2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

<p><span><span><span>Supernal has confirmed plans to develop the landing gear for its four-passenger <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-06-23/supernal-adds-suppliers-and-manufacturing-partners-sa-1-evtol-air-taxi">SA-1 eVTOL aircraft </a>as it prepares&nbsp;to start flight testing a technology demonstrator by the end of 2024. During the Seoul ADEX air show in South Korea on October 18, the company announced a partnership with Italy’s Mecaer Aviation Group and the Hyundai WIA parts manufacturing subsidiary of its parent, Hyundai Motor Group.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Macaer specializes in designing and building landing gear, having developed systems for a variety of helicopters and business and general aviation aircraft. It has already been selected by rival eVTOL manufacturer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-31/archer-picks-mecaer-supply-landing-gear-midnight-evtol-air-taxi">Archer Aviation</a> to develop the landing gear for its Midnight eVTOL vehicle. Hyundai WAI has experience in manufacturing and precision machine tools in the automotive and aerospace sectors.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Under the agreement, the partners will jointly address key issues such as weight, structural efficiency, energy absorption, and electronic systems integration for the SA-1’s landing gear. The design will feature wheels rather than skids, giving greater flexibility to maneuver the all-electric aircraft on the ground, according to Mecaer CEO Bruno Spagnolini.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>“Our collaboration with Hyundai WIA and Mecaer is a testament to Supernal’s commitment to innovation and the highest standards of safety, design, and manufacturing for advanced air mobility,” commented Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “This partnership unites our collective strengths and expertise to deliver aerospace-grade eVTOL landing gear in record time and ensure their scalability and sustainability. These types of automotive and aerospace strategic alliances are key to the growth and success of our emerging industry.”</span></span></span></p>


Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Supernal Teams with Mecaer and Hyundai To Develop eVTOL Aircraft Landing Gear

<p>Hyundai’s urban air mobility subsidiary Supernal has partnered with Honeywell Aerospace to develop ground control stations for uncrewed and remotely piloted aircraft such as Supernal’s eVTOL aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Supernal plans to certify a piloted, four-passenger version of its eVTOL air taxi, called the SA-1, which is expected to enter into service in 2028. Eventually, the company aims to introduce a six-seat version of the aircraft that would fly without pilots on board.</p>
<p>Rather than piloting an aircraft from the flight deck, an air taxi pilot could remotely operate one or more eVTOL aircraft from a ground control station using real-time flight data, Supernal said.</p>
<p>“The Honeywell ground control station features a certified, decentralized, and redundant architecture that offers persistent connectivity for remote operations,” said David Shilliday, v-p and general manager of Honeywell Aerospace’s advanced air mobility division. “This integrated solution ensures seamless and reliable command and control over remote vehicles.”</p>
<p>Honeywell Aerospace, which is also supplying its Anthem integrated flight deck for Supernal’s SA-1 vehicle, will work with <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-06-23/supernal-adds-suppliers-and-manufacturing-partners-sa-1-evtol-air-taxi">Supernal </a>to develop ground control software solutions for remotely piloted aircraft operating beyond the visual line of sight. According to Honeywell, this will enable the flight testing of Supernal’s first full-scale technology demonstrator, which the company hopes to start by the end of 2024.&nbsp; Supernal has not said when the SA-1 might operate without a pilot on board.</p>
<p>“The collaboration with Honeywell brings unparalleled technological prowess to our flight-test program,” said Supernal chief commercial officer Adam Slepian. “Its ground control station doesn’t just meet our current needs but also offers scalable solutions for the future.”</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>FBOs Could be Ground Service Providers For eVTOL Air Taxis</strong></h3>
<p>According to Supernal's head of business development, Matthew Sattler, the company is increasingly focused on working with stakeholders including city officials and infrastructure providers on the details of, "what it will take to build advanced air mobility." This work is being done as Supernal's engineering team continues to work on the technology demonstrator and on a pending type certification application that could be submitted to the FAA before the end of this year.</p>
<p>Sattler told&nbsp;<strong>AIN</strong>&nbsp;the company has recently held talks with an undisclosed FBO operator about the possibility of using their airport location as a base for eVTOL operations. They concluded that the site could accommodate maybe one or two eVTOL landing pads but struggle to handle larger anticipated throughputs of flights.</p>
<p>According to Sattler, FBOs, which generally provide ground support for business aircraft, have the right blend of skills and low-touch service provision to deliver ground support for eVTOL services. "In the U.S., we believe FBOs, and especially the larger chains, will be receptive to working with advanced air mobility, partly because commoditizing electricity will make a lot of sense to them and they have extra space."</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Supernal and Honeywell Develop Ground Control Stations For eVTOL Aircraft

<p>Supernal, Hyundai’s urban air mobility subsidiary, has officially opened its research and development facility in Fremont, California, the company announced Thursday. Located right on the edge of Silicon Valley, the 72,000-sq-ft facility is dedicated to the advancement of batteries, autonomous systems, and other technologies that will enable electric air travel and urban air mobility.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Batteries are the linchpin of advanced air mobility and critical to powering the next generation of flight, which we see as everyday electric air travel,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “Fremont, with its vibrant tech ecosystem, offers a robust talent pool that will enable Supernal to continue advancing the power and energy capabilities of safe aviation-grade batteries.”</p>
<p>Supernal is working to certify <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/hyundais-supernal-previews-its-evtol-air-taxi-experience">a four-passenger eVTOL air taxi</a> by 2028. While the aircraft&nbsp;will initially have pilots on board, the company is also developing autonomous flight technology that it hopes will someday enable remotely piloted air taxi operations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>More than 100 employees are already working at Supernal’s Fremont facility, and the company says it intends to hire another 20 engineers there this year. Specifically, Supernal says it is “seeking engineers with experience in autonomy, battery development, and intelligent systems.”&nbsp;Open positions are listed on Supernal’s <a href="https://jobs.supernal.aero/">website</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Supernal's Fremont facility is the third location the company&nbsp;has opened this year. In July, Supernal&nbsp;announced the opening of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-07-26/supernal-opens-new-engineering-headquarters-california-evtol-aircraft">engineering headquarters in Irvine, California</a>, where most of the development work for the company’s eVTOL aircraft is taking place. Then in August, it opened a policy hub in Washington, D.C., to oversee commercial operations and regulations.&nbsp;</p>


Supernal Opens R&D Facility in Silicon Valley

<p>Supernal, the advanced air mobility subsidiary of Korean carmaker Hyundai, has opened its new engineering headquarters in Irvine, California, the company announced Tuesday. This facility is where Supernal will conduct the bulk of the development work for its four-passenger SA-1 eVTOL air taxi, which the company plans to have certified and in service by 2028.&nbsp;</p>
<p>More than 200 people now work at Supernal’s Irvine locations, which include the new 105,000-square-foot office building and a separate 80,000-square-foot satellite test and evaluation site. With the opening of the new engineering office, Supernal says it now has the capacity to expand its Irvine-based workforce to 500 employees, and it aims to hire at least 100 people by the end of the year.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The key to realizing the potential of advanced air mobility hinges on leveraging exceptional tech talent, making Irvine the prime location for our engineering headquarters,” said Jaiwon Shin, CEO of Supernal and president of Hyundai Motor Group. “This strategic location enables us to expand our rapidly growing team of industry experts in aerospace, automotive, and deep-tech. Together, we are poised to redefine transportation and shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.”</p>
<p>The new engineering headquarters is the first of three new facilities that Supernal intends to open this year. It also plans to open&nbsp;a policy and commercial hub in Washington, D.C., and a primary research and development facility in Fremont, California, which is part of Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>In June, Supernal named a cohort of multiple <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-06-23/supernal-adds-suppliers-and-manufacturing-partners-sa-1-evtol-air-taxi">suppliers and manufacturing partners</a> who will support its efforts to bring the SA-1 to market in 2028. These companies include the following: GKN Aerospace (electrical wiring and interconnection system); Qarbon Aerospace (thermoplastic carbon-composite components); and Umbra Group (motor control electronics and actuators). Other key program partners include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-16/supernal-selects-evtol-aircraft-flight-deck-and-flight-control-partners">Honeywell</a>, which is supplying its Anthem avionics suite, BAE Systems for flight controls, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-20/supernal-partners-electric-power-systems-improve-evtol-batteries">EP Systems f</a>or batteries.</p>
<p>Supernal is also working on a hydrogen-powered <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-30/hyundai-adds-estol-regional-aircraft-its-supernal-evtol-plans">eSTOL version </a>of the vehicle, which would have much longer range of up to around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-11-10/hyundai-relaunches-urban-air-mobility-division-supernal">SA-1 eVTOL </a>aircraft is expected to have a maximum range of around 60 miles.</p>
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Supernal Opens New Engineering Headquarters In California For eVTOL Aircraft Development

<p>Supernal has added three key partners to support its efforts to develop&nbsp;and produce its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft. In addition to aerostructures and electronic components, new partnerships sealed by Hyundai's urban air mobility division during the recent Paris Air Show will focus on enabling high-rate manufacturing processes to help scale the production of the&nbsp;piloted, four-passenger aircraft, which is scheduled to enter service in 2028.&nbsp;</p>
<p>GKN Aerospace has agreed to provide the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) and lightweight aerostructures for Supernal’s aircraft. Meanwhile, Qarbon Aerospace will use advanced welding techniques to assemble the aircraft’s thermoplastic carbon-composite components, and Umbra Group is supplying motor control electronics and actuators.&nbsp;</p>
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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">While Supernal has not yet revealed the design of its four-passenger eVTOL air taxi, plans call for the aircraft to use a distributed electric propulsion system with multiple rotors and propellers. (Image: Supernal)</div>
      
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<figcaption>While Supernal has not yet revealed the design of its four-passenger eVTOL air taxi, plans call for the aircraft to use a distributed electric propulsion system with multiple rotors and propellers. (Image: Supernal)</figcaption>
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<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Umbra Group Adds Innovative Actuators</strong></h3>
<p>Umbra Group, an Italian aerospace manufacturer, will supply the motor control electronics and actuators for the SA-1’s flight control system. Actuators, which control the various moving parts of an aircraft, typically have a gearbox connected to the power source. To make these components lighter and more efficient, Umbra has developed a new type of actuator that does not have a gearbox. Umbra’s actuator technology is based on ball screws, which the company has been manufacturing for various aerospace applications for decades, and they’re built to safely last for more than 20 years in commercial aircraft.</p>
<p>One unique feature of Umbra’s electro-mechanical actuators is that they are jam-tolerant, and they have a built-in mechanism that can resolve a failure within an actuator. According to Supernal, this is a new solution that has not yet been implemented in any other type of eVTOL aircraft.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Umbra Group’s actuation solutions will help us optimize our eVTOL vehicle design for maximum reliability in daily operations and enable advanced air mobility to reach the same levels of safety as the commercial aviation industry,” said Supernal chief commercial officer Adam Slepian.</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>GKN Provides Lightweight Composites and Electronics</strong></h3>
<p>Based in the UK, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-02-17/aerospace-veteran-gkn-seeks-stretch-itself-future-advanced-air-mobility">GKN</a> is a major global aerostructures group with decades of experience in designing and manufacturing a range of aircraft systems, and the company has recently begun dipping its toes in the nascent advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. In addition to the EWIS for Supernal’s air taxi, GKN is also supplying the EWIS <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-31/gkn-aerospace-develop-wiring-system-lilium-jet">for the Lilium Jet</a> eVTOL aircraft, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-17/gkn-will-make-wings-and-wiring-verticals-evtol-aircraft">Vertical Aerospace’s VX4</a> eVTOL aircraft, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2020-05-18/gkn-signs-key-supplier-eviations-alice-electric-aircraft">Eviation’s Alice</a> all-electric commuter airplane. It is also building the wings for the VX4 and Alice aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As part of its agreement with Supernal, GKN will “apply its broad portfolio of design capabilities and manufacturing technologies to the development of the company’s eVTOL vehicle,” Supernal officials said in a company statement. That includes both the high-voltage, high-power electrical wiring systems and some as-yet-specified lightweight composite structures. Design and manufacturing activities for these components are already underway at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Bristol and across sites in Europe, according to Supernal.&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Supernal Taps Qarbon’s Thermoplastic Welding Expertise&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p>Composite material specialist Qarbon Aerospace, which is headquartered in Red Oak, Texas, will work with Supernal to mature welding technologies for the future large-scale production of Supernal’s SA-1 eVTOL aircraft. According to Supernal, Qarbon will apply its induction welding expertise to the assembly of the thermoplastic, carbon-composite components of the vehicle, while Supernal will help Qarbon scale its established welding processes to enable large-scale manufacturing.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With the help of Qarbon and GKN, Supernal aims to scale manufacturing technology for the production of its eVTOL aircraft using new high-rate, lower-cost manufacturing processes. “Instead of focusing on ‘time to market,’ Supernal is prioritizing ‘time to scale,’” Shin said, adding that Hyundai’s automotive manufacturing expertise will help to further bolster manufacturing rates and reduce the cost and time of aircraft production.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“By incorporating advanced materials and processes in our manufacturing strategy from the start, Supernal will be prepared to expand eVTOL vehicle production capacity to meet demand surges when the industry takes off,” said Jaiwon Shin, Supernal CEO and president of Hyundai Motor Group.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Pete Wick, CEO of Qarbon Aerospace, added that “Supernal’s deliberate approach of carefully selecting and integrating rate-enabling technology from the start differentiates their eVTOL vehicle in the AAM field.”</p>
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<h3 class="subheading"><strong>Supernal Progresses Toward First Flight</strong></h3>
<p>Supernal chief commercial officer Adam Slepian told <strong>FutureFlight</strong> that the company intends to begin flying its first full-scale technology demonstrator aircraft toward the end of 2024, and the production aircraft will be ready to enter service in 2028. The company is planning to apply for FAA type certification by the end of this year. Having already flown one sub-scale technology demonstrator, Supernal expects to produce several additional iterations of technology demonstrators and prototypes before settling on a “locked form” that will be used for certification testing, he said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While Supernal has yet to reveal a full-scale mockup of its eVTOL air taxi, the company has <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/video/hyundais-supernal-previews-its-evtol-air-taxi-experience">showcased a cabin concept</a> recently at events such as the Farnborough air show and NBAA-BACE. In May, Supernal’s cabin mockup was recognized in the International Forum Design Award competition, with judges lauding its combination of safety, human-centered design, and sustainably-sourced materials. Now the company is focused on developing the rest of the airframe, the design of which it expects to reveal in early 2024, Supernal spokeswoman Jennifer Darland told <strong>FutureFlight</strong>.</p>
<p>“Last year we were really demonstrating the passenger experience—a much more consumer-oriented look at the vehicle—but this year our team is really focused on the guts of the vehicle with a lot of systems integration work, and that’s why we've announced <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-17/supernal-names-avionics-and-controls-partners-evtol-aircraft">partnerships with Honeywell and BAE systems</a>, and then these other manufacturers here at Paris,” Darland said. “The weight of [those systems] will impact the consumer and passenger experience, so both pieces continue to evolve until we hit that sweet spot of the right weight, right cost, and the battery power behind both of those elements.”</p>
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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/supernal_cabin.jpeg" width="1966" height="864" alt="Supernal's eVTOL aircraft cabin concept" title="Supernal revealed a cabin concept for its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow. (Credit: Supernal)">

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            <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Supernal revealed a cabin concept for its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow. (Credit: Supernal)</div>
      
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<figcaption>Supernal revealed a cabin concept for its SA-1 eVTOL aircraft at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow. (Credit: Supernal)</figcaption>
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<p>While several other eVTOL air taxi developers aim to have their aircraft certified and in service by 2025, Supernal doesn’t plan to have its aircraft in operation until 2028. Slepian explained that part of the reason for Supernal’s later entry into service is that battery technology has not quite evolved enough to meet the aircraft’s power needs. The company has partnered with Utah-based EP Systems to develop a lightweight energy storage system. According to Slepian, Supernal has not committed to using lithium-ion batteries, which most electric vehicles use, but the company is keeping all options on the table as battery technologies advance in the coming years.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We don't want to go to market today or with today’s aerospace technologies and manufacturing processes, so the current phase we're in with GKN and Qarbon is advancing the joining and the techniques of more advanced aerospace materials that don't necessarily have the business case today,” Darland said. “So we're taking the time as part of our longer timeline to get those to a better place, and then down the road, we will couple these much more advanced materials with the automation from Hyundai Motor Group’s manufacturing facilities to really be able to automate our process and produce these expensive components at a much more affordable price—and be able to scale much more quickly when the market does take off in two to three decades.”</p>
<p>Targeting 2028 for entry into service also buys Supernal more time to secure the ground infrastructure that will be needed to support its eVTOL air taxi operations. Not only will eVTOL aircraft need dedicated space to take off and land, but they will also require charging equipment and a significant amount of energy supplied to those charging stations. Supernal and EP Systems are also looking at energy storage solutions outside of the aircraft, including vertiport integration and second-life applications for batteries that exceed their lifecycle in an aircraft.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although the specifications could change during the aircraft’s development, Supernal says it is targeting a range of about 60 miles (100 kilometers) on a single charge, and it will take no more than five to seven minutes to fully recharge the battery between flights. Initially, the aircraft will be piloted with four passenger seats, but Supernal is also exploring the possibility of introducing a fully autonomous, six-passenger version of the aircraft that would operate without a pilot on board.&nbsp;</p>


Supernal Adds Suppliers and Manufacturing Partners for SA-1 eVTOL Air Taxi

<p><span><span><span>Supernal is preparing to integrate real-time weather data into its efforts to bring an eVTOL aircraft into commercial service in 2028. The Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary announced that it is making a minority investment in TruWeather Solutions so that it can leverage its V360<span><span>°</span></span></span> software-as-a-service weather data analytics and forecasting technology to support planned advanced air mobility flights<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-01/supernal-becomes-latest-evtol-developer-plan-services-miami"> in cities such as Miami</a>.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The manufacturer will use the V360<span><span>°</span></span></span> system with its in-development, four-passenger vehicle to collect and integrate real-time distributed sensor weather data. According to <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-16/supernal-selects-evtol-aircraft-flight-deck-and-flight-control-partners">Supernal</a>, this will give its operational teams a comprehensive view of low-altitude weather and allow them to more accurately assess and predict conditions at critical locations and along flight paths. The company plans to operate eVTOL air taxi services itself in the early stages of service entry for the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/supernal-s-a1">SA-1 vehicle</a>.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>According to TruWeather Solutions, its technology <span><span>will give eVTOL aircraft operators a 360-degree view of wind and weather updates every 15 minutes at a resolution of “within tens of meters” at and around vertiports. It said that along flight corridors, the model can present a clear view of wind flow, which will be an important factor in safely operating around urban environments where buildings can disrupt wind flow. The company claims its technology can achieve a resolution of one kilometer or better along flight paths, stating that this compares with a best-available resolution of 2.5 kilometers in current commercial aviation applications. </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<h3 class="subheading"><span><span><span><span><span><strong>Micro-Weather Could Be Critical to Safe Advanced Air Mobility</strong></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>Over the past five years, TruWeather has developed its capability to support the advanced air mobility sector by conducting research and development at uncrewed aircraft systems test ranges in four locations across the U.S. The FAA has sanctioned this work as part of wider efforts to achieve micro-weather precision forecasting and real-time data.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span>TruWeather is also working with other partners to support advanced air mobility development, including <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-15/how-traffic-management-collaboration-and-data-sharing-could-unlock">air traffic management service provider Skyway</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-02-17/varon-adds-weather-prediction-its-air-mobility-infrastructure-plan">Varon Vehicles</a>. In January, it announced a partnership with AeroX, which is a not-for-profit group working to facilitate new air services, including drones, in North Carolina.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></p>


Supernal Taps Weather Data and Forecasting Technology To Prepare for eVTOL Aircraft Operations

<p>Supernal&nbsp;will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing platform to conduct flight simulations with highly autonomous eVTOL aircraft. The company, which is&nbsp;the&nbsp;advanced air mobility division of South Korean car maker Hyundai,&nbsp;says it is also looking to incorporate Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 augmented-reality headset into its manufacturing and maintenance processes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The U.S. -based company is developing a five-seat eVTOL aircraft known as the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/supernal-s-a1">SA-1</a>, which will initially operate with a pilot on board using a lightweight fly-by-wire system. However, Supernal aims to eventually switch to fully autonomous flight operations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As part of its newly-announced collaboration with Supernal, Microsoft will give the company early access to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/autonomous-systems-project-airsim?activetab=pivot1%3aprimaryr3">Project AirSim</a>, a new simulation platform for aircraft developers that uses artificial intelligence to simulate the flights of autonomous aerial vehicles, evaluating and improving the vehicle’s decision-making processes and capabilities.</p>
<p>“Microsoft Azure provides the platform and cloud storage to run Microsoft Project AirSim, which will render a simulated flight environment used to test, train, and optimize Supernal’s autonomy stack,” Adam Slepian, Supernal’s deputy chief commercial officer, told <strong>FutureFlight</strong>. “The simulated sensor returns generated through AirSim could assist in tasks like optimizing sensor placement and testing unique scenarios within autonomy algorithms.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>The simulation tool allows autonomous aircraft developers to put their algorithms to the test, observing how their aircraft will behave in different environments and scenarios, such as when it encounters an obstacle in the air or on the ground. Collecting this data from flight simulations is more efficient and less risky than attempting to conduct real-life test flights with the same variety of circumstances and environmental conditions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Supernal intends to simulate the flight paths across an urban air mobility network to train the autonomy stack in the virtual ecosystem, including other actors in the airspace,” Slepian added. “These efforts can also help integrate eVTOL vehicles into new and existing multimodal solutions on the ground, such as vertiports.”</p>
<h3 class="subheading"><strong>HoloLens 2: A Manufacturing and Maintenance Aide</strong></h3>
<p>While Supernal is working on adding artificial intelligence into its flight control systems, the company is also planning to use new augmented reality tech in its manufacturing and maintenance processes. Supernal says its engineers and technicians could soon be using Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 mixed-reality headset as a visual aide. The <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/hololens">HoloLens 2</a> headset allows wearers to see and interact with holographic objects that are displayed through what may look like a pair of high-tech welding goggles. The headset costs $3,500 a piece.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“HoloLens 2, and more broadly augmented reality, enable applications that could increase efficiencies in the development and manufacturing of autonomous flight technology,” said Slepian. “For Supernal, HoloLens 2 creates the opportunity to collaborate and innovate with team members and suppliers by bringing them virtually ‘on site,’ supplemented by tangible visual representations of the engineering, IT, or manufacturing components in question.”</p>
<p>Slepian added that Supernal’s engineering teams are exploring use cases with HoloLens 2, such as “assisted preflight checks, manufacturing inspections and process flows, training and customer service.”</p>


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<p>News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.</p>


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<p>New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.</p>


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