A digital rendering of Beta’s Alia-250 eVTOL, with a Helijet livery, flying in the skies above Vancouver, British Columbia. [Courtesy: Helijet]
Key Takeaways:
Canadian helicopter airline Helijet made history by ordering Beta Technologies' Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft, becoming the first Canadian carrier to plan for electric air taxi services for passengers, cargo, and medical transport by 2026.
SpaceX's Starship is progressing towards its second test flight as the FAA completed its safety review, with only an environmental review remaining before the most powerful rocket ever built can launch again.
Zipline has partnered with Cleveland Clinic to launch prescription and medical supply drone delivery services in 2025, utilizing its advanced Platform 2 system for autonomous last-mile logistics.
Significant developments in aviation regulation and policy include a new FAA/Air Force collaboration on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Utah's state-level AAM blueprint, and legislative efforts to restrict federal use of drones from adversarial nations.
Hello, and welcome to the Future of FLYING newsletter, our weekly look at the biggest stories in emerging aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets at the edge of the atmosphere, we’ll take you on a tour of the modern flying world to help you make sense of it all.
Now for this week’s top story:
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
