MICHIGAN TEXAS

Volair Technologies( VTI Aerospace) has deployed its FlightShepherd cognitive assistant at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, as part of the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship( FLITE) program. This milestone marks a significant expansion of the company’ s vision to bring advanced artificial intelligence capabilities beyond the cockpit and into the broader airport environment.

The project explores how real-time AI and natural language processing( NLP) can enhance safety, efficiency and situational awareness for air traffic controllers, airport operators and airline personnel.

By applying its proven in-flight technologies to airport operations, VTI Aerospace aims to demonstrate how intelligent systems can streamline communications, reduce workload and improve response times during fast-changing operational scenarios.

VTI Aerospace is a leading developer of AI-enabled software solutions for pilot assistance and autonomous flight. Its flagship product, FlightShepherd, serves as an AI copilot designed to make flying safer and more scalable by supporting pilots with communications, decision-making and situational awareness. Through the FLITE project, the company is extending FlightShepherd’ s capabilities to support coordination on the ground, creating a unified platform that bridges aircraft and airport operations.

As part of the initiative, VTI Aerospace is installing an ATC data collection and cloud-streaming system at Gerald R. Ford International and deploying a live operational dashboard that integrates realtime ATC transcriptions with ADS-B aircraft tracking data.

This integrated solution provides a dynamic, comprehensive view of airport traffic and communication flows. The work not only showcases the potential of AI-powered tools to enhance coordination across the aviation ecosystem but also supports a broader industry shift toward safer, more efficient, and more automated airport operations.

Eric Muir, Founder and CEO of VTI Aerospace said:“ By connecting our system to real ATC and ground operations data, we’ re taking an important step toward a more intelligent, coordinated airspace where humans and AI work together seamlessly.”

AirJoule Technologies Corporation has identified Nexus Data Centers as the AI hyperscale developer referenced in its June 2025 MOU and announced acceleration of its first industrial-scale Water Purchase Agreement.

Under the proposed WPA, AirJoule expects to deploy initial systems at Nexus’ mega campus in Hubbard, Texas, in the second half of 2026, subject to campus phasing.

AirJoule’ s platform uses waste heat and metal-organic frameworks – the focus of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – to generate high-purity distilled water from air. Waste heat from Nexus’ onsite power generation and data center operations will drive water production, which AirJoule will supply to Nexus for power generation, cooling and other operational needs.

The collaboration demonstrates how circular-economy principles can enhance digital infrastructure by converting thermal energy that would otherwise be lost into valuable water resources – addressing urgent water-security challenges for AI hyperscale development.

In 2025, AirJoule deployed a field demonstration system in Hubbard with the City of Hubbard and Nexus to validate real-world performance, generating data for commercial installations.

“ Identifying Nexus underscores progress under our June MOU and our path toward a first industrial-scale WPA,” said Matt Jore, CEO, AirJoule.

“ Nexus is building one of the world’ s AI data center campuses and our work together validates that AirJoule’ s platform can meet water-security and sustainability needs.”

Ivan Van der Walt, Managing Partner, Nexus Data Centers, said:“ AirJoule’ s approach uses thermal energy we already produce to deliver high-purity water for electricity generation and cooling, aligning with our sustainability and financial goals.”

Progress with Nexus reinforces AirJoule’ s strategy of serving large industrial water users. This deployment aligns with AirJoule’ s September 2025 selection as a winner of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers competition – highlighting the industry’ s need to improve water sustainability.

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