1. ARCHER AVIATION CLEARS FAA PHASE 3, ENTERS UAE TYPE PROGRAMME Archer has become the first eVTOL developer to clear Phase 3 of the FAA Type Certification process and has entered the UAE's Restricted Type Certificate programme for limited Abu Dhabi operations, putting commercial launch within sight. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/archer-aviation-clears-faa-phase-3-in-certification-push/ss-AA23Yj1M 2. JOBY FLIES MANHATTAN DEMOS AS FAA TESTS ADVANCE Joby Aviation completed FAA-conforming eVTOL test flights and high-profile demonstration flights over Manhattan, including a seven-minute trip, sending its stock up 5.4% and signalling real progress toward New York air taxi service. 🔗 https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/transportation/nyse-joby/joby-aviation/news/why-joby-aviation-joby-is-up-54-after-manhattan-evtol-demo-f 3. DUBAI UNVEILS WORLD'S FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT COMMERCIAL VERTIPORT The world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport for air taxis has been unveiled beside Dubai International Airport, designed and built by Skyports. It's a concrete milestone in a sector long accused of being all renderings and no concrete. 🔗 https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/urban-air-mobility-vertiports-skyports-dd7dt85pt 4. KAZAKHSTAN PLANS NATIONWIDE VERTIPORT NETWORK BY 2028 Kazakhstan is preparing regulations for air taxis and urban air mobility, with eVTOL test flights underway and plans to build six vertiports by 2028. It's a notable sign that UAM ambition is now stretching well beyond the usual Gulf, US, and EU markets. 🔗 https://tvbrics.com/en/news/kazakhstan-accelerates-launch-of-air-taxis-with-evtol-trials-and-nationwide-vertiport-network/

1. FAA Puts $26 Million Into the Aviation Talent Pipeline The FAA has committed $26m to support student outreach, recruitment into aviation careers, and modern training technologies, signalling that federal backing for the workforce pipeline is intensifying alongside demand. 🔗 https://avitrader.com/2026/05/19/faa-invests-us26m-in-aviation-talent-pipeline/ 2. AutoFlight Makes First eVTOL Flight in Central Asia Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight completed the first ton-class eVTOL demonstration flight in Alatau City, Kazakhstan, a genuine geographic first that suggests the electric air taxi push is now spreading well beyond Western markets. 🔗 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-evtol-flight-in-central-asia---autoflight-completes-landmark-demonstration-in-kazakhstan-302777690.html 3. UK's Vertical Aerospace Secures $800 Million Funding Package Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has locked in an $800m funding deal, a significant vote of confidence in the company as it works toward commercialising its VX4 eVTOL aircraft in a market still waiting for its first certified product. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/uk-air-taxi-leader-vertical-aerospace-secures-800m-funding-package/ar-AA21kQyb 4. US Air Force Pilot Shortage Passes 2,000 and Is Now Described as Chronic A Washington Post opinion piece cites the Mitchell Institute's Heather Penney, who writes that the Air Force is more than 2,000 pilots short of requirements, with the problem compounded by ageing aircraft and competing demands on a shrinking qualified pool. 🔗 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/20/us-air-force-copes-with-pilot-shortages-geriatric-airplanes/

--- 1. BOMBARDIER OPENS FASTTRACK TECHNICIAN PIPELINE IN HARTFORD Bombardier has launched FastTrack, an accelerated training pathway in Hartford, Connecticut, aimed at building a steady supply of A&P maintenance technicians for its US service centres. It's a direct response to the long-running technician shortage across business aviation. 🔗 https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-05-13/bombardier-launches-fasttrack-ap-program-hartford --- 2. ARCHER BECOMES FIRST EVTOL FIRM THROUGH FAA PHASE 3 Archer Aviation has closed Phase 3 of FAA type certification for its Midnight aircraft, the first eVTOL developer to reach that milestone. Full approval still lies ahead, but the company has put daylight between itself and the rest of the certification pack. 🔗 https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/archer-advances-midnight-evtol-faa-certification --- 3. JOBY FLIES NEW YORK'S FIRST POINT-TO-POINT AIR TAXI DEMO Joby Aviation completed New York City's first point-to-point eVTOL air taxi demonstration, and the stock had its best day in three months on the news. It's a marketing milestone rather than commercial service, which still depends on full FAA approval. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/joby-stock-records-best-day-in-three-months-after-first-nyc-air-taxi-test-but-retail-is-awaiting-an-faa-license/ar-AA21RBWk --- 4. VERTICAL AEROSPACE LOSES CHAIR MID-WAY THROUGH $850M SCALE-UP UK-based Vertical Aerospace's chairman Domhnal Slattery is stepping down as the company moves deeper into an $850 million certification and scale-up phase. The departure leaves Britain's leading eVTOL developer looking for new leadership at a critical moment.

1. JOBY COMPLETES FIRST JFK-TO-MANHATTAN POINT-TO-POINT EVTOL DEMO The California eVTOL maker carried out the first point-to-point air taxi demonstration flights in New York City, linking JFK with multiple Manhattan heliports. The flights are being read as a major regulatory and technical milestone for urban air mobility in the US. 🔗 https://www.newsanyway.com/2026/05/09/joby-aviations-jfk-to-manhattan-miracle-the-economics-of-the-10-minute-air-taxi/ --- 2. UK COMMITS £46.5M TO FAST-TRACK DRONES AND FLYING TAXIS BY 2028 The UK government has unveiled one of its largest commitments to date to advanced air mobility, eVTOL aircraft, and autonomous aviation technology. The initiative is designed to put the UK on a 2028 timeline for commercial drone and air taxi operations. 🔗 https://aviationtoday.in/evtol/uk-unveils-46-5-million-in-initiative-to-fast-track-drones-and-flying-taxis-by-2028/ --- 3. CHINA UNVEILS SAUCER-SHAPED EVTOL AT HAINAN TECH EXPO Chinese engineers showed off a saucer-shaped electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft at a tech expo in Hainan, pitched as a future urban air taxi. It is the latest entry in a fast-expanding global field of unconventional eVTOL designs. 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4YuyF1woBM --- 4. JAPAN LAUNCHES FIRST EVTOL VERTIPORT CONSORTIUM IN OSAKA SkyDrive and a group of Japanese partners have formed the country's first consortium for commercial operation and joint usage of an eVTOL vertiport, based at OSAKAKO on Osaka Bay. It signals that Japan is moving from one-off demonstration flights toward shared, permanent infrastructure. 🔗 https://raksha-anirveda.com/skydrive-and-partners-launch-japans-first-consortium-for-vertiport-operations/

1. GET PAID $100,000 A YEAR TO MOVE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT EVER TAKING OFF An airline is hiring pilots at six-figure salaries to relocate aircraft on the ground rather than fly them. One of the more unusual ways into a paid aviation role. 🔗 https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/05/05/this-airline-will-pay-pilots-up-to-100000-a-year-to-move-not-fly-aircraft 2. JOBY COMPLETES FIRST POINT-TO-POINT eVTOL FLIGHTS IN NEW YORK CITY Joby Aviation wrapped up its Electric Skies Tour with multiple flights between JFK and Downtown Skyport, alongside Q1 cash reserves of $2.5 billion. A real-world signal that eVTOL ops are inching closer to commercial service. 🔗 https://zagdaily.com/zag-air/joby-posts-q1-results-after-making-nyc-evtol-history/ 3. UK COMMITS £46.5 MILLION TO SPEED UP DRONE AND eVTOL ROLLOUT The UK government is funding a real-time identification system and accelerating commercial deployment of drones and electric aircraft. A clear signal that Britain wants to be a serious player in advanced air mobility. 🔗 https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/uk-to-accelerate-roll-out-of-drones-and-evtols-with-46-5m-of-funding.html 4. AUSTRALIAN VERTIPORT TECH AIMS TO SOLVE eVTOL'S LANDING PROBLEM Skyportz has unveiled Aeroberm, a system that breaks down rotor-wash turbulence and tackles the safety and noise issues holding vertiport development back. If it works at scale, it could unlock urban air taxi networks. 🔗 https://www.flyingmag.com/aeroberm-vertiport-urban-electric-air-taxis/ 5. BOEING-BACKED WISK DOUBLES ITS AUTONOMOUS eVTOL TEST FLEET Wisk Aero has flown a second Gen 6 autonomous eVTOL prototype, accelerating its FAA certification campaign. The pilotless air taxi race is no longer theoretical. 🔗 https://www.flyingmag.com/boeing-wisk-2nd-autonomous-air-taxi-test-flight/