability. I suspect I’ll be able to crowdfund a new commercial airplane program by cocktail hour on Thursday.

— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) July 14, 2022

In all seriousness—when FLYING last visited in 2016, we saw the Airbus E-Fan prototype two-seat electric aircraft, dwarfed next to its big brother, the A380, flying high in the Flying Display aerial demonstrations. We expect this area—electric- and hybrid-powered aircraft—to be bustling, with aircraft like the VoltAero hybrid-powered Cessna 337-H scheduled to fly on Monday and Friday. 

There’s no doubt you’ll find exciting projects amongst the 1,500 exhibitors from roughly 96 countries around the world.

The Deals

The heart of the action takes place not necessarily over the runways, but in the deals that are traditionally made throughout the show. More than $192 billion in new business was booked at the last FIA, in 2018, according to the organization. More than 80,000 trade visitors are anticipated at this year’s show, which is projected to benefit from the rebounding economy and pent up enthusiasm to get out and meet in person—and travel.

With Boeing’s ongoing challenges getting past the Max problem, will Airbus continue its strong lead in the orders department? What will Embraer post? And what about bizav heavyweights, such as Gulfstream, Dassault, and Textron Aviation [NYSE: TXT]? We’ll be reporting on the action as it unfolds next week.

The Zones—and More

Aside from the Flying Display, probably the most intriguing parts of the show lie in a couple of the designated zones where you can get your hands on—and head around—the latest in aerospace technology. The Space Zone and the Research & Development Zone are particular favorites, as are the new-in-2018 FINN Sessions, that take a deep dive into specific issues and topics. 

Hands-on fun on Friday for young people takes place in the Pioneers of Tomorrow showcase, with activities tracing the broad range of STEAM skills.

Getting There

Whether you come in by train from London (35 minutes from London’s Waterloo station) or drive in on the M3—or fly yourself into EGLF—access to the event is fairly straightforward.

Parking is free and shuttle buses run from the lots to the event—though lines for them as well as for going through security can be long. Bring water—especially this year—and some form of sun protection, such as a hat or umbrella. And sunscreen. This won’t be the Costa del Sol–but it may feel like it.

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