2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

South Florida operator expects first deliveries in 2027

UrbanLink Orders 20 More Viceroy Electric Seagliders from Regent Craft

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Sea trials with a prototype are underway in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay

Regent Submits Seaglider Approval Plan to U.S. Coast Guard 

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

After two years in stealth mode, the Miami start-up says it can start deliveries in two years

Sea Cheetah To Reveal Hydrogen-powered Wing-in-ground-effect Vessel

Viceroy's hardware and systems integration has begun

Regent Reveals Progress on Full-sale Seaglider Prototype

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

An agreement signed at CoMotion Miami has a reported value of $300 million 

Monte Will Add Regent's Sea Gliders to Lease Portfolio

Regent has unveiled a full-scale mock-up of the 12-passenger Viceroy electric-powered wing-in-ground-effect sea glider prototype it aims to start flight testing in 2024. The mock-up, which includes a fully equipped cabin, incorporates lessons learned from tests conducted with a one-quarter-scale technology demonstrator. It will be on display for prospective customers and partners to inspect at the company’s headquarters in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
During an unveiling event on April 14, Regent announced that it has selected EP Systems and MagicAll to supply the batteries and electric motors for the sea glider. The company expects the Viceroy, which will have a 60-foot wingspan, to have a range of 180 miles and to connect coastal communities.
In recent months, the U.S. start-up has boosted its management team with appointments to its advisory board including David Neeleman, founder&nbsp;and former CEO of JetBlue and now CEO of Breeze Airways, and former Boeing Company CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Regent has also received new strategic investments from <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-22/lockheed-martin-backs-sea-glider-developer-regent-strategic-investment">Lockheed Martin</a>, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-26/japan-airlines-backs-plans-electric-wing-ground-effect-sea-gliders">Japan Airlines</a>, and Yamato Holdings.
“This mock-up, along with the announcement of our plans to build new state-of-the-art facilities, showcases our growth trajectory and our commitment to begin production as soon as possible,” commented Regent co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer. “Our studies, based on publicly validated data, show that our sea gliders serve an $11 billion market that we project to swell to as much as $25 billion as battery technology advances.”
<h3 class="subheading">Operators Plan&nbsp;for New Coastal Routes</h3>
Regent has announced provisional sales agreements for more than 400 sea gliders from several prospective operators, including Mesa Airlines, Ocean Flyer, and Mokulele Airlines, as well as from Brittany Ferries, which connects cities on either side of the English Channel. According to the manufacturer, the value of these agreements could total $8 billion once the sea glider has been certified under <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-31/regent-says-approval-principle-marks-key-step-certification-electric-sea">maritime regulations</a>&nbsp;and deliveries are made, starting in 2025.
Hawaii-based Mokulele Airlines&nbsp;and its parent company, Southern Airways,&nbsp;are&nbsp;expected to be the first commercial operators of the Viceroy. Southern Airways CEO Stan Little said that the group had&nbsp;been approached by dozens of alternative aircraft suppliers before it opted&nbsp;to expand its fleet with sea gliders. Mokulele Airlines has also evaluated Ampaire’s hybrid-electric conversion of the Cessna Grand Caravan.
Switzerland-based start-up Jekta is developing a 19-passenger electric <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-22/jekta-signs-deal-gayo-aviation-10-pha-ze-100-amphibious-aircraft">amphibious aircraft </a>called the PHA-ZE 100. It recently announced that air charter broker Gayo Aviation intends to be the launch customer for operations that could include eco-tourism.
Sea gliders fly exclusively above water by using an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the ground effect, in which air flowing below the vehicle provides lift. The technology represents somewhat of a cross between&nbsp;a traditional seaplane and a hovercraft, although sea gliders cannot hover. Whereas a cushion of pressurized air under downward-facing propellers supports hovercraft, WIGs have forward-facing propellers that direct airflow beneath the craft, creating pressure to provide lift while simultaneously reducing lift-induced drag.&nbsp;
The vehicles can operate in three modes: floating on their hulls near a dock, foiling on hydrofoils at slow speeds (up to 40 knots), and flying at high speeds (up to 160 knots) just a few meters above the water&nbsp;while cruising. According to Regent, its sea gliders will operate up to six times faster than conventional ferries.

Managing Editor

Regent Unveils Full-scale Mock-up of Viceroy 12-Passenger Sea Glider

Lockheed Martin Ventures has made a strategic investment in Regent, which is working to bring passenger-carrying wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) sea gliders to market in 2025. The Rhode Island-based start-up did not disclose how much funding the defense group is providing&nbsp;but said the deal announced on March 22 will give its team access to Lockheed Martin’s facilities and expertise in developing sea gliders for military applications.
Regent noted that it recently started development of a full-scale prototype for its 12-passenger all-electric Viceroy model, based on data gathered from flight testing last year with a remotely piloted, quarter-scale technology demonstrator called the Squire. It now aims to start pilot-on-board testing with the Viceroy prototype in 2024.
In August 2022, certification group Bureau Veritas Marine &amp; Offshore issued an <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-08-31/regent-says-approval-principle-marks-key-step-certification-electric-sea">approval in principle </a>to the company covering its in-development sea glider. According to Regent, the approval is a significant milestone in its efforts to complete certification under maritime regulations.
The company also has plans for a larger vehicle called the Monarch that would be able to carry&nbsp;100 passengers, with a payload of 25,000 pounds. It expects this to be ready to start commercial operations by the end of the 2020s.
According to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-06/investors-back-regents-plans-all-electric-wing-ground-effect-seaglider">Regent</a>, sea gliders combine the high speed of an airplane with the lower operating costs associated with sea vessels. It expects the Viceroy, which will have a 60-foot wingspan, to have a range of 180 miles on services that will connect coastal communities.
Sea gliders fly exclusively above water by using an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the ground effect, in which air flowing below the vehicle provides lift. The technology represents somewhat of a cross between&nbsp;a traditional seaplane and a hovercraft, although sea gliders cannot hover. Whereas hovercraft are supported by a cushion of pressurized air under downward-facing propellers, WIGs have forward-facing propellers that direct airflow beneath the craft, creating pressure to provide lift while simultaneously reducing lift-induced drag.&nbsp;
The vehicles can operate in three modes: floating on their hulls near a dock, foiling on hydrofoils at slow speeds (up to 40 knots), and flying at high speeds (up to 160 knots) just a few meters above the water&nbsp;while cruising. According to Regent, its sea gliders will operate up to six times faster than conventional ferries.
Lockheed Martin’s venture capital arm is joining existing investors in Regent that include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-26/japan-airlines-backs-plans-electric-wing-ground-effect-sea-gliders">Japan Airlines</a> Innovation Fund/Translink Capital, Peter Thiel, Caffeinated Capital, Y-Combinator, Founders Fund, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-12/hawaiian-airlines-agrees-invest-regents-monarch-seaglider">Hawaiian Airlines</a>, and Mark Cuban. The partnership is expected to lead to Regent working with the U.S. Marine Corps and Special Operations units on plans for possible military uses for its sea gliders.
“We see defense strategy evolving toward an island-hopping force featuring agile, affordable, and distributed craft,” commented Regent co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer. “This investment is a strong signal that sea gliders can fill this immediate need in the high-priority missions faced by our [U.S.] Department of Defense. Lockheed Martin’s expertise and resources will be invaluable as we work together to adapt sea gliders for defense use cases that are critically important to national security.”
To date, Regent has reported provisional sales agreements for over 400 sea gliders from prospective aviation and ferry operators including Mokulele Airlines and Southern Airways Express in the U.S., as well as Germany’s FRS and Ocean Flyer in New Zealand. It says these agreements cover orders worth more than $7.9 billion, implying a unit price for each vehicle of around $19.8 million.
Over the past three years, Lockheed Martin Ventures has been stepping up its investments in the emerging advanced air mobility sector. It has provided funding for eSTOL aircraft developer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-18/lockheed-martin-backs-hybrid-electric-estol-aircraft-developer-electra">Electra </a>and Elroy Air’s <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-04/lockheed-martin-backs-40-million-funding-round-cargo-vtol-maker-elroy">Chaparral cargo drone</a>, as well as backing new technology through investments in companies like sensor specialist Hidden Level and electric motor drive group <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-03-01/lockheed-martin-backs-megawatt-class-electric-propulsion-developer-h3x">H3X</a>.
&nbsp;

Lockheed Martin Backs Sea Glider Developer Regent with Strategic Investment

Certification group Bureau Veritas Marine &amp; Offshore this week issued an approval in principle (AiP) to Regent Craft covering its in-development wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) sea glider. According to Regent, the approval is a significant milestone in its efforts to complete certification of the 12-passenger, all-electric Viceroy model under maritime regulations.
Earlier this year, the company started&nbsp;testing a quarter-scale technology demonstrator of the Viceroy model called Squire at Tampa in Florida. In recent months, more tests have been conducted&nbsp;in Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.
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 <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/REGENT%20Technical%20Demonstrator%201.jpeg" width="3000" height="2000" alt="Regent's Squire technology demonstrator wing-in-ground-effect vessel has conducted operational tests in Tampa, Florida." title="Regent's Squire technology demonstrator wing-in-ground-effect vessel has conducted operational tests in Florida and Rhode Island. (Image: Regent Craft)">

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 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Regent's Squire technology demonstrator wing-in-ground-effect vessel has conducted operational tests in Florida and Rhode Island. (Image: Regent Craft)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Regent's Squire technology demonstrator wing-in-ground-effect vessel has conducted operational tests in Florida and Rhode Island. (Image: Regent Craft)</figcaption>
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Testing of the full-scale Viceroy, which has a 60-foot wingspan, is expected to begin in late 2023. The company aims to have&nbsp;it approved to start commercial operations in 2025.
According to Regent, the AiP is based on a 10-month process conducted by its engineering team and Bureau Veritas that included workshops focused on the vehicle’s structure, mechanical systems, avionics, propulsion, and safety systems. Bureau Veritas has provided the Boston-based start-up with advice on identifying the rules and regulatory framework for the classification of the sea glider.
The next step in the program will be a design appraisal, consisting of&nbsp;technical studies already underway that Regent says&nbsp;“will allow the implementation of the sea glider's design and operation without significant risk of compliance or qualification issues.” The AiP will also be used to support an application for a design basis agreement (DBA) with the U.S. Coast Guard, which the company hopes to complete this fall. It said that the AiP and the DBA collectively form a classification and certification basis that is similar to G-1 and G-2 issue papers used by the FAA to set out, respectively, the certification basis and means of compliance&nbsp;for new aircraft.
According to Ted Lester, Regent's head of certification, the U.S. Coast Guard has statutory authority to regulate WIG vehicles under its authority to regulate small passenger vessels including design approval, inspection, construction and crewing. "In 2002, Congress specifically included WIGs in the definition of small passenger vessels and the coast guard has confirmed in writing its jurisdiction over Regent's sea gliders," he told FutureFlight.
Viceroy, Regent’s flagship sea glider, is designed to transport passengers or cargo up to 180 miles (300 kilometers), a range that the company says could more than double as next-generation battery technology becomes available. The <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-06/investors-back-regents-plans-all-electric-wing-ground-effect-seaglider">company </a>is also developing a larger, 100-seat model called the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-12/hawaiian-airlines-agrees-invest-regents-monarch-seaglider">Monarch</a>.&nbsp;
Seagliders are a type of WIG vehicle that flies exclusively above water by making use of an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the ground effect, in which air flowing below the vehicle provides lift. The technology represents somewhat of a cross between&nbsp;a traditional seaplane and a hovercraft, although sea gliders cannot hover. Whereas hovercraft are supported by a cushion of pressurized air under downward-facing propellers, WIGs have forward-facing propellers that direct airflow beneath the craft, creating pressure to provide lift while simultaneously reducing lift-induced drag.&nbsp;
Each sea glider can operate in three modes: floating on its hull near a dock, foiling on hydrofoils at slow speeds (up to 40 knots), and flying at high speeds (up to 160 knots) just a few meters above the water&nbsp;while cruising. According to Regent, its sea gliders will operate up to six times faster than conventional ferries.
The company now claims to have logged a $7 billion backlog of provisional orders for the Viceroy from ferry and air transport companies. The prospective customers include U.S. commuter carrier <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-03/us-commuter-airline-orders-20-regents-all-electric-seagliders">Southern Airways Express</a>, New York-based Fly the Whale, New Zealand’s Ocean Flyer, Goombay Air in the Bahamas, Croatia's Split Express, and the European shipping group <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-15/european-ferry-group-commits-buying-regent-sea-gliders">Brittany Ferries</a>.
Earlier this month, &nbsp;Regent announced a collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software to streamline the development and production of the Viceroy. It has adopted the<a href="Earlier this month, Regent announced a collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software to streamline the development and production of the Viceroy. It has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator software as a service (XaaS) to support the design, engineering, and development of its seaglider, a new type of vehicle that the company says will revolutionize transportation between coastal cities."> Siemens Xcelerator</a> software as a service (XaaS) to support the design, engineering, and development of its sea glider, a new type of vehicle that the company says will revolutionize transportation between coastal cities.&nbsp;

Regent Says Approval in Principle Marks Key Step to Certification of Electric Sea Glider

Regent Craft is collaborating with Siemens Digital Industries Software to streamline the development and production of its all-electric seagliders. The Boston-based startup announced on August 2 that it has adopted the Siemens Xcelerator software as a service (XaaS) to support the design, engineering, and development of its seaglider, a new type of vehicle that the company says will revolutionize transportation between coastal cities.&nbsp;
The Siemens XaaS provides an integrated portfolio of engineering software that combines a product’s mechanical design, electronics, software, and physical simulations to create a comprehensive virtual representation known as a digital twin. Companies like Regent can leverage these digital twins to simplify and speed up product development, reducing the need to build more prototypes while minimizing costs and resources.&nbsp;
“As our seagliders approach certification and full-scale commercial production, we need a robust, modern digital tools platform that supports the pace of our innovation cycles with the rigor to encompass a product as complex as ours,” said Regent co-founder and chief technology officer Mike Klinker. “Siemens Xcelerator as a Service was a perfect fit for a digital-first startup like ours,” he added. “Cloud native solutions, such as Teamcenter X, minimize administrative overhead and allow us to focus 100 percent on design, engineering, manufacturing, and innovation.”
Regent has been <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-05-06/investors-back-regents-plans-all-electric-wing-ground-effect-seaglider">developing its high-speed, zero-emissions seagliders</a> since 2020, and the company aims to have its intial 12-seat Viceroy model ready to enter service in 2025. Viceroy, Regent’s flagship seaglider, is designed to transport passengers or cargo across distances of up to 180 miles (300 kilometers), a range that the company says could more than double in the future as next-generation battery technology becomes available. Regent is also developing a larger, 100-seat model called the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-12/hawaiian-airlines-agrees-invest-regents-monarch-seaglider">Monarch</a>.&nbsp;
Seagliders are a type of wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle that fly exclusively above water by making use of an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the ground effect, in which air flowing below the vehicle provides lift. The technology is somewhat of a cross between a traditional seaplane and a hovercraft, although seagliders cannot hover. Whereas hovercraft are supported by a cushion of pressurized air under downward-facing propellers, WIGs have forward-facing propellers that direct airflow beneath the craft, creating pressure to provide lift while simultaneously reducing lift-induced drag.&nbsp;
Each seaglider can operate in three different modes: floating on its hull near a dock, foiling on hydrofoils at slow speeds (up to 40 knots), and flying at high speeds (up to 160 knots) just a few meters above the water’s surface while cruising. According to Regent, its seagliders travel up to six times faster than conventional ferries.
The company plans to begin flight testing in August with a quarter-scale prototype of the Viceroy model called Squire,&nbsp;Klinker told FutureFlight. Flight testing of the full-scale Viceroy, which has a 60-foot wingspan, is expected to begin in late 2023.
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 <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/ACE%20Regent%20Testing-51%20%282%29.jpg" width="4240" height="2827" alt="A prototype of Regent's all-electric seaglider is pictured at Ontario Tech University’s Ace Climatic Wind Tunnel during testing in June 2022." title="A prototype of Regent's all-electric seaglider is pictured at Ontario Tech University’s Ace Climatic Wind Tunnel during testing in June 2022. (Credit: Regent)">

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<div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blockmediaimagefield-caption">
 
 
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">A prototype of Regent's all-electric seaglider is pictured at Ontario Tech University’s Ace Climatic Wind Tunnel during testing in June 2022. (Credit: Regent)</div>
 
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<figcaption>A prototype of Regent's all-electric seaglider is pictured at Ontario Tech University’s Ace Climatic Wind Tunnel during testing in June 2022. (Credit: Regent)</figcaption>
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Klinker said that Regent recently completed wind tunnel testing with Squire at Ontario Tech University’s Ace Climatic Wind Tunnel. “One of the most important insights we learned from that trip was our optimal angle of attack for flight,” Klinker told FutureFlight. “With that data, our software development team has been working with the Siemens Xcelerator to fine-tune our digital twin, enabling us to practice the novel foil-to-flight transition in a simulated environment ahead of the live testing.”
Because Regent’s seagliders operate as WIGs, the craft will undergo regulatory scrutiny as a watercraft, meaning that Regent must follow rules of certification set by the U.S. Coast Guard rather than the Federal Aviation Administration. Regent says the maritime testing and certification process provides a more efficient pathway to entering services, which means that its seagliders could begin operations sooner than other electric aircraft while maintaining similar levels of safety.
Regent claims it holds sales commitments worth $7 billion, with prospective customers including U.S. commuter carrier <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-03/us-commuter-airline-orders-20-regents-all-electric-seagliders">Southern Airways Express</a>, New York-based Fly the Whale, New Zealand’s Ocean Flyer, Goombay Air in the Bahamas, Croatia's Split Express, and the European shipping group <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-15/european-ferry-group-commits-buying-regent-sea-gliders">Brittany Ferries</a>.

Science & Technology Editor

Regent Taps Siemens Software to Help Develop All-electric Seagliders

Hawaiian Airlines has agreed to invest in Boston-based Regent to support the initial design of its 100-passenger all-electric seaglider known as the Monarch, Regent said in a statement issued May 11. With the equity investment, the amount of which remains undisclosed, Hawaiian Airlines becomes Regent’s first U.S.-based design partner for the Monarch, which Regent projects will enter commercial service by 2028. 
“Innovative interisland transportation has been core to our business since 1929 when we replaced steamships with airplanes,” said Avi Mannis, chief marketing and communications officer at Hawaiian Airlines. “We are excited to be an early investor in Regent&nbsp;and to be involved in developing their largest seaglider—a vehicle with great potential for Hawaii. We look forward to working with Regent to explore the technology and infrastructure needed to fulfill our vision for convenient, comfortable, and environmentally sustainable interisland transportation.” 
Regent said the partnership with Hawaiian might include collaboration on performance specifications, configurations, and design. Early last month Regent unveiled its seaglider technical demonstrator, which began an eight-week test program in Tampa, Florida, to evaluate the vehicle’s systems and demonstrate its float, foil, and fly missions.
After departing from a standard dock and reaching open water, Regent’s seagliders would operate at speeds of up to 180 mph, or about six times faster than conventional ferries. The vehicle’s range would extend to about 180 miles.
Similar to hovercraft, seagliders move on a dynamic air cushion created by pressurized air between the wings and the water.  Regent’s development schedule calls for a first flight of a quarter-scale model, followed by a full-size Viceroy, sporting a 60-foot wingspan, with flight tests to start in late 2023. The Monarch will have a 110-feet wingspan.
As in the case of hovercraft, the seaglider would undergo regulatory scrutiny as a watercraft. But while a hovercraft uses its skirt to entrap pressurized air to help it stay aloft, the sea glider's propellers push the air under the wing, which provides the needed lift.
The company, which claims it now holds sales commitments worth $6 billion, has previously said that its smaller, 12-passenger Viceroy model would enter service in 2025, followed by the Monarch in 2028. Committed operators&nbsp;include U.S. commuter carrier <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-03/us-commuter-airline-orders-20-regents-all-electric-seagliders">Southern Airways Express</a>, New York-based Fly the Whale, Ocean Flyer in New Zealand, Goombay Air in the Bahamas, Croatia's Split Express, and Britanny Ferries.
&nbsp;

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UrbanLink Orders 20 More Viceroy Electric Seagliders from Regent Craft

Regent Submits Seaglider Approval Plan to U.S. Coast Guard

Sea Cheetah To Reveal Hydrogen-powered Wing-in-ground-effect Vessel

Regent Reveals Progress on Full-sale Seaglider Prototype

Monte Will Add Regent's Sea Gliders to Lease Portfolio

Regent Unveils Full-scale Mock-up of Viceroy 12-Passenger Sea Glider

Lockheed Martin Backs Sea Glider Developer Regent with Strategic Investment

Regent Says Approval in Principle Marks Key Step to Certification of Electric Sea Glider

Regent Taps Siemens Software to Help Develop All-electric Seagliders

Hawaiian Airlines Agrees to Invest in Regent’s Monarch Seaglider

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