Aerospace

UPS Flight Forward to add 150 electric aircraft for small and mid-size markets

UPS Flight Forward to add 10 electric aircraft small and mid-size markets

UPS Flight Forward plans to buy state-of-the-art aircraft.

Beta Technologies’ electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to land on-property at UPS facilities in small and mid-size markets.
Enhances UPS network flexibility benefits healthcare providers and small and medium-sized businesses.
A flexible, sustainable solution to reduce air network emissions; recharging stations can also be used with electric-powered ground vehicles.

Flight and Operation:

UPS, together with its UPS Flight Forward subsidiary focused on drone delivery, plans to purchase electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Beta Technologies (BETA) to expand its air service. It benefits healthcare providers and small and mid-size businesses with its support. These aircraft will take off and land directly on UPS property, it can move smaller loads that would take longer time by ground or small aircraft, with its low noise operation, less time in transit, zero-emission and low operating cost eVTOL aircraft is perfect for UPS.

UPS states:

“This is all about innovation with a focus on returns for our business, our customers, and the environment,” said UPS Chief Information and Engineering Officer Juan Perez. “These new aircraft will create operational efficiencies in our business, open possibilities for new services, and serve as a foundation for future solutions to reduce the emissions profile of our air and ground operation.”

Aircraft range:

The BETA aircraft has a 1,400-pound (635 kg) cargo capacity with a 250-miles (400 km) range and cruising speed of up to 170 miles per hour, UPS Flight Forward scheduled to take delivery of its BETA eVOTL aircraft in 2024, with an option to purchase up to 150 aircraft.

Recharging stations:

UPS has reserved BETA’s recharging stations and ensures safe and rapid charging of the aircraft in under one hour to facilitates faster cargo loading and unloading. The charging station also offers the aircraft’s batteries a second life cycle. After the batteries’ first life cycle in the aircraft concludes, they can be fitted to the charging stations to recharge the aircraft’s onboard batteries as well as UPS’s fleet of electric ground vehicles. UPS currently operates more than 12,000 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and announced a commitment to purchase up to 10,000 Arrival electric vehicles.

FAA Certifies:

UPS Flight Forward received the first U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 Standard air carrier certification to operate a drone airline and is operating daily revenue-generating flights with drones.

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Aerospace

EASA Ends Suspension on PIA, Approves Flights to Europe

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The suspension of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating in Europe is finally over, marking a significant turning point for Pakistan’s aviation sector.

After years of scrutiny and stringent safety assessments, the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the ban on PIA. This decision also grants Airblue authorization to operate flights to Europe, further enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with the region.

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PIA’s suspension, initially imposed in June 2020, was a direct consequence of concerns regarding the oversight capabilities of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). These concerns were triggered shortly after a tragic PIA plane crash that claimed 97 lives, prompting an investigation into the validity of pilot licenses issued in the country.

Now, after four years of continuous efforts and reforms by the PCAA, EASA has expressed renewed confidence in Pakistan’s aviation regulatory framework. In a statement, EASA highlighted that Pakistan has successfully addressed safety compliance issues, enabling PIA to resume its operations within the European Union.

A spokesperson for PIA expressed optimism, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to strictly adhere to EASA’s regulations and guidelines. “This milestone has been achieved after four years of relentless efforts by the PIA management,” the spokesperson said.

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The lifting of the ban is expected to have a profound impact on PIA’s future. The airline, which employs over 7,000 people, has faced criticism in the past for poor management, financial instability, and regulatory challenges.

However, the restoration of European operations is seen as a vital step toward regaining its competitive edge, improving its financial standing, and restoring its reputation on the global stage.

Pakistan’s government, which has been exploring options to privatize the debt-laden national carrier, is hopeful that this development will attract foreign investment and bolster the country’s aviation industry.

With a renewed focus on compliance and safety, PIA is now poised to rebuild its presence in Europe, offering Pakistani travelers and international passengers more connectivity and improved service.