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Opinion: The AI infrastructure risk robotics leaders can’t afford to ignore

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By Nadine Akey, sales and marketing manager, Hutchinson Aerospace & Industry

The robotics industry is entering a new phase of growth. Autonomous mobile robots navigate warehouses with increasing sophistication.

Industrial robots are becoming smarter and more adaptive. AI-powered vision systems are transforming manufacturing, logistics and defense applications.

Behind every one of these advances is a rapidly expanding layer of AI infrastructure. [Read more…] about Opinion: The AI infrastructure risk robotics leaders can’t afford to ignore

Indonesia grants world-first overseas certification validation to AutoFlight eVTOL

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AutoFlight’s V2000CG CarryAll has been granted a Validated Type Certificate (VTC) in Indonesia, becoming the world’s first eVTOL to secure overseas type certificate validation.

The certification confirms that the V2000CG’s design complies with the airworthiness requirements of both the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Formally issued on 3 June 2026, the certificate clears the 2-ton unmanned cargo eVTOL to begin commercial operations in the Indonesian market. [Read more…] about Indonesia grants world-first overseas certification validation to AutoFlight eVTOL

Q&A: Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas on launching a new airline, expanding its fleet, and the future of air travel

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Three years after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Riyadh Air, the airline is preparing to begin operations with the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and ambitious plans for rapid expansion.

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English aboard one of the airline’s newly delivered aircraft, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas discussed the carrier’s growth plans, upcoming destinations, fleet expansion, onboard technology, customer experience, and the challenges of launching a new airline amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Douglas also outlined Riyadh Air’s goal of serving 22 destinations by March 2027, revealed details about its new in-flight entertainment platform, and explained why the airline believes it can differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive global aviation market. [Read more…] about Q&A: Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas on launching a new airline, expanding its fleet, and the future of air travel

AutoFlight advances heavy-lift eVTOL program with mixed-fleet formation flight

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AutoFlight has completed a mixed-fleet formation flight of three aircraft, comprising one V5000 Matrix and two V2000-series eVTOL aircraft.

The mission validated critical capabilities – communication links, route planning, flight coordination and safety control – across 5-ton and 2-ton platforms, demonstrating that different aircraft types can operate together at scale.

It marks a significant step forward in AutoFlight’s system integration capabilities and lays the operational groundwork for multi-aircraft coordination in low-altitude logistics, emergency response, maritime support and regional air transport, and represents a concrete step toward the commercial deployment of coordinated multi-aircraft networks in the low-altitude economy. [Read more…] about AutoFlight advances heavy-lift eVTOL program with mixed-fleet formation flight

Joby and Skyports complete New York’s first point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport

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Skyports Infrastructure, a vertiport development and operations company, has completed multiple point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport – New York’s first – during Joby Aviation’s “2026 Electric Skies Tour” New York City Flight Campaign, which took place between April 23rd-May 1st 2026.

Over the course of the week-long flight program, Downtown Skyport received 5 flights, also acting as the key location where Joby managed aircraft operations and charging in Manhattan.

Downtown Skyport played a central role within the flight campaign as it is the only commercial vertical aviation facility in Manhattan that can currently handle eVTOL charging. [Read more…] about Joby and Skyports complete New York’s first point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport

Skyports to collaborate with City of Gold Coast to advance commercial advanced air mobility in region

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Skyports Infrastructure, a vertiport development and operations company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Gold Coast, Australia to collaborate on implementing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within the city.

The MoU was signed between Yun Yuan Tay, head of APAC, Skyports, and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, at the City of Gold Coast Chambers.

As a part of the agreement, Skyports will lead the development of the vertiport network and the supporting vertiport infrastructure, including navigating the regulatory framework, supporting the planning pathways, scoping potential vertiport sites and engaging with land owners. In time, Skyports plans to operate the network. [Read more…] about Skyports to collaborate with City of Gold Coast to advance commercial advanced air mobility in region

Japan trials humanoid robots for airport operations as labor shortages intensify

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Japan Airlines is set to trial humanoid robots for ground handling operations at Haneda Airport, as the aviation industry looks for ways to address mounting labor shortages.

The initiative, developed in partnership with GMO Internet Group, will begin in May and marks one of the first real-world deployments of human-shaped robots in airport ramp operations.

According to reporting by Gulf News and The Guardian, the trial will run through 2028, with robots initially operating in controlled environments before being gradually introduced into live airport workflows. [Read more…] about Japan trials humanoid robots for airport operations as labor shortages intensify

AutoFlight completes first 2-ton-class eVTOL tea delivery in China

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AutoFlight has successfully completed China’s first 2-ton-class eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) dedicated spring tea transport trial in Guizhou, a mountainous province in western China.

The trial deployed AutoFlight’s CarryAll (V2000CG) – a fully autonomous, unmanned eVTOL aircraft – to transport fresh spring tea between Anshun and Guiyang, two Guizhou cities approximately 120 km apart.

The unmanned flight crossed rugged mountain terrain in just 37 minutes, a significant improvement over road transportation in the region, where winding mountain routes make timely delivery a persistent challenge. [Read more…] about AutoFlight completes first 2-ton-class eVTOL tea delivery in China

Dubai air taxis prepare for lift-off: World’s first commercial vertiport reaches technical completion

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports) have announced that the world’s first commercial vertiport situated by Dubai International Airport has reached technical completion, and is now ready to handle electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. (See video below.)

To mark the milestone, a full tour and demonstration of the vertiport was provided to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, including a simulation of the future passenger experience and a look behind the scenes at how electric air taxi operations would function in practice. [Read more…] about Dubai air taxis prepare for lift-off: World’s first commercial vertiport reaches technical completion

Hexcel materials used in ‘business aviation’s first all-composite wing’ on Dassault Falcon 10X

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Advanced composites manufacturer Hexcel says it supplied key structural materials for the wing of Dassault Aviation’s newly unveiled Falcon 10X, a next-generation ultra-long-range business jet featuring what the company describes as “business aviation’s first all-composite wing”.

The aircraft was rolled out at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac facility in France before an audience of more than 400 customers, partners, and aviation industry leaders, marking a major milestone in the Falcon 10X development program.

Hexcel was selected in 2022 to provide structural prepreg composite materials for the entire wing of the aircraft, highlighting the growing importance of lightweight carbon-fiber composites in modern aircraft design. [Read more…] about Hexcel materials used in ‘business aviation’s first all-composite wing’ on Dassault Falcon 10X