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California-based Archer Aviation has debuted its inaugural eVTOL air taxi, the Maker. The Maker is set to begin production in 2022, where United Airlines will be one of their first commercial customers. Revealed at a global livestream from Los Angeles, the Maker serves as Archer’s demonstrator prototype aircraft and will serve as the final testbed before commercial production begins. 

The Maker is a two-seater autonomous fixed-wing eVTOL aircraft that can reach speeds of up to 150 mph, powered by 12 total rotors — 6 larger tilt rotors for lift on takeoff and thrust in forward flight, and 6 smaller rotors that are only used during VTOL flight, all attached to struts along the aircraft’s 40-foot wingspan. According to Archer, the Maker’s full-electric motors mean that the aircraft is 100 times quieter than a conventional helicopter. In addition, the aircraft weighs in at 3300 lbs, powered by 6 independant battery packs totaling 75 kWh. With a range of 60 cruising miles, the Maker is expected to serve as an air taxi that provides shuttle service between airports such as Manhattan and JFK in just 10-20 minutes. 

Photograph: Archer Aviation

“Maker’s unveil has been years in the making and marks a pivotal juncture for the eVTOL industry and future of transportation,” said Brett Adcock, co-founder and co-CEO of Archer. “Every day at Archer, we’re working to build the future, and we have never felt closer than we did introducing the world to Maker.”

According to Archer, the Maker’s distributed electric propulsion system provides additional degrees of safety through redundancy, able to suffer one complete battery failure or two rotor failures and still be able to land. The aircraft also only uses 30% of its battery capacity per trip and can rapidly recharge between trips in 10 minutes. At peak efficiency, Archer estimates that each Maker will be able to complete up to 40 flights per day. While full autonomy is still in the works, Archer plans to install both a full-scale autonomous control system connected to a 13-inch touchscreen display as well as the option for a manual control system in the final version of the aircraft, which will also have space for a pilot and 4 passengers. 

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The first set of flight tests are expected to be completed sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, with manufacturing of the final aircraft to commence in 2022. United Airlines will be one of the first customers, with plans to buy up to  $1 billion worth of the upcoming eVTOLs as a way to diminish its carbon footprint.

“Archer has a big, bold company vision and our approach to this milestone moment had to match that,” said Louise Bristow, who leads Marketing and Communications for Archer and assembled the creative team. “We wanted to deliver an experience that went beyond the conventions of normal product launches and to bring together a unique group of partners to create something truly immersive for our audience.”

Photograph: Archer Aviation

Why it’s important: Archer adds on to their increasing momentum with the reveal of the Maker. With their recent merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corporation as well as United Airlines’ large-scale order, Archer Aviation is in an excellent financial standing in preparation for their expected commercial launch in 2024. 

Source // GlobalNewswire

Eve, the eVTOL project of the EmbraerX urban air mobility initiative, has officially announced a partnership with Ascent, an urban air mobility ecosystem developer, to grow aerial mobility networks in the Asia-Pacific markets.

The EmbraerX ‘Eve’ eVTOL aircraft, which is already being prototyped.

EmbraerX initially announced its unnamed eVTOL project at Uber Elevate 2018, and has since dubbed the aircraft and the program, ‘Eve’. The aircraft’s design is impressive and professional, with 8 vertical lift propellers, 2 pusher propellers, and room for 4 passengers plus a pilot. Dedicated thought was given to the aircraft’s aerodynamic design and cabin, giving it a fixed wing to increase range in forward flight, and an accessible and spacious cabin for passengers.

Ascent meanwhile is a dedicated developer of of aerial mobility technology on the infrastructure and customer side, already offering affordable by-the-seat bookings and operations management for traditional helicopter air taxis. Ascent’s goal is to use new technologies to make cities more connected by moving people seamlessly by air, using ‘helicopters today and eVTOLs in the future’. With a similar business model to BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Ascent recently launched helicopter air taxi services both in Thailand and in the Philippines.

Ascent Founders Darren Tng and Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff pose with one of the helicopters in their fleet.

According to a recent press release, the partnership between Ascent and Eve aims the progressive integration of Eve eVTOLs into Ascent’s growing technology platform, which offers air taxi, cargo and air medical services in the Asia-Pacific region. Ascent currently maintains a database of air operator partners that are dedicated to UAM operations throughout Thailand and the Philippines, and is set to expand its presence in the region. Additionally, both EmbraerX and Ascent expect that Eve´s Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) services will be fully integrated into Ascent technology to ensure secure and scalable operations.

Said Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, Founder & CEO of Ascent, “This partnership with Eve is a leap forward for Ascent toward achieving our ambition to democratize sustainable urban air mobility. Joining forces with Eve, and by extension counting with the active support from the Embraer Group, will enable us to accelerate our development for a larger impact, secure the entry of market-fit all-electric aircraft, and  provide safe and secure operations at scale thanks to urban air traffic management integration”

Said Andre Stein, President & CEO of Eve Urban Air Mobility, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Ascent as it aligns with our strategy to develop the urban air mobility ecosystem through collaborative efforts and to be a truly global player. Armed with Ascent’s data and platform, we will be well positioned to enter into the Asia Pacific market. On our end, we are committed to supporting Ascent’s growth and its ambition to democratize air mobility.”

Why it’s important: This announcement is yet another representation of the industry’s speedy shift of focus from vehicle creation to commercial operations development. As eVTOL developers the world over are moving closer to certifying their aircraft for commercial flight, some of these companies, such as EmbraerX, are turning to local operators and brokers like BLADE and Ascent to assist in market entry. As the world approaches a full launch of aerial mobility services, keep an eye on these evolving companies as they continue to develop business structures and partnerships that will enable success.

Source // EmbraerX, Ascent

Related: 

• Ascent Urban Air Mobility Announces Launch in Thailand
• Joby Aviation Announces Infrastructure Partnership With Largest Mobility Hub Operator in North America
• BLADE Announces Deal for Operator’s Order of up to 20 BETA EVA’s

Alauda Aeronautics has completed its first flight of its EXA purpose-built racing eVTOL vehicle. In the summer of 2019 entrepreneur Matthew Pearson stated his ambition to create the world’s first racing series for electric flying cars. His mission was informed by the role racing historically played in accelerating the development of both ground and air mobility.

Today, Pearson and his team proudly echo the legacies of automotive and aviation pioneers like Enzo Ferrari, Karl Benz, John Alcock and Arthur Brown in making history through the first flights of a full-scale electric flying racing car, the remotely-piloted Alauda Mk3.

These historic first flights have taken place at undisclosed test locations in the deserts of South Australia under the observation of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Throughout the development process, the Alauda team has worked with the regulator to ensure compliance to all required procedures while developing robust safety protocols. The successful execution of these flights means that uncrewed electric flying car Grand Prixs will take place in 2021 at three soon-to-be-revealed international locations.

These races will see elite pilots drawn from aviation, motorsport and eSports backgrounds to remotely pilot the world’s only racing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) craft. These pilots will remotely control their Speeders in races across electronically governed, Augmented Reality enabled sky-tracks. Audiences will watch via digital streams that show the full dynamic potential of vehicles that have greater thrust-to-weight ratio than a F15 fighter jet.

These races will rapidly hasten the arrival of eVTOL advanced air mobility craft. This technology, predicted by Morgan Stanley to be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040 is already finding potent applications in air logistics and remote medical care and has the potential to liberate cities from congestion though clean-air passenger applications like air taxis.

“EXA delivers on the promise of a future first shown in science fiction. We are proud to introduce a sport that redefines what humans and machines can achieve together. These historic first flights are just the start and we are all excited to begin a momentous new chapter in motorsport’s rich legacy.” – Matthew Pearson, Founder, Airspeeder and Alauda Aeronautics.

Alauda Aeronautics will continue to design, test, and build the racing vehicle which participate in Airspeeder racing events. Airspeeder EXA Series, previously mentioned, will begin races as early as this year, with crewed races coming in 2022.

Why it matters: By creating the world’s first racing series for electric flying cars, Alauda Aeronautics takes a leadership position in this generation’s defining mobility revolution. It does this by providing a place and a space to rapidly accelerate the development of the key safety, performance and dynamics technologies that will underpin the growth of eVTOL transportation.

Source: Alauda Aeronautics Press Release

Since the beginning of the recent coronavirus resurgence in China’s Guangdong Province, EHang has leveraged its autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology by dispatching a flight operations team and multiple AAVs for COVID-19 relief and control efforts in Guangzhou City.

Beginning June 4th, EHang has successively deployed the passenger-grade AAV EHang 216, EHang 216L (logistics model), EHang Falcon B series and Falcon B (logistics) for epidemic prevention and control efforts.

The EHang passenger AAV (autonomous aerial vehicle), 216 model, is the baseline configuration for many of the current COVID-19 relief efforts ongoing. Image // EHang

With the technical advantages of autonomous flight as well as capabilities for rapid response and cluster management, the EHang 216 and EHang 216L AAVs created emergency air transportation routes across the Pearl River in Guangzhou, completing multiple contactless relief and support tasks in the quarantine and containment zones. Tasks covered aerial logistics, emergency transportation, aerial inspections and broadcasting, transporting necessary daily household supplies to residents in the quarantine zones, and implementing urban air mobility (UAM) systems in emergency transportation scenarios.

EHang has been actively involved with epidemic relief and support for 11 days, and the designated flight operations team is reportedly maintaining its station near the quarantine and containment zones to continue with household and emergency supply air transport to reduce risks of front-line staff contacting the virus, and further support the coronavirus control and prevention mission in Guangdong Province with improved efficiency.

Watch a video of the EHang supporting relief efforts: https://www.ehang.com/video/show/392.html

Why it’s important: While Asia responded favorably to early onset of COVID-19, many regions recently experienced increased infection counts. EHang is effectively leveraging its capabilities for urgent medical passenger and cargo transportation with their fleet of aircraft, in a situation that closely reflects the current use cases of aerial mobility vehicles for limited passenger transport and more widely implemented cargo transport. EHang is currently using both their cargo transport aircraft and the 216 AAV for COVID relief efforts in Guangdong.

uAvionix has conducted a milestone technology demonstration flight at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NP UAS TS) in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  The 40-mile demonstration flight, witnessed by the NP UAS TS leadership team, combined the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) flight control capabilities of the new uAvionix George autopilot with the latest iteration of SkyLine, uAvionix’s purpose-built managed C2 infrastructure using three terrestrial skyStation Ground Radio Systems (GRS).

Credit // uAvionix

The demonstration flight featured the custom uAvionix internal test eVTOL platform autonomously flown by the George autopilot, recently announced in April 2021.  George is a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant autopilot leveraging the world-class Cube core from CubePilot – combining the innovation of open-source autopilot excellence with Design Assurance Level (DAL) C hardware and safety and sensor monitoring for customers seeking Type Certification (TC) and safety case evidence for high-risk operations such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).

In addition to hardening open-source hardware, George sets out to simplify the integration and compatibility complexities that come with enterprise autopilots and flight avionics. With the entire uAvionix product lineup at George’s disposal, including Low-SWaP Certified Transponders, purpose-built C2 Radios, ADS-B Detect and Avoid solutions, the soon-to-be certified truFYX GPS, and not to mention support for hundreds of third-party components.

uAvionix’s most recent North Dakota flight demonstration differed from its previous flights, as it was the first public demonstration of three SkyStation terrestrial ground radio locations managed by SkyLine, uAvionix’s purpose-built command and control network for UAS, which powered the fully autonomous 40-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight.

Each ground radio was monitored and coordinated through the uAvionix cloud-based SkyLine managed C2 service. SkyLine monitors the connectivity, signal strength, and quality from microLink, our redundant Airborne Radio System onboard the eVTOL, to manage make-before-break seamless transitions between ground radio locations. Engineers onsite, along with dozens around the world, watched as the SkyLine system determined which of the three ground stations provided the most robust connection completely autonomously and independent of the pilot in command. 

Why it’s important: uAvionix sees SkyLine as a key component to the future of BVLOS flight for UAS. SkyLine doesn’t rely on consumer-grade networks but rather is its own purpose-built airborne network, partitioned to provide not just quality of service, but integrity of service. With a dense ground network of skyStations and SkyLine managing the network integrity and aircraft, the possibilities are limitless for safe, trusted, large-scale fleet management, including package delivery, inspections, Urban Air Mobility, and more.

Source // uAvionix press release

Lilium has engaged with Honeywell, a world-leading manufacturer of electronics, engines, and mechanical systems for aircraft, to develop the 7-Seater Lilium eVTOL Jet’s avionics and flight control systems. Honeywell’s Compact Fly-by-Wire System will act as the flight control system on the all-electric 7-Seater Lilium Jet, responsible for controlling its moveable parts, including the 36 control surfaces and ducted fans that provide its high levels of maneuverability in every stage of flight.

Credit // Lilium

Honeywell, one of the first major aerospace manufacturers to create a dedicated Urban Air Mobility business unit, has designed a flight control system that draws on its decades of experience providing such systems for commercial airliners. This system, which has been tailored for the Lilium Jet’s unique design, will play a crucial role in ensuring smooth, comfortable, and emission-free air travel for passengers.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Program Officer at Lilium highlights that “Honeywell will integrate an advanced flight deck tailored for Lilium Jet as the central interface to the pilot with a vehicle management computer and a high integrity flight controls computing platform to provide a state-of-the-art Fly-By-Wire solution for the Lilium Jet.”

Alongside the flight control system, Honeywell is delivering the next generation of integrated avionics systems, which will provide a simplified user interface for the pilot to fly the Lilium Jet. The selection of Honeywell’s next-generation UAM avionics system is the result of ongoing collaboration between Lilium and Honeywell to converge on the specific technical requirements suitable for the Lilium Jet. The avionics system is designed to reduce training time and will support operation by a single pilot, freeing up greater passenger capacity.

“At Honeywell, we believe in the promise of the Urban Air Mobility segment and we see the enormous potential it has to bring about a new age of aviation and forever transform the way we think about flight and transportation,” said Stéphane Fymat, vice president and general manager of Urban Air Mobility, Honeywell. “Lilium shares that vision with us, which has enabled us to forge a fantastic relationship. We’re extremely excited for our avionics to be on board the Lilium Jet, where they will help ensure not only safe operation, but also make it easier for pilots to fly and provide a more comfortable journey for those onboard.”

In addition to its selection as a provider of the flight control system for the 7-Seater Lilium Jet, Honeywell is also participating in the common stock PIPE offering in connection with Lilium’s SPAC transaction, and is providing similar systems to Pipistrel, Vertical Aerospace, and Volocopter.

Following Toray Industries, Aciturri, and Lufthansa Aviation Training, Honeywell is the latest in a series of world-class Lilium suppliers whose technology and services have been certified in aerospace around the world for decades. They are joined by infrastructure leaders, such as the Tavistock Development Company, and Ferrovial, a leading airport operator, who have provided approximately $200 million in commitments to support the development of up to 14 eVTOL ertiports in Florida.

Why it’s important: As stated by Yemsi, “the avionics and flight control computers from Honeywell will be a key element for the Lilium Jet’s electronic architecture.” Honeywell has a decades-long track record of developing and certifying avionics and safety systems for leading aerospace companies, and is quickly becoming a leader in eVTOL aerial mobility technology by providing these advanced systems to many rapidly evolving top aerial mobility companies.

Airflow, the developer of one of the world’s first eSTOLs (hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing aircraft), has officially inked a deal with Anchorage-based regional airline Ravn for 50 of its aircraft.

Initial iteration concept for Airflow’s hybrid-electric eSTOL aircraft

Airflow bills itself as an ‘aerial logistics’ company that’s developing a unique hybrid-electric aircraft for short takeoff and landing missions. Founded in 2019 by five former members of the Airbus Vahana, Airflow’s mission is to transform regional mobility of both passengers and cargo through innovative distributed electric propulsion technology that will enable quiet, efficient, and economical air transport. To this end, its aircraft be able to take-off and land within 300 feet, and offer a hybrid-electric range of up to 500, and carry up to 2,000lbs of payload.

According to a recent press release by Airflow, Ravn Alaska’s order for 50 aircraft will bring the total order book for Airflow’s aircraft up to $200 million. For Ravn, goals for the aircraft will be to expand which destinations they can fly to, improve route economics, and lower carbon emissions. Ravn plans to introduce Airflow aircraft to its fleet by 2025.

Said Rob McKinney, CEO of Ravn Alaska, “As a regional operator, we are committed to serving the many large and small communities of Alaska… With Airflow, we benefit from the new capabilities the aircraft offers that open up new and different destinations, the constantly improving efficiencies of electrification, and alignment between our fleet and the rising demands of our customers to travel with the smallest carbon footprint possible.”

Said Marc Ausman, CEO and cofounder of Airflow, At Airflow, we’re partnering with companies that seek to add new aircraft with new capabilities to their fleets that are flexible, cost-effective, and carbon-neutral. The Airflow team has designed, built, and flown new aircraft on rapid timescales together before, and now we’re applying those learnings to an aircraft that will improve operating economics for airlines and contribute positively to reducing aviation’s carbon impact.”

Side view of Airflow’s concept aircraft

Why it’s important: As aerial mobility develops, it is becoming clear that there are many different segments of the industry that can be served by the new distributed electric propulsion technology. While eVTOLs make sense for urban applications, eSTOLs like Airflow’s will also be an excellent solution for increasing route flexibility, improving economics, and reducing carbon emissions on regional transportation missions. In the future, watch for developments of short take-off and landing aircraft as they enter into service for regional transport, and pave the way for even more kinds of electric aircraft to hit the skies.

Related:

• TransportUP’s Podcast Episode With Airflow CEO and Co-founder Marc Ausman
• Electra Unveils First Product Configuration
• Airflow Launches an Electric STOL

Electra.aero this week unveiled its first commercial product to serve regional air mobility markets. The fixed-wing airplane is designed to carry up to seven passengers and a pilot as far as 500 miles while operating out of areas shorter than a soccer field, including rooftops and parking lots. Electra’s “blown lift” technology – where the electric motor-driven propellers blow air over the entire span of the wing and its flaps – allows safe, energy-efficient takeoffs and landings at speeds below 30 mph while cruising at top speeds of 200 mph.

Electra’s super-short takeoff and landing airplane shown here has a wingspan of 48 feet and carries up to seven passengers plus a pilot. The aircraft has 8 electric propellers driven by a hybrid-electric power plant, which allow the plane to operate out of soccer field sized airports and other constrained spaces like rooftops and parking lots.

Electra’s aircraft does not need to rely on special charging infrastructure – the batteries are recharged mid-air by its small, quiet turbogenerator. Using much less power to lift off than vertical takeoff and landing alternatives, Electra’s aircraft provides more room for passengers and cargo, resulting in superior operating economics while also minimizing energy consumption.

Electra, founded in 2020, is devoted to sustainable regional air mobility through the development of hybrid-electric aircraft. The company is currently building technology demonstrator aircraft that will validate all relevant product technologies. Electra’s commercial aircraft product is planned to be certified in 2026 under Part 23 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, and enter commercial service by 2027.

Why it matters: Electra is a rather new player in the aerial mobility space, but its blown lift configuration is unique among eSTOL platforms. Further, the company’s technical prowess draws on both industry and academia from the likes of Boeing, Northrup Grumman, MIT, and USC, among other institutions. Expect to hear more news on Electra as they develop a technology demonstrator and construction of their first prototype.

Source: Electra press release

EHang announced today its flagship passenger-grade AAV EHang 216 successfully performed its maiden Japan unmanned and autonomous trial flight to showcase safe, autonomous, eco-friendly aerial mobility aircraft operations. Ahead of the trial flight, the EHang 216 obtained a trial flight permit from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (“MLIT”) with a local partner. EHang 216 was the first passenger-grade AAV granted permission for outdoor open airspace trial flights in Japan.

One of the trial flights was completed at the “Leading the Revolution of Urban Air Mobility” event, organized by the Okayama Kurashiki Mizushima Aero & Space Industry Cluster Study Group (“MASC”) and EHang at Kasaoka Air Station in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Looking ahead, EHang and MASC will collaborate to further develop new air transportation use cases in Japan. 

The 216 AAV flying above a small airstrip in rural Japan. Image // EHang

At the event, the Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Kato Katsunobu appointed his secretary, Mr. Sugihara Yohei, to attend the event and delivered a speech on his behalf, saying, “At present, many companies around the world have launched such flying car projects, and are conducting research and development and demonstration projects. As the government, we will actively improve aviation regulations while supporting private enterprises in a timely and appropriate manner. “

Other guests included Ms. Ito Kaori, the Mayor of Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Mr. Yoshifumi Kobayashi, the Mayor of Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, Mr. Inoue Mineichi, the Head of the Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mr. Sugimoto Tetsuya, the Head of Kasaoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 In 2018, the Japanese government established the “Public-Private Council for Air Transportation Revolution” and formulated a Roadmap towards Air Transportation Revolution. The Council aims to start the business services of air transportation of goods and people utilizing flying vehicles by 2023 with gradual expansion from rural areas to urban areas. According to the blueprint, the Civil Aviation Bureau of the MLIT is studying and improving related systems such as the type and airworthiness safety standards for flying cars and the certification of pilots.

Watch a video of the trial flight on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/2WaYLNG5zX0 

Why it’s important: While the first flight of the 216 AAV in Japan is a momentous occasion, more important than the flight itself is the means by which EHang applied for and was granted approval through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (“MLIT”) in conjunction with a local partner. These approvals are key to authorization for initial flight testing, and in the future, more widespread authorizations for operations of aerial mobility aircraft for fare paying passengers.

Joby Aviation (“Joby”), a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced it has partnered with REEF Technology (“REEF”) and Neighborhood Property Group (“NPG”) to develop takeoff and landing sites for its aerial ridesharing service, launching in 2024.

REEF is the country’s largest parking garage operator focused on transforming these underutilized assets into multi-use mobility hubs. REEF’s assets include more than 5,000 sites across North America and Europe and reach more than 70 percent of the American public.

NPG is a real estate acquisition company affiliated with REEF for the targeted acquisition of mobility hubs across the United States.

Joby Aviation’s Prototype S4 aircraft. Image // Joby

Through the partnership, Joby gains access to an unparalleled range of rooftop locations across all key metropolitan areas in the US, as well as a mechanism to fund the acquisition and development of new skyport sites. The companies will focus initially on Los Angeles, Miami, and the New York and San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan areas.

“This is a landmark deal on Joby’s path to building a transformational ridesharing service in our skies,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO at Joby Aviation. “NPG and REEF have an unbeatable network of sites across the US and we’re excited to be working with them to identify sites that will become the backbone of our future service.

“Parking structures are ideal locations for us as they allow us to deliver our customers as close to their destination as possible, while minimizing any local impact and reducing the need for building new infrastructure.”

Philippe Saint-Just, co-founder of REEF, said: “With our focus on transforming urban spaces into community hubs that enable the future of mobility, aerial ridesharing is a compelling opportunity for us to decarbonize travel and make better use of structures such as parking garages. 

A conceptualization of a vertiport that would be constructed as part of the new agreement.

Under the agreement, Joby will enjoy a period of exclusivity during which it can secure long-term rooftop leases on skyport sites within NPG and REEF’s network of parking garages.

Joby intends to offer a passenger service, accessible via an app, that offers riders a faster, emissions-free way to move distances of 5-150 miles in congested metropolitan areas at an accessible price point.

In December 2020, Joby announced the acquisition of Uber Elevate, integrating the team’s data, modeling, and insight into site selection.

As part of the deal, Uber and Joby also agreed to integrate their services into each other’s apps, helping to create a seamless customer experience where an Uber car would bring riders to a skyport just in time for their flight and, if necessary, another car would complete the journey to their final destination.

In addition to working with NPG and REEF to identify parking structure locations, Joby’s aerial ridesharing network will tap into more than 5,000 existing heliports and regional airports across the US.

Related: In February, Joby announced it had entered into a business combination agreement with Reinvent Technology Partners, a special purpose acquisition company, which will see the combined company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The transaction will provide Joby with approximately $1.6 billion in gross proceeds and will see the combined company valued at $6.6 billion post-money equity value.

Why it’s important: With an aircraft that is expected to be more than 100 times quieter than a conventional helicopter, Joby sees a significant opportunity to capitalize on underutilized parking garages as vertical takeoff and landing sites. Garages are particularly well-suited to hosting skyports, as they are typically located near popular destinations, have adequate space to host customers, flight operations, and aircraft charging. Additionally, they do not require structural reinforcement to support air taxi services, and provide obstruction-free approach and departure paths that minimize noise to the surrounding community.

Source // Joby Press release

Near Earth Autonomy and Volocopter’s VoloDrone team announced last week that they will partner to test Near Earth Autonomy’s autonomous flight technology on Volocopter’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) VoloDrone aircraft. The technology demonstration will culminate in a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) display in Munich scheduled for some time in the year 2022.

The VoloDrone, which has a 440 lb payload capacity and a range of 40km

Near Earth Autonomy has conducted 3,500 flights lasting over 2,000 flight hours of their cutting-edge autonomy system across various aircraft types, sizes, and environments in the last eight years of aerial autonomy development. Volocopter and Near Earth Autonomy intend to demonstrate BVLOS capabilities for VoloDrone missions within the business-to-business transport sector.

“We are very excited to work together with the leading player in the aerial autonomy industry,” said Christophe Hommet, Volocopter Chief Engineer VoloDrone. “Near Earth Autonomy has years of experience, shown real results, and is going to help our VoloDrone stay ahead of the curve with autonomous capabilities.”

Near Earth’s complete view of the Commercial Aerial Mobility Ecosystem

Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy, commented, “Volocopter’s track record, unique safety design, and vision have established it as the leader in the eVTOL industry. We look forward to proving autonomy systems for their aircraft. Our shared vision of the future, and safety as an integral part of it, makes this an ideal partnership.”

Near Earth has already integrated their BVLOS autonomy systems with full-scale helicopters, both in piloted and remotely piloted configurations. The intent of technology integration with Volocopter will be to adapt their autonomy technology to seamlessly integrate with the overall eVTOL architecture while addressing the challenges of weight, power, and cost.

BVLOS capabilities for the VoloDrone would enable Volocopter to bring fully autonomous aerial cargo transportation to market. Volocopter’s projected market opportunity for VoloDrone transport services is estimated to be ~ $120 billion by 2035.

 Why it’s important: BVLOS capability for VoloDrone is a major step toward fully autonomous aerial mobility aircraft for both cargo and passengers. The industry will likely begin autonomy with logistical and cargo application aircraft, and then move on to passenger-carrying versions. However the core IP of the integration will remain largely unchanged, putting Volocopter and Near Earth at the head of the industry’s development. Keep tabs on the progress of Near Earth and Volocopter as 2021 continues and the planned demonstration dates approach.

Blade Urban Mobility Inc. and magniX have partnered to integrate magniX’s Electric Propulsion Units into Lima’s Blade-branded fleet of Cessna Caravans, an amphibious aircraft used by Blade in their aerial mobility routes. The integration is expected to be finished by early 2023, where each all-electric Caravan will operate in zero-emissions while maintaining the current performance standards for the Caravan, and outputting significantly less noise footprints with lowered operating costs.

As part of the partnership, Lima will be the exclusive owner of the supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Caravan’s conversion from the turbine engine to the magniX EPU in the northeastern part of the United States. Currently, Blade is the exclusive platform for Lima flights for public use in the United States, where key routes include trips between the Blade Aqua Lounge at the East 23rd Street seaplane base in New York City, the eastern end of Long Island, and the Blade Terminal in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

The Cessna Caravan, provided by Lima and Blade. Photograph: magniX

According to Blade president Melssia Tomkiel, “Amphibious seaplane service has always been an essential part of our urban air mobility strategy, given the aircraft’s unique ability to access city centers through conveniently located waterways, such as Manhattan’s East River, as well as traditional airports. The electrification of our accessible fleet of Blade-branded aircraft, made possible through our alliance with magniX and Lima, one of our key operating partners, will further accelerate our transition to quiet, emission-free flight, allowing us to reduce the environmental and sound impact in and around the communities where we fly.”

Another aircraft that will soon be added to Blade’s fleet: The BETA Technologies ALIA. Photograph: Blade

Additionally, according to magniX CEO Roei Ganzarski, “Partnering with Blade and Lima to bring electric aviation to one of the largest cities, and highly populated regions in the United States, is an incredible proof point to the value of offering communities zero emissions, reduced noise, and lower operating costs. With electric propulsion as our cornerstone, magniX continues to build toward the new electric age of aviation.”

This partnership is subject to the FAA”s approval of the STC as well as both parties entering into further agreements, but is expected to pass with no issues.

Photograph: Blade

Why it’s important: This recent partnership between Blade and Lima is one of many exciting announcements from BLADE, which also recently signed with Beta Technologies to acquire up to 20 of BETA’s ALIA eVTOL aircraft. Through Blade’s agreement with magniX, one of the largest current aerial mobility providers continues to move in the direction of electrification for their fleet.
Source // Business Wire