More than 40 of the world's leading electric aircraft developers and technology experts will be speaking at the 16th Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS), hosted by the Vertical Flight Society (VFS). The event will once again be held in person and online in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on 23-24 July, 2022.

EAS is the world's longest-running electric aviation technology meeting. After two years of virtual-only programming, EAS returns with a hybrid event at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus and online.

“The electric-powered aircraft industry is gaining momentum with investments topping $10bn in the past five years. EAS provides an opportunity to get comprehensive updates on the state of the industry and hear from the industry's leading thought leaders,” says VFS executive director Mike Hirschberg.

The programme offers seven sessions a day, and each moderated panel session will include a Q&A discussion with presenters and attendees.

The development of innovative battery-electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion systems, coupled with eVTOL, eSTOL and eCTOL aircraft designs, promises to significantly reduce air transportation costs and enable new advanced air mobility markets, while helping the aviation industry achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.

Many of the companies now on the forefront of the electric aviation revolution made their public debut at the Electric Aircraft Symposium or the VFS Electric VTOL Symposium, which has been held annually since 2014.

“In 2007, the CAFE Foundation organised the world's first Electric Aircraft Symposium to address emerging interest in electric propulsion, along with energy and climate issues. These meetings helped create the growing industry you see today,” says long time EAS organiser Yolanka Wulff, executive director of the Community Air Mobility Initiative.

“The Vertical Flight Society began sponsoring EAS in 2018 because we recognised the vertical and horizontal take off and landing aircraft communities could benefit tremendously from each other,” adds Hirschberg. “For example, distributed electric propulsion is a common element in most of these revolutionary electric-powered aircraft designs, and they face similar technology and certification challenges.”

This year's EAS will present more than 40 experts from industry, academia and government, participating in 14 in depth panel discussions covering topics including electric aircraft configurations, propulsion systems, community integration, demand forecasting, autonomy, vertiports, noise, urban operations, training, AAM competitions, cargo, hydrogen propulsion, certification, regional air mobility and defence/public services.

Participating companies and organisations include AeroTEC, AFWERX, Airflow.aero, ACI Airport Council International, Ampaire, Arup, AutoFlightX, Autonodyne, Beta Technologies, Bristow, Bye Aerospace, Black & Veatch, CAMI, Crown Consulting, Diamond Aircraft, EASA, Electra.aero, Elroy Air, Eviation, EVE Air Mobility, Hartzell, Honeywell, International Vehicle Research, Joby Aviation, Lilium, Ohio UAS Center, National Aeronautic Association (NAA), NEXA Advisors, Pipistrel/Textron eAviation, Rolls-Royce Electrical, Skyports, Supernal, Swanson Aviation Consultancy, UC Berkeley, Urban Movement Labs, Wisk, Whisper Aero, Volocopter, Xwing and ZeroAvia.