
African Pilot Magazine:
Future Flight

Bell 505 Achieves Over 700 Flight Hours with Blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Bell and Safran Helicopter Engines report more than 700 flight hours on blended SAF with the Bell 505, demonstrating strong engine operability and advancing sustainable helicopter operations.

Ethiopia Feasibility Study on Sustainable Aviation Fuel
ICAO’s feasibility study outlines Ethiopia’s potential for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production, assessing key feedstocks and the actions needed to build a viable national SAF industry.

EU and South Africa sign first-ever Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP)
The EU and South Africa sign the first Clean Trade and Investment Partnership to expand clean supply chains, support decarbonisation, boost renewable energy and clean fuels, and strengthen South Africa’s industrialisation and Just Energy Transition.
Joby Celebrates First Flight of Turbine Electric Demonstrator Aircraft
Joby Aviation has achieved first flight of its turbine electric autonomous VTOL demonstrator, integrating a hybrid powertrain and SuperPilot autonomy just three months after unveiling the concept.

The EU’s Role in Advancing African Aviation: Insights from the Luanda Financing Summit
The EU outlines its aviation support for Africa at the Luanda Financing Summit, highlighting Global Gateway priorities, EASA technical programmes, SAF cooperation and actions aligned with SAATM and Agenda 2063.

Rwanda’s Vision for Aviation Growth: Policy, Innovation and Openness Drive Integration
At the Luanda Financing Summit, Rwanda outlined how open policies, innovation and investment are driving sustainable aviation growth across Africa.

Sikorsky Converts BLACK HAWK® into U-Hawk™, A Battle-Ready Autonomous UAS
Sikorsky transforms the UH-60L Black Hawk into the autonomous S-70UAS™ U-Hawk™, a next-generation uncrewed helicopter with 25% more cargo space and MATRIX™ autonomy.

Airbus Streamlines Its Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System Offering
Airbus consolidates its tactical uncrewed aerial systems, creating a unified portfolio under Airbus Helicopters to enhance defence and security capabilities.

IATA Study Confirms that SAF Technology Rollout is Main Bottleneck to Net Zero, not Feedstock Availability
IATA and Worley Consulting confirm SAF feedstock is sufficient to achieve net zero by 2050, but rapid tech rollout and policy support are critical.

Skunk Works and FalconWorks Announce Strategic Collaboration
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems FalconWorks partner at DSEI to develop modular uncrewed air systems with electronic warfare capability.

International: Joby To Bring Blade’s Air Mobility Services To The Uber App
Joby and Uber to integrate Blade flights into the Uber app, paving the way for Joby’s quiet, zero-emissions air taxi service worldwide.

Joby Completes Acquisition of Blade’s Passenger Business
Joby Aviation completes acquisition of Blade’s passenger business, accelerating entry into commercial eVTOL air taxi services in key global markets.

SkyDrive Partners with DUC Hélices to Develop Rotor for SKYDRIVE SD-05
SkyDrive partners with DUC Hélices to accelerate SD-05 eVTOL rotor development, focusing on safety, noise reduction, and progress toward type certification.

EHang Achieves First Pilotless Human-Carrying eVTOL Flight in Africa at the 9th Aviation Africa Summit
EHang’s EH216-S completes the first pilotless human-carrying eVTOL flight in Africa at the Aviation Africa Summit 2025, expanding its global footprint.

Vertical Aerospace Prepares for Final Transition Testing After Successful Wingborne Flights
Vertical Aerospace completes Phase 3 piloted wingborne flights of VX4 prototype, collecting 22B data points and moving to final transition testing.

Archer Plans For Air Taxi Trial Participation Under White House eVTOL Pilot Program With U.S. Airlines and Cities
Archer Aviation to join the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program with United Airlines and US cities, paving the way for supervised air taxi trials.

Joby Plans to Jumpstart US Operations Through White House eVTOL Integration Program
Joby joins the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program to accelerate early US operations, advance FAA certification, and scale air taxi production.

uAvionix and VOTIX Announce Integration of FlightLine ADS-B Data Service to Advance Drone as First Responder Operations
uAvionix and VOTIX integrate FlightLine ADS-B data into the VOTIX platform, enhancing safety, efficiency, and situational awareness for DFR and AAM.

Joby Achieves the First Piloted eVTOL Air Taxi Flight Between Two Public Airports
Joby completes first piloted eVTOL air taxi flight between two public airports, marking a key milestone in aviation readiness and urban air mobility.

GöKHUN Unmanned Aerial System Lift Off With Sky Power Engines
The GöKHUN Unmanned Aerial System from ESEN is a tactical VTOL drone powered by Sky Power International’s SP 210 FI SG engine, offering long endurance, GNSS independence, modular payload capability, and robust performance for ISR, security, and civil applications.

Zimbabwe CAA Licenses 27 ZRP Drone Pilots to Boost Surveillance and Enforcement
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has licensed 27 Zimbabwe Republic Police officers as drone pilots, enhancing law enforcement surveillance and enforcement capabilities through advanced Remotely Piloted Licensing training.
Destinus Acquires Daedalean to Expand Artificial Intelligence Capabilities in Flight Systems
Destinus acquires Daedalean for CHF 180 million to integrate cutting-edge artificial intelligence into UAV flight systems, accelerating the development of autonomous solutions for civil and defence aviation markets.
Horizon Aircraft and ZeroAvia Announce Plans to Explore Hydrogen eVTOL Propulsion
Horizon Aircraft and ZeroAvia will explore integrating hydrogen-electric propulsion into the Cavorite X7 eVTOL, aiming to enable zero-emission regional air mobility.

Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Set for Eighth Mission
Boeing’s X-37B prepares for its eighth launch with new tech, including laser comms and a quantum sensor, enhancing future U.S. space capabilities.

Sasol Commits to Next Generation Catalyst Supply for e-SAF Pioneer INERATEC
Sasol and INERATEC sign agreement to supply next generation catalyst, set to boost e-kerosene yield by 15% and exceed PtL plant capacity by 2026.

FAA Study Led by Embry-Riddle Warns of Drone Risks to Aircraft
An FAA-backed study by Embry-Riddle warns that drones are often flown above 400 feet, raising safety risks near manned aircraft and heliports.

CCAA and GIZ BSB Yamoussa Formalise Commitment to Drone Pilot Training
The CCAA and GIZ BSB Yamoussa have formalised a partnership to train drone pilots in Cameroon, supporting safe and regulated UAV operations.

NASA Welcomes Senegal as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory
Senegal joins NASA’s Artemis Accords, committing to peaceful, transparent space exploration. The agreement marks a milestone in international space diplomacy.



