In this episode, Darrell Swanson and Jarek Zych of EA Maven discuss the launch of AeroTesseract, a full-stack SaaS platform designed to bring investment-grade analysis to advanced air mobility (AAM).

They explain that traditional aviation forecasting tools rely on historical air traffic data, which is unsuitable for emerging AAM routes. Instead, AeroTesseract uses surface mobility data and bottom-up, route-by-route modelling to identify viable markets.

The platform integrates demand forecasting, scheduling, revenue modelling, energy requirements, and carbon analysis into one iterative workflow. It allows users to test sensitivities such as pricing, time savings, aircraft type, and propulsion system, while also modelling infrastructure revenues and grid capacity constraints.

Both Darrell and Jarek emphasise realism and granular analysis over top-down market projections, positioning AeroTesseract as a potential industry-standard tool for operators, airports, OEMs, and governments planning the future of regional and urban air mobility.

In this episode, Jason Pritchard is joined by Austin Spiegel, CTO and Co-Founder of SIFT, to explore how better data infrastructure is accelerating advanced air mobility development.

Austin explains how SIFT’s hardware observability platform helps OEMs capture, organize and analyze vast volumes of telemetry generated across the entire aircraft lifecycle—from simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing to manufacturing and flight operations.

With certification programmes placing increasing pressure on traceability and auditability, he highlights how fragmented data systems, siloed workflows and manual reporting processes can create costly bottlenecks for eVTOL developers.

The conversation dives into how SIFT creates a unified, structured “digital thread” that links telemetry to specific assets, sub-assemblies and manufacturing processes—enabling clear, regulator-ready evidence paths. Austin also discusses real-time flight test monitoring, automated pass/fail reporting, anomaly detection through “family” data comparisons, and the growing regulatory shift toward digital-ready, interactive evidence rather than static PDFs.

With SIFT recently announcing a $42 million Series B raise, Austin shares how the company is scaling its team and capabilities to support the next phase of growth in aviation and beyond—building toward a single source of truth for hardware data that helps OEMs reduce late-stage surprises and move more confidently toward certification.

In this episode, we were delighted to be joined by Katie Inman, Partner at Holland & Knight and a leading authority on aviation public policy and regulation, to unpack the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for Advanced Air Mobility operations.

Drawing on her extensive experience at the FAA, where she led major rulemaking initiatives for unmanned and novel aircraft, Inman offers a rare insider’s perspective on how regulators think, how policy is shaped, and what industry stakeholders need to know to successfully move forward.

The conversation explores common misconceptions about FAA rulemaking, including the complexity, legal rigor, and time required to develop new aviation policy.

Inman explains how performance-based regulation and the FAA’s “safety continuum” are increasingly central to accommodating emerging technologies, while maintaining the agency’s mandate to ensure the highest levels of safety in the world’s most complex airspace.

In this episode of eVTOL Insights, host Jason Pritchard sits down with Alison to explore the critical role of government affairs in advancing the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Alison shares how Regal Rexnord supports the eVTOL ecosystem through its aerospace-grade components, scalable manufacturing capabilities, and strategic collaboration with OEMs and policymakers.

The discussion dives into regulatory readiness, public-private collaboration, and the importance of clear storytelling and transparency in building public trust.

Alison offers valuable insights into how industry, government, and regulators are working together to ensure safe, sustainable, and timely deployment of eVTOL technology—positioning the U.S. to remain a global leader in next-generation aviation.

In this episode, Darryl provides an in-depth overview of the CAA’s recently published eVTOL Delivery Model, explaining why it was developed, what it contains and how it is intended to provide clarity and transparency for industry as the UK works toward enabling commercial eVTOL operations.

The conversation explores how the delivery model aligns with the UK’s Future of Flight programme and broader net zero ambitions, including the government’s objective to see piloted passenger eVTOL operations in the UK by 2028.

Darryl outlines the CAA’s regulatory roadmap, key delivery principles, and the importance of building on existing aviation frameworks while remaining proportionate, flexible, and innovation-friendly.

He also discusses what the CAA expects from industry in the near term, including engagement with live policy consultations, as well as how the delivery model will evolve through its 'flying now, flying tomorrow, and flying in future' phases.

The episode covers certification challenges, vertiport and ground infrastructure regulation, airspace integration, ecosystem maturity in the UK, and the balance between regulatory certainty and technological innovation.

The discussion concludes with practical advice for eVTOL stakeholders on early engagement with the regulator, insights into remaining unknowns around scaled deployment, and Darryl's perspective on why the UK is well positioned to play a leading role in the global advanced air mobility ecosystem.

In this episode, Jason Pritchard is joined by Lester Erlston, Founder of Flight Kinetics, to explore how advanced aerodynamics could unlock the next phase of electric and hybrid-electric flight.

Lester explains how the company’s proprietary technology, PropWings, is designed to dramatically improve lift, range, and payload capacity for eVTOL aircraft—without requiring advances in battery chemistry.

Instead, the solution focuses on smarter aerodynamics, harvesting previously wasted propeller slipstream energy to enhance performance during critical flight phases such as transition and cruise.

During the conversation, Lester outlines Flight Kinetics’ journey from initial invention through patent protection and toward a scalable licensing business model. The company positions itself as a future Tier 1 technology licensor, offering an airframe-neutral solution that can be integrated across multiple eVTOL platforms.

The discussion dives deep into the technical challenges of designing a high-lift system that is robust, adaptable, and certifiable across diverse aircraft architectures. Lester shares how a phased validation roadmap—progressing from advanced CFD analysis to wind tunnel testing and ultimately flight testing—is being used to reduce risk and deliver the real-world data OEMs require.

Looking ahead, the episode explores how improved aerodynamic efficiency can translate directly into safer operations, greater energy margins, longer routes, and stronger economics for operators.

In this episode, Marilyn Pearson sits down with Dr. Tracy Lamb, a globally respected aviation and aerospace safety leader, international airline pilot, and human factors expert with more than 20 years of experience across commercial aviation, advanced aerospace programs, and emerging technologies.

Dr. Lamb shares deep insights into the rapidly evolving world of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), unpacking how global regulators, standards bodies, and industry leaders are working to harmonize certification, operations, and safety frameworks for eVTOL aircraft.

Drawing on her experience with ICAO, RTCA, and international regulators, she explains why regulatory harmonization is complex, why timelines often shift, and how differences in culture, operations, and organizational maturity impact entry into service.

The conversation explores some of the most critical challenges facing AAM today, including latent safety hazards, organizational readiness, pilot training, automation, and the human factors that don’t always show up in early flight testing.

Dr. Lamb introduces listeners to the concept of the “safety continuum,” resilience engineering, and Safety-II thinking—highlighting why designing systems to fail safely and adapt under stress is essential as AAM scales toward passenger operations.

In this in-depth episode, Brandon Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Horizon Aircraft, joins host Jason Pritchard to discuss one of the industry’s most compelling hybrid-eVTOL programs: the Cavorite X7.

A former CF-18 fighter pilot and experienced aerospace innovator, Brandon offers a rare combination of technical clarity and operational insight.

He begins by unpacking Horizon’s recent full-wing transition flight milestone with its large-scale X7 demonstrator — an achievement he describes as “beautifully boring,” meaning exceptionally safe and predictable. He explains why Horizon’s simple, retractable ducted-fan architecture avoids the complexity and risk of tilt-rotor and tilt-wing designs, offering a robust platform built for real-world operations.

The conversation dives into the hybrid-electric powertrain at the heart of the X7. Brandon details why pure-electric solutions fall short for long-range missions, and how the X7’s turbine-battery hybrid enables four times the range, twice the speed of comparable eVTOLs, self-charging capability, and all-weather operation — including anti-icing and IFR flight, a major differentiator in the market.

Safety and reliability take centre stage as Brandon outlines the aircraft’s deep redundancy, from isolated ducted fans to durable electric motors that dramatically reduce maintenance. The result: up to 75 per cent lower operating cost per mile compared to helicopters, while flying twice as fast.

Looking ahead, Robinson shares an encouraging update on Horizon’s certification roadmap, the clarity gained from mature regulatory frameworks, and the company’s collaboration with Cert Center Canada. He also offers an honest assessment of industry-wide technical and regulatory risks, and why many competitors are now quietly shifting toward hybrid architectures.

In this insightful episode of the Women in AAM podcast, host Marilyn Pearson sits down with Amber Harrison, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Vertical Aviation International and a commercially rated helicopter pilot.

With her unique blend of legal, operational, and aviation experience, Amber brings clarity to one of the most consequential regulatory developments affecting the future of drones and advanced air mobility (AAM): the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule.

Amber breaks down why Part 108 represents a major shift for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and how it will shape the integration of unmanned systems into low-altitude airspace. She explains the proposed framework for aircraft acceptance, maintenance, controller training, and third-party UTM oversight—highlighting how Part 108 moves the industry closer to scalable, autonomous operations.

One of the most talked-about elements, Amber notes, is the proposed right-of-way hierarchy, which for the first time suggests unmanned aircraft may have priority over crewed aircraft under certain conditions. She explores why this creates operational complexity for pilots, regulators, and manufacturers—especially when population density maps, equipage requirements, and ADS-B/EC technology limitations are factored in.

The discussion also dives into grey areas between drones and autonomous aircraft, raising essential questions about certification weight limits, governance, and future rulemaking for autonomy. Amber shares how VAI is advocating for a phased, safety-driven approach that acknowledges current technology gaps while supporting industry growth.

In this episode, Jason Pritchard speaks with Javier Espuch, Chief Business Development Officer at Emberion, a pioneer in safety-critical avionics and autopilot systems for UAVs and eVTOL aircraft.

Javier shares the company’s 18-year journey, from its early focus on miniaturised drone flight-control systems to becoming a leading technology provider for advanced air mobility platforms.

Javier explains how Embention’s flagship Veronte Autopilot has evolved through strict adherence to aviation-grade standards such as DO-178 and DO-254, giving manufacturers a certifiable, highly reliable flight-control solution adaptable to nearly any aircraft configuration.

He highlights the system’s key differentiators: miniaturisation, flexibility, and a model-based design environment that allows OEMs to customise control strategies for unique airframe architectures—from coaxial helicopters to tail-sitters and hybrid VTOLs.

The discussion dives into the company’s work toward TSO certification, the challenges of the still-emerging regulatory framework for autonomous systems, and the importance of achieving a certifiable detect-and-avoid capability, one of the biggest remaining hurdles for commercial eVTOL operations. Javier also outlines Emberion’s expanding ecosystem, including upcoming inceptor controls and onboard cockpit displays, aimed at offering a complete avionics suite for AAM manufacturers.

On industry trends, Javier shares his optimism about the diversity of vehicle concepts entering the market and stresses the importance of international collaboration, close OEM partnerships, and continued regulatory progress. Looking ahead, he sees the next 3–5 years as pivotal, with certification maturity and component standardisation unlocking meaningful commercial operations worldwide. He closes by reflecting on the excitement of helping early-stage innovators grow into mature aviation companies, one of the most rewarding parts of working in this transformative sector.