For those who fly to those who make flight possible.
Your go-to source for all things aviation in Africa.

SubscribeContact

African Pilot Magazine:

Future Flight

Joby’s turbine electric, autonomous VTOL aircraft takes its first flight in Marina, CA just three months after Joby announced the aircraft concept alongside a new partnership with L3Harris Technologies. Credit: Joby Aviation

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.
Read More
  • 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.

    Read

    16 November 2025

    Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Sergio Oliete Josa, Head of Sustainable Transport and Urban Development at European Commission (DG INTPA). Photo Credit ©African Pilot // Craig Dean
  • AAD 2026
  • 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.

    Dr Jimmy Gasore, Minister of Infrastructure of Rwanda. Photo Credit ©African Pilot // Craig Dean
  • 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.

    By removing the cockpit, seats and crew stations, the Sikorsky S-70UAS™ U-Hawk™ helicopter becomes the first fully autonomous Black Hawk helicopter. Photo courtesy, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.
  • 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.

    Airbus Streamlines Its Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System Offering
  • 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.

    Read

    24 September 2025

  • Expand your comfort zone – discover the new PC-24’s aft divan that converts into a full-length bed.
  • 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.

    Read

    22 September 2025

    Uncrewed autonomous air system by Skunk Works and FalconWorks – modular and adaptable for different missions.
  • 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.

    Read

    22 September 2025

    International: Joby To Bring Blade’s Air Mobility Services To The Uber App
  • Expand your comfort zone – discover the new PC-24’s aft divan that converts into a full-length bed.
  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

    Joby Completes Acquisition of Blade’s Passenger Business
  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

    From left: Arnaud Coville, Chief Development Officer of SkyDrive and Vincent Duqueine, President of DUC Hélices Propellers
  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

    The piloted VX4 prototype during Phase 3 of wingborne testing
  • Expand your comfort zone – discover the new PC-24’s aft divan that converts into a full-length bed.
  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

    Archer’s Midnight aircraft at San Francisco International Airport
  • 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.

    Read

    15 September 2025

    Joby’s aircraft arrives from Marina airport into Monterey airport, where it completed its first piloted flight between two public airports. Credit: Joby Aviation
  • Expand your comfort zone – discover the new PC-24’s aft divan that converts into a full-length bed.
  • 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.

    Read

    9 September 2025

  • 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.

    Joby's aircraft departs Marina (OAR) and lands at Monterey (MRY), making history as the first piloted eVTOL air taxi flight between two U.S. airports in FAA-controlled airspace.
  • 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.

    GoeKHUN Unmanned Aerial System UAS from ESEN equipped with a modern SP 210 FI GS 2 stroke engine from Sky Power International
  • 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.

    Horizon Aircraft ZeroAvia X7-14
  • 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.

    Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane Set for Eighth Mission - Boeing-Built X-37B Spaceplane lands at Vandenberg Space Force Base to complete its seventh mission on March 7, 2025. It is slated to launch for its eighth mission no earlier than August 21, 2025. Image courtesy of the U.S. Space Force
  • 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.

    Sang-A Lee, an Aviation Ph.D. candidate and graduate research assistant at Embry-Riddle, briefs the research team about drone sightings and registration data. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/David Massey)
  • 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.

    From left to right, Ambassador of Senegal to the United States Abdoul Wahab Haidara, Director General of the Senegalese space agency (ASES) Maram Kairé, NASA Chief of Staff Brian Hughes, and Department of State Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official Jonathan Pratt pose for a photo during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Senegal is the 56th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber
  • 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.

    Pic credit: Hartzell & Beta Technologies
  • 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.

    Gauteng Provincial Government
  • 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.

    A Joby Aviation electric air taxi takes to the skies outside Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as part of the company’s commercial market readiness efforts in the region. Photo: Joby Aviation
  • 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.

    Archer's Midnight aircraft flying at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi