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September 21, 2020

Ampaire Flies Second Hybrid-Electric Prototype

Test in Preparation for Flight Trials with Mokulele Airlines

Ampaire has flown its second technology demonstrator. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 “Electric EEL” hybrid-electric aircraft conversion. The company refers to the new flight test aircraft as the Hawaii Bird, as it will be flown by Ampaire and Mokulele Airlines pilots on air routes in Hawaii later this year in a series of demonstration flights. When the aircraft flies on Maui, it will be the first time an electrically powered aircraft has flown under an FAA “market survey” experimental aircraft certificate in order to gain real-world flight experience.

The UAS-CTI Program Was Launched in April 2020

The FAA's 2018 Reauthorization Act required the FAA to establish a collegiate training initiative program relating to UAS. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) Program was launched in April 2020 and addresses the Section 631 requirement of the FAA 2018 Reauthorization Act. Any public two-year institutions of higher education that participate in the UAS-CTI program will also be designated as members of the Consortium for Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training. As such, the FAA has announced that 15 more schools have been selected to participate in the UAS Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI).