
African Pilot Magazine:
Future Flight

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.

FAA Greenlights First Electric Engine Propeller, A Leap Forward with Global Implications
The FAA has certified the first electric aircraft propeller—here's what it means for global aviation and how Africa could benefit from the shift to clean flight.

Gauteng Strengthens Crime-Fighting Capacity with Drone Pilot Graduates
20 Gauteng traffic officers graduate as certified drone pilots, advancing e-Policing in the province's fight against crime through technology.

Joby Advances Commercial Air Taxi Operations with Dubai Test Flights
Joby Aviation launches air taxi readiness work in Dubai with piloted eVTOL flights and begins vertiport construction at Dubai International Airport.

Archer Begins Test Flights in Abu Dhabi
Archer has completed the initial flight of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, testing VTOL performance under UAE-specific conditions. The test supports Archer’s Launch Edition programme with Abu Dhabi Aviation ahead of commercial air taxi deployment.

Meshmerize and 8devices Launch RoboNode-M: Compact Dual-Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Module for Robotics and Drone Swarms
Meshmerize and 8devices introduce RoboNode-M, a compact dual-radio Wi-Fi 6 mesh module built for mobile robots, autonomous systems, and drone swarms. Powered by Qualcomm QCS405 and integrated with Meshmerize’s intelligent mesh software, RoboNode-M offers high-throughput, low-latency connectivity for industrial automation.

PBS Unveils Its Most Powerful Jet Engine to Date, the TJ200
PBS GROUP has unveiled its most powerful jet engine to date, the PBS TJ200, at the Paris Air Show. Designed for high-performance unmanned systems and marine applications, the TJ200 features advanced FADEC control, seawater resistance, and a compact footprint, marking a major innovation in aerospace propulsion.

Engineered Fluids Partners With Dovetail Electric Aviation to Develop Immersion-Cooled Batteries for Electric Aircraft
Engineered Fluids and Dovetail Electric Aviation collaborate to develop an advanced immersion-cooled battery system for electric aircraft, using AmpCool technology to improve safety, performance, and thermal stability in zero-emission aviation.

First Airbus SIRTAP Prototype Ready to Start Ground Tests
Airbus has completed assembly of the first SIRTAP tactical uncrewed aerial system, now entering ground tests in Spain. The aircraft is set for its maiden flight by the end of 2025, with delivery to the Spanish Armed Forces expected in 2027.

Drone Forge Places Inaugural Order of Airbus Flexrotor
Drone Forge places the largest order to date for Airbus' Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, enhancing Asia-Pacific operations with advanced VTOL drones featuring maritime-optimised engines, Starlink connectivity, and high-resolution imaging technology.
