Image credit: NBAA BACE 2024
Several Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) developers made significant announcements at this year’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE) in Las Vegas.
The NBAA BACE showcases advancements in eVTOL technology, partnerships and market readiness.
The event, which runs from October 22-24, highlights the sector’s ongoing journey toward certification, production, and eventual market adoption, underscoring the growing role of AAM in the future of aviation.
Supernal Secures Key Partnerships to Strengthen AAM Ecosystem
Supernal, a prominent eVTOL developer and part of Hyundai Motor Group, announced two strategic partnerships on the first day of NBAA BACE 2024, reinforcing its commitment to advancing the AAM sector. The agreements, with Clay Lacy Aviation and Blade Urban Mobility, signal significant strides in integrating eVTOLs into existing aviation infrastructure and exploring AAM network opportunities.
The partnership with Clay Lacy Aviation marks Supernal’s first official collaboration with a fixed-base operator (FBO). The five-year agreement focuses on integrating AAM into airport infrastructure, covering areas such as ground handling, maintenance, and battery management. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the two companies aim to establish charging infrastructure for electric aviation across Clay Lacy’s FBO network, starting in Southern California.
“Partnering with Clay Lacy was an easy choice given our companies’ shared commitment to safe, sustainable aviation and human-centered passenger journeys,” said Diana Cooper, Chief Partnerships and Policy Officer, Supernal. “I also spoke alongside Clay Lacy and two AAM industry peers on a NBAA-BACE panel discussion about electrifying FBO infrastructure. This type of industry dialogue and collaboration from the outset will be critical to eVTOL vehicles taking flight later this decade.”
Supernal’s second partnership with Blade Urban Mobility, will explore AAM network development and fleet operations, focusing on high-demand regions like New York City and Southern California. The three-year collaboration will examine use cases such as air taxis and organ transportation, utilising Supernal’s eVTOL and Blade’s aggregation platforms to shape future AAM services.
Supernal’s partnership with Blade Urban Air Mobility was two-fold at NBAA-BACE.
“Supernal commenced its three-year collaboration with Blade Urban Air Mobility in Las Vegas, which will help optimise AAM operations to suit existing commercial platforms and operators,” said David Rottblatt, Senior Director, Strategy and Commercialisation, Supernal. “Our team also had the opportunity to spend time with BLADE’s existing customer base, gathering feedback on Supernal’s eVTOL VR experience, as part of BLADE’s air shuttle offering at the show. Our next step is to begin planning for how Blade’s current and future product offerings can benefit from Supernal as we gear up for commercialization.”
Textron Aviation Introduces CJ4 Gen3
Textron Aviation announced the first flight of its Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 prototype, alongside its launch customer, Ryan Samples, founder of BankOnIt. The upgraded light business jet, which flew in early October, has now entered the rigorous flight-test phase, bringing it one step closer to certification and delivery, expected in 2026.
The CJ4 Gen3 features advanced avionics, including Garmin’s G3000 Prime system and Emergency Autoland, positioning it as a standout in the light jet market. The aircraft is set to offer a maximum range of 2,165 nautical miles, seating for up to 10 passengers, and notable improvements in baggage capacity and performance. Textron Aviation also introduced its Citation M2 Gen3 and CJ3 Gen3 models at the event.
With its next-generation features, the Gen3 represents a key advancement for Textron as it continues to serve the business aviation market. Samples, a long-time Citation enthusiast, expressed enthusiasm about enhancing his company’s travel capabilities with the aircraft.
Electra.aero Develops Near-Conformal eSTOL Demonstrator
Electra.aero has confirmed that it is advancing directly to a near-conformal demonstrator, called G-0, of its Ultra Short nine-passenger hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. Electra CEO Marc Allen shared this milestone at the NBAA-BACE convention, explaining that based on successes with the EL-2 prototype, the company decided to move straight into developing its final product rather than an interim model.
The G-0 demonstrator will closely match the specifications of Electra’s production-ready eSTOL aircraft, though it will undergo testing to mitigate any final risks before reaching full conformity. Four fully conforming G-1 models will follow, supporting Electra’s upcoming flight-test and certification campaign.
Electra’s earlier EL-2 Goldfinch prototype has achieved significant milestones, with over 60 flight hours completed. Testing revealed the craft’s impressive takeoff and landing distances—around 150 ft. and 114 ft. respectively—and has yet to determine a stall speed, as flight tests push the limits of its blown-wing design.
The final Ultra Short production version will aim to transport nine passengers or up to 2,500 lbs of cargo over regional routes up to 500 miles, with speeds of 175 kt. Allen noted that the company is exploring U.S.-based assembly options as it shifts from development to production.
