AIR Completes Advanced Uncrewed Night Cargo eVTOL Flights

Several companies are advancing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology for urban transportation and logistics. New Zealand's Whoosh is set to build a 2km demo of its fully-electric, self-driving cabin system in Queenstown, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion through a modular, three-dimensional elevated cable network. In the UK, Anduril Industries is leading a consortium including Archer, Skyports Drone Services, and AtkinsRéalis to explore dual-use civil and defense applications of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft, focusing on beyond visual line of sight operations for rapid logistics support. Meanwhile, AIR has completed advanced uncrewed nighttime flight demonstrations of its mid-sized cargo eVTOL, validating operations under real-world conditions and establishing standard operating procedures for 24/7 autonomous cargo flights. AIR’s aircraft, equipped with multiple safety features and designed for ease of transport and ground handling, underscores the growing viability of continuous, on-demand aerial logistics. These developments collectively highlight significant progress in eVTOL technology for both passenger transport and cargo delivery across diverse global markets.