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01 / 05
Google Founder’s Airship Gets FAA Clearance

IEEE Spectrum | Air Transport

Google Founder’s Airship Gets FAA Clearance

“Expect traffic on the 101 highway in Mountain View, Calif., to be even worse in the days or weeks ahead, as motorists slow down to watch Google cofounder Sergey Brin’s 124-meter-long airship, Pathfinder 1, launch into the air for the first time.

IEEE Spectrum has learned that LTA Research, the company that Brin founded in 2015 to develop airships for humanitarian and cargo transport, received a special airworthiness certificate for the helium-filled airship in early September…

Although its rigid design hearkens back to the gargantuan airships of the early 20th century, Pathfinder 1 is almost completely different from any large airship that has flown before. Crucially, its reported 3,000 welded titanium hubs and 10,000 carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer tubes are light enough that it can use nonflammable helium instead of explosive hydrogen as a lifting gas.”

From IEEE Spectrum.

Buenos Aires Times | Air Transport

Open Skies Lifts Argentina to Top of Regional Air Traffic

“Argentina recorded the highest percentage growth in air traffic in Latin America last year, with 33.3 million passengers travelling to, from and within the country.

The figure represents a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase, equating to some 3.9 million additional travellers, according to data released Tuesday by the Latin America and the Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA).”

From Buenos Aires Times.

Southwest | Air Transport

Southwest Airlines Launches Starlink High-Speed Wi-Fi Service

“Southwest Airlines Co. is taking inflight connectivity to new heights with Starlink. Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink will deliver next-generation WiFi across Southwest’s network of 11 countries, allowing Customers to stream, share, and scroll in the sky at lightning-fast speeds…

Southwest plans to rapidly integrate Starlink into its fleet. The first Starlink-equipped aircraft enters service this summer, and it will be available on more than 300 aircraft by the end of 2026. This is a major step in the carrier’s plan to upgrade all its aircraft with high-speed, low-Earth-orbit satellite technology.”

From Southwest.

bne IntelliNews | Air Transport

China Grants First Commercial Licences for Flying Taxis

“China has granted the world’s first commercial licences for autonomous flying taxis, marking a significant milestone in the global push for urban air mobility…

The announcement signals the start of what China has called ‘a new era in low-altitude economy’ with ambitions to lead in a sector still in experimental stages elsewhere. Chinese planners are preparing the groundwork for a business that could generate up to CNY2 trillion ($280bn) in annual output as soon as 2030, Urban Land reports.

Guangzhou-based EHang received a type certificate for its EH216-S model in October 2023, and was awarded its production certificate in April 2024. On December 28, the CAAC granted the company an operational permit, allowing it to provide passenger-carrying flights in designated airspaces…

Autoflight, headquartered in Shanghai, also confirmed it had received approval for its V400 Albatross cargo drone, with plans to expand to passenger services under its subsidiary Autoflight X.

China’s regulators have moved more swiftly than their counterparts in the US and Europe, where companies such as Joby Aviation, Lilium and Volocopter are still undergoing flight testing and certification. The US Federal Aviation Administration has indicated that commercial operations for passenger-carrying eVTOLs are unlikely before 2028.”

From bne IntelliNews.