Time is flying. And We Will Be Soon.

Here we are. Back at it again.

Go Above Traffic is covering the eVTOL news like white on rice.

We’re like a kid in a candy store. A moth to a flame. Like a dog with a bone. A bee to hon…okay you get it.

Full Speed Ahead!

What you need to know in eVTOLs this week

Eve Air

Eve Air Mobility, Revo (an “advanced air mobility platform”), and Omni Helicopters are working together to build an eVTOL ecosystem in São Paulo, Brazil.

They just wrapped up a simulation using Revo’s helicopters and Eve’s in house urban air traffic management software to get a sense of operational services.

It’s the first step in figuring out how eVTOLs can fit into traffic management, dealing with airspace, weather, delays, landing zones etc.

Beta Technologies

A funding round led by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has raised $318 million for Beta Technologies.

Vermont based Beta said the series C funding would help support the production, certification and commercialization of it's eVTOL.

Yea, I’d hope so Beta, what else would you be using it for?

The most surprising line in the announcement is that eVTOLs “will be delivered to customers in the coming months.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Transport announced plans to start trials by early next year.

Both those seem pretty optimistic.

My hunch is those are mostly demonstration flights and are a bit further out… but I hope I am wrong.

In other Beta news: air medical aircraft operator Metro Aviation has placed a deposit-backed order (deposit amount not specified) for up to 20 of Beta’s developmental ALIA vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

Lilium

Lilium execs must have recently read “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

Despite going through the insolvency process, the the first two Lilium Jets are currently on the final assembly line.

Saudi Arabia’s national airline thinks they’re getting them.

They originally ordered 50 and “are in close coordination with the Lilium leadership and expect to receive the first jets in the second half of 2026, as per our agreed delivery timeline,” an official statement said. 

I wouldn’t be holding my breath if I was part of the Kingdom.

Manta Aircraft

Manta Aircraft is set to enter China.

But they’re not doing it on their own. They’ve partnered with Shenyang Aviation Industries Group. The two will work on accelerating the development and production technology for two full-scale prototypes.

Shenyang will help Manta obtain the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification.

Following this partnership, the Italian hybrid eVTOL will become available in the Chinese and highly coveted South Asian market.

Archer Aviation

Japan is officially in the game. Or unofficially…

Archer just announced they will sell 100 of their Midnight battery-powered aircraft to Soracle, a joint venture between Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Corporation, in a deal valued approximately at $500 million.

Archer says that Soracle plans on deploying its aircraft “in cities where existing ground transportation is constrained by traffic or geographic barriers.”

As always, take these big headlines with a grain of salt. Archer will need to achieve “certain milestones in advanced aircraft delivery” before Soracle approves pre-delivery payments.

Just ask Lilium how many pre orders and Letters of Intent they had….

The Markets

Or “The Casino” if you prefer the Wall Street Bets mentality…

Not quite the beating we saw last week.

Given the election and turbulence we’ve seen, this is relatively calm.

What’s really going to start moving things is funding as commercialization dates gets closer.

We’re going to see who’s swimming naked when the tide goes out in 2025.

Lilium knows what that means…

The $100K Life Savings Bet

"If you're not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business."

Ray Kroc

Kroc didn’t start McDonalds, but he did transforms it into the global brand we know today. And he mortgaged his home and took on massive debt to do it.

He completely believed in his vision even when others doubted.

That’s the risk appetite you want from the guy running a company.

So we aren’t asking if you’re a risk taker by investing some, or in my case, all, of your money into Joby.

We’re asking is JoeBen the kind of founder that is hellbent on success, willing to risk anything to make it a success a la Ray Kroc.

I think that’s a yes…

So are we in the money?!

We are no longer in the money.

Down about $2,300.

Lighten Up

Final Question

What year will we see an eVTOL in a movie?

— best reply gets a shoutout next week.

Best Answer From Last Week

I asked, “What’s the worst season for travel and why?”

Best reply came from Chris in La Grange CA:

“Christmas. Because my mother in law is there.”

Editors note: This made me laugh. The brevity. The concise delivery. This man needed zero seconds to think of his answer. Clearly a man that has been beaten down by life every Christmas.

Thanks for reading and let us know what you want to see more of next week. We read every single reply.

Stay above.

— The Above Traffic Team