Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association

#evtol slams into battery tech and investor appetite reality. Investors are souring on #emergingtechnology and #advancedairmobility while ZeroAvia Electra.aero Eviation Aircraft Ampaire focus on a safer bet -- hybrid propulsion conversions to existing #aircraft applied to well-developed markets. “One kg [2.2 lb.] of fuel is equivalent to 15-25 kg of batteries, so if you have 100 kg of fuel, you need 5 tons of batteries,” he says. “What is needed is a 2,500% increase in energy density, but we’re improving just 5% or so every few years. So it’s not just a matter of time—it will not happen any time soon. Batteries alone are not going to be a scalable way to decarbonize aviation.” Lilium Vertical Aerospace Archer, Eve Air Mobility Joby Aviation VoltAero Heart Aerospace Dovetail Electric Aviation Ben Goldstein https://lnkd.in/er5zMU9B

Utah's plans for deploying #advancedairmobility for the #Olympics has major implications for the regional #cargo industry. "Launched by the Utah governor’s office, Project #Alta will be led by 47G, the state #aerospace and #defense industry association," reported Aviation Week Network. "Alta -- Air Logistics Transportation Alliance (ALTA) -- is a collaborative partnership to establish an #AAM system using #electricaircraft to move people and #packages throughout Utah and the neighboring region. It is a four-phase project that will start out with #deliverydrones, expand to larger #uncrewed #cargoaircraft and culminate in passenger transport. The goal is to have the complete ecosystem in place by 2032, well ahead of the Winter Olympics. Utah will provide state funding support for the project. "Plans for the second phase include working with delivery companies to provide #smallcargo deliveries to some of Utah’s more remote communities. We’ll work in developing a vertical solution for last-mile deliveries, where a cargo carrier offloads [at a major airport] onto a vertical solution that takes the cargo to a distribution center." Ed De Reyes Natalie Hartman Capitol Point Group Reliable Robotics Corporation Sabrewing Aircraft Company Natilus Ameriflight, LLC Clint Harper, C.M. Tulinda Larsen BETA TECHNOLOGIES Hexcel Corporation Archer Electric Power Systems, Inc. Eve Air Mobility DroneUp Zipline Utah Department of Transportation Electra

Regional Cargo Carriers Announce Scholarship Applications Open Applications are now open for the 2024 Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) scholarships designed to help aspiring #pilots, #aircraftmaintenancetechnicians (#AMT) and #airlinemanagers to pursue their #aviationcareers. “Awarding the four #scholarships is one of the most important things the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association does,” said RACCA President James Goddard. “Each year we are impressed with the quality of the applications and what these young people will contribute to the industry once they complete their education. Our members support our scholarships with generous donations because they believe in paying it forward and encouraging the pursuit of cargo careers.” The RACCA #AviationScholarships, in the amount of $2500 each, were established for the purpose of promoting and assisting in pursuing #aviation as a career choice and to make students aware of the opportunities in the #aircargo industry. RACCA, representing 50 #aircargocarriers, many of which feed the FedEx, DHL and UPS networks, provides scholarships to assist in the payment of #tuition, #flighttraining, or to obtain new or additional licenses. The organization makes four awards each year in November. Goddard noted #flying for a RACCA carrier is a valuable way to build flying time because it gives pilots experience in flying to a schedule, inclement weather, dealing with inflight and procedural issues surrounding #cargo as well as night flying, operating in busy airspace, #flightdeck resource management issues and required recordkeeping, all of which are part of #airline operations. One of the most important things an #aspiringpilot can do to build time is to maintain the professionalism and discipline they had as a student. The Richard Mills Memorial Scholarship will carry the additional requirement of obtaining a letter of introduction from an existing RACCA member or RACCA associate member since the goal is for candidates to learn about the air cargo industry. If there is a RACCA member or associate member in a candidate’s immediate area, candidates should arrange to visit their operation and become familiar with all the opportunities in the growing air cargo industry. If there is no member close, candidates should call a member and tell them who they are and ask questions about the air cargo industry. The Terry Hibler Memorial Scholarship is designed to encourage careers in the industries supporting cargo operators including maintenance, repair and overhaul; aviation management, financial careers in insurance and leasing; manufacturing; airports; and other aviation services companies. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2024. The RACCA Aviation Scholarship application is available on the RACCA website. https://lnkd.in/exEfCjFE

Good idea, Michael Bandalan! Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. & CSA Air, Inc are actively promoting the RACCA #Scholarship program after donating $5000 each to the effort. Thank you, Michael.

Elroy Air has been conducting cargo flight tests this week in preparation for flying the #Chaparral with the United States Marine Corps in Yuma, Arizona this summer. We could not be more excited to be flying with payloads on some rather toasty days at our flight test facility. Check out its LinkedIn Feed for great video. https://lnkd.in/ee-6aTQW

#Workforce provisions in Federal Aviation Administration reauthorizations include new grant monies. Aviation Week Network Sean Broderick has a breakdown. "Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs for hashtag #pilots and #mechanics will continue and expand. Funding will jump to $20 million per year, with maximum grant awards doubling, to $1 million. They will be joined by a third program targeting #aviation #manufacturing workers and #engineers. Eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. "The programs also will be grouped into the Cooperative Aviation Recruitment, Enrichment, and Employment Readiness (CAREER) Program, to be managed by the DOT. "Section 424 calls on the FAA to look at streamlining the transition from military service to civilian work for qualified #technicians. https://lnkd.in/eix7HcuJ

Textron Aviation could see Nuuva #cargodrone fly this year. It is prepares to begin flight testing its hybrid-electric Nuuva V300 #cargo #drone, according to this Aviation International News report. The company’s Pipistrel Aircraft subsidiary is preparing to fly its first prototype of the Nuuva V300 cargo drone in the second half of this year with the prototype is now in assembly in Italy, according to a media briefing by Kriya Shortt. "The Nuuva V300 is a hybrid-electric, ultra-long-range eVTOL aircraft designed to carry around 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of cargo up to 300 kilometers," said AIN. "Textron intends to produce a smaller but otherwise nearly identical version called the V20. With a cargo capacity of about 20 kilograms (44 pounds), the V20 is intended for short, light courier, last-mile delivery services." No timeline for EIS and the company is not taking orders yet. https://lnkd.in/e2nzwSy3

Congratulations Reliable Robotics Corporation ASL Aviation Holdings has placed a deposit-backed order for 30 units of Reliable Robotics Corporation’s autonomous flight system for the Cessna 208B Caravan. https://lnkd.in/eViu-ReX  

ZeroAvia will be offering some of its key components designed for its hydrogen-electric #engines to other clean #aviation innovators. The move allows ZeroAvia to build upon the multi-billion dollar per annum market for its hydrogen-electric powertrain family, maximizing the company’s investment in R&D and its strategy of vertical integration, as well as furthering the company’s impact on reducing environmental harm from aviation.  https://lnkd.in/d6VHmbHH

Textron Aviation posts huge increase with revenues at $1.2 billion, up $39 million from last year's first quarter, reflecting higher pricing of $48 million, partially offset by lower volume and mix of $9 million. Textron Aviation delivered 36 jets in the quarter, up from 35 in the first quarter of 2023, and 20 commercial turboprops, down from 34 in last year's first quarter. Segment profit was $143 million in the first quarter, up $18 million from a year ago, primarily reflecting a favorable impact from pricing, net of inflation, of $14 million. https://lnkd.in/dQZCW-h9