In this episode, Dr. Satya shares the company’s mission to transform urban mobility through one of the world’s most compact eVTOL aircraft, designed to ease congestion and reduce emissions in densely populated cities.

The ePlane Company is the first private Indian firm to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the DGCA for an electric aircraft — a key milestone toward certification and commercialization.

The discussion explores the company’s lift-plus-cruise configuration, chosen for safety, redundancy, and certification efficiency over tilt-rotor designs. Satya details progress on the first full-scale prototype, expected to begin flight testing in late 2025, with certification targeted for mid-2027.

The roadmap includes air ambulance, air taxi, and cargo variants, with operations planned to start in India before expanding internationally.

Chakravarthy also highlights India’s proactive regulatory environment, including close collaboration with the DGCA and alignment with EASA standards. He notes strong public enthusiasm for eVTOLs, citing surveys showing over 75 per cent of Indian respondents support the concept of urban air mobility.

In the inaugural episode of Women in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Chairperson Marilyn Pearson speaks with Stella Filippatos about CAE's journey toward electrifying pilot training aircraft and the broader implications for sustainable aviation.

Stella recounts her path from electrical engineering into aerospace, with experience at Bombardier and CAE, where she now leads CAE’s electric aircraft conversion program. The initiative, announced in 2022, focuses on converting Piper Archer trainers to electric propulsion—an effort driven by CAE’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral, achieved in 2020 through offsets.

Philippatos explains that while electric aircraft currently have limited range, they’re ideal for early pilot training—short “A-to-A” flights involving circuits, touch-and-goes, and familiarization exercises. This not only reduces emissions and noise but also helps prepare pilots for eVTOL and AAM operations, where understanding electric energy systems will be key.

In this episode, Dr. Maris shares a wealth of insight drawn from decades of experience in aircraft certification, flight testing, and aerospace innovation.

The conversation explores how 3C helps emerging aerospace companies navigate the complexities of certification — from developing early-stage roadmaps to guiding OEMs through compliance and testing.

Dr. Maris explains why certification isn’t an end-of-project task but a continuous process, comparing it to the long and rigorous testing cycles of new pharmaceuticals.

He also highlights the unique technical and regulatory hurdles facing eVTOL developers, such as the limitations of current battery technology, the evolving frameworks from EASA and the FAA, and the critical role of human factors and simulation in ensuring safety.

Looking to the future, Dr. Maris predicts that eVTOL certification will become more structured and harmonized globally, with growing collaboration between regulators and innovators. He believes Canada is well positioned to play a leading role in this emerging ecosystem — particularly for regional and first responder applications.

Closing the episode, Dr. Maris emphasizes the importance of clear, factual reporting to educate the wider public, regulators, and industry stakeholders about this “sea change” moment in aviation.

In this episode, we speak with Adam Zeyn, Business Development lead for the 2025 Dubai Airshow. Adam shares how the event has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s premier platforms for advanced air mobility, drones, and eVTOL technologies, and why this year promises to be the most ambitious yet.

Hear how Dubai has positioned itself as a global leader in electric aviation, from regulatory breakthroughs and pioneering infrastructure to high-profile partnerships with industry leaders like Joby, Archer and Skyports. Adam also reveals the show’s expanded AAM Pavilion, immersive demonstrations, sustainability initiatives and networking opportunities designed to connect innovators, investors and policymakers on a global stage.

With themes like “The Future is Here”, Dubai Airshow 2025 will spotlight cutting-edge developments in urban air mobility, sustainable aviation, commercial space, and next-gen workforce development. From spectacular flying displays and drone shows to exclusive networking events and live entertainment, it’s an unmissable event shaping the future of flight.

Discover why Dubai is at the forefront of aviation innovation and why Adam describes the 2025 Airshow in three words: “Transformative, Unmissable, Fire.”

In this episode, Jakob shares his journey from working in logistics and warehouse automation to founding Grasshopper Air Mobility in 2023, driven by a vision for sustainable, autonomous aerial mobility.

Initially inspired by flying cars for commuters, he and his team pivoted to cargo operations after recognizing the steep certification costs and barriers facing passenger eVTOLs.

Jakob reflects on key industry lessons and the company's strategy to leverage off-the-shelf, certified components rather than developing everything in-house. The company is firmly committed to sustainability, with a focus on electric and hybrid-hydrogen propulsion and ultra-quiet ducted fan technology.

Looking ahead, Grasshopper is targeting certification between 2030–2031, with scaled prototypes beginning as early as 2026. Jakob also discusses the challenges of regulation, infrastructure integration, funding, and the importance of public acceptance for advanced air mobility to succeed globally.

In this episode, Adam shares exclusive updates on REGENT’s exciting development roadmap, including the progress of their full-scale prototype and the path towards commercial operations in 2027. He explains how Seagliders combine the speed of aircraft with the accessibility of maritime vessels, operating from existing dock infrastructure and offering passengers affordable, sustainable coastal transport.

Listeners will hear how REGENT is:

- Expanding its $10 billion order backlog with airlines, ferry operators, and energy companies.

- Building strong ecosystem partnerships with regulators, infrastructure providers, and community leaders worldwide.

- Unlocking new opportunities in key markets such as Hawaii, South Florida, the U.S. Northeast, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

- Differentiating Seagliders from traditional eVTOL aircraft with lower operating costs, greater passenger capacity, and synergies for multimodal transport at ports.

Adam also dives into the importance of regulatory engagement with the U.S. Coast Guard and Lloyd’s Register, REGENT’s customer training programs, and how Seagliders could transform daily life by improving access to jobs, healthcare, and housing in coastal communities.

In this episode, Dr. Yuanyuan “Martin” Ding, shares his journey from working at leading aerospace companies to launching his own startup focused on developing an Autonomous Flight System (AFS) designed to boost safety, efficiency, and scalability in the low-altitude economy.

The conversation discusses how Albatross.ai is tackling challenges around AI integration, sensor fusion, and real-time decision-making, as well as its collaborations with OEMs, operators, and regulators. Martin also reflects on the regulatory landscape in China, the global path toward aviation autonomy, and the opportunities AI can unlock for Advanced Air Mobility.

Hear Martin’s entrepreneurial insights, the milestones Albatross.ai is targeting and his vision for how autonomy could reshape everyday transport in the next decade.

In this episode, Fahad Al Riyami talks about his company AeroVecto, an Oman-based startup developing a high-capacity hybrid eVTOL aircraft designed to transform urban mobility across the Middle East and beyond.

Fahad shares the inspiration behind the company, its vision to create scalable shuttle networks that ease congestion in high-density cities, and how their 18-passenger hybrid design sets them apart from other players in the space. He also discusses the challenges of autonomy, infrastructure, and public acceptance, as well as how Oman and the wider region are positioning themselves as leaders in advanced air mobility.

From his personal journey and passion for aviation to AeroVecto’s roadmap toward commercial deployment, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the Middle East’s most ambitious eVTOL ventures.

In this episode, we speak with Furqan, CEO and co-founder of Sora Aviation, a UK-based startup pioneering the S1, a 30-seat battery-electric tiltrotor designed to make Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) truly affordable and accessible.

Key Topics & Insights include:

- Sora’s Origin Story – From early fascination with aviation to leading eVTOL programs at GKN, and why Furqan and co-founder Malcolm Foster set out to build a “flying bus” for the masses.

- Mission & Vision – Tackling AAM’s biggest challenge: affordability. Why higher passenger capacity is the key to equitable access, not just serving VIPs.

- Inside the S1 Aircraft – Battery-electric tiltrotor design, 30-seat capacity, low-noise optimizations, advanced safety redundancies, and innovative battery integration.

- Market Focus – Airport shuttle routes as the launch market, with high demand, strong willingness to pay, and a proven historical precedent in large passenger helicopters.

- Go-to-Market & Partnerships – Aircraft sales model with MRO, training, and battery services; early orders from South Korea’s Moviation and collaborations with UK universities and aerospace specialists.

- Certification Path – Targeting UK CAA approval aligned with EASA SC-VTOL standards, paving the way for FAA and global certification.

- Challenges & Public Perception – Overcoming skepticism about “flying buses” and shifting the conversation from luxury air taxis to everyday mobility.

- Future Milestones – First full-scale rotor spin-up next year, first flight in 2028, and entry into service by 2031.

- Myth-Busting – eVTOLs are not just electric helicopters—they target different missions and will evolve over time.

In this episode, Dan Sloat (Advanced Air Mobility Institute) and Ted Angel (National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence) share how they’re reviving the iconic race on October 12, 2025, exactly 100 years after its last run.

Discover:

- Why Springfield, Ohio was chosen as the host city.

- How the race will spotlight electric and hybrid-electric aircraft.

- The unique 60-nautical-mile course designed for today’s technology.

- Plans for a four-day celebration including a job fair, STEM activities, and the National AAM Industry Forum.

- Opportunities for student teams, industry players, and international pilots to take part.