Category: Events

FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility

24 January 2020 || 4 min read

On January 13, The Transportation Research Board hosted a panel discussion with senior transportation officials to talk about automation technology in the transportation space. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) joined two deputy assistant Transportation secretaries to talk about various new technologies and the rulemaking processes governing them. The panelists discussed automated driving...

FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility

24 January 2020 || 4 min read

At the gathering, Jay Merkle, the Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, spoke to the panel regarding the future of aerial mobility, as well as what is happening in the present day:

“As I mentioned, these are aircraft that fill that void from 30 miles to 300 miles, between the small drones and the commercial aircraft we know today. And probably the biggest question I get on this is, is this real? Are they really happening? Yes, this is more than just hype. This is more than just promotional videos. We have at least six aircraft well along in their type certification, which is the first step in introducing the new aircraft into operation. We are beginning to work on integrating them operationally, so the pilot requirements, the airline operating requirements, and then were also beginning to work on the air space integration as well.”

“The biggest lesson learned out of all of this work has not been the underlying technology, but it’s really been how do we engage the public and help them embrace these very innovative technologies?”

“To that end, we are continuing and starting to work on community engagement. This will be a particularly new challenge for us … these urban air mobility vehicles tend to be electric driven and have tremendous power requirements for recharging. There are problems that I should say, there are needs to solve certain problems, associated with getting people to and from these aircraft. The best example is they want to use space on top of existing buildings, as landing areas. And most elevators don’t go to the roof. So they will have to redesign elevators to get passengers up to those areas. And to get them up there safely, and without interrupting other activities. So this is a brief overview of all of the very exciting and innovative things that are going on in aviation today. And I think it matches well with what we’re seeing emerge in the surface transportation areas, and the other areas of research.”

Why it’s important: In order to expand the scope of current regulations and infrastructural development, the Transportation Research Board is looking to the experience and knowledge the FAA has already begun to gather regarding the emerging aerial mobility sector. Regulators are making available ample resources to aerial mobility vehicle manufacturers and operators, which has led – and will continue to lead – to the growth of the industry and increased public awareness.

Source // C-SPAN

US Automated Vehicle Policy Updated at CES 2020

19 January 2020 || 3 min read

Out of the numerous reveals at CES 2020 came an important update regarding the future of automated air transportation in the United States. US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the fourth iteration of the federal automated vehicle policy at CES 2020. The “Automated Vehicles 4.0: Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies” lays down the guidelines set by the...

US Automated Vehicle Policy Updated at CES 2020

19 January 2020 || 3 min read

Out of the numerous reveals at CES 2020 came an important update regarding the future of automated air transportation in the United States.

US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the fourth iteration of the federal automated vehicle policy at CES 2020. The “Automated Vehicles 4.0: Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies” lays down the guidelines set by the federal government for 38 government agencies, departments, commissions and others. According to Chao, the intent of the policy is aimed at “maintaining highway safety while allowing development on AVs to flourish.”

The policy, called AV 4.0 for short, adheres to three key principles, according to Chao. Protect users and communities by prioritizing safety and emphasizing cybersecurity and privacy. Promoting efficient markets by protecting American intellectual property and streamlining regulations. And finally to facilitate coordinated efforts to ensure a consistent federal approach among the agencies and other bodies. “The takeaway from AV 4.0 is that the federal government is all in for safer, better and more inclusive transportation, aided by automated driving systems,” said Chao.

Regarding a subject related to aerial mobility, the Federal Aviation Administration recently released a notice of proposed rulemaking for remote identification of drones, which has “significant security implications” for the industry. Occurrences of “mystery drones” flying at night over Nebraska and Colorado provide a timely reminder of the need for this system, according to Chao.

US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao details AV 4.0 at CES 2020.

Why it’s important: US federal automated vehicle policy is further defined, as autonomous air vehicle testing in North Carolina, USA, and artificial intelligence plans for remotely operated vehicles have new policies to follow. As many air taxi rideshare services plan to offer automated services either immediately or in the future, the guidelines set by AV 4.0 will have important implications for the enactment of their services.

Source // Vision Systems Design

EmbraerX and Elroy Air Partner on Autonomous eVTOL Delivery Service

12 January 2020 || 3 min read

EmbraerX and Elroy Air have signed a collaboration agreement for the purpose of developing autonomous eVTOL delivery services worldwide. EmbraerX and Elroy Air officially signed an agreement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 8th, 2020. Although neither company disclosed specifics such about time frame, range, or cost, they announced that they are now exchanging information and...

EmbraerX and Elroy Air Partner on Autonomous eVTOL Delivery Service

12 January 2020 || 3 min read

EmbraerX and Elroy Air have signed a collaboration agreement for the purpose of developing autonomous eVTOL delivery services worldwide.

EmbraerX and Elroy Air officially signed an agreement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 8th, 2020. Although neither company disclosed specifics such about time frame, range, or cost, they announced that they are now exchanging information and designs with each other. Together, they hope to produce key results in the near future.

“The objective of this collaboration is to bring Embraer’s 50 years of experience to Elroy Air, and for Elroy Air to bring to Embraer the mindset of a startup,” said Antonio Campello, president and chief executive of Embraer, “We have a vision of the future that urban air mobility, of people or cargo transport, will bring lots of benefit to society and it is also a huge business opportunity.”

Currently, Elroy Air’s VTOL, the Chaparral, can operate using airport infrastructure and can carry 250-500 lbs (114-136kg) of cargo over 300 miles (480km). Elroy is targeting certification in 2022 via the FAA’s 21.17(b) Very Light Airplanes designation. The intended purposes for the aircraft include commercial, humanitarian aid and military missions. The Chaparral possesses a hybrid-electric powertrain with no charging station required, and can autonomously load and unload cargo.

The Elroy Air Chaparral in flight. The Chaparral is large, weighing over 1200lbs.

“Elroy is a good cultural fit for us,” Campello added. “They have a bold vision and are proposing something that also has everything to do with our vision of the future.”

Why it’s important: In addition to VTOL hardware, EmbraerX aims to create a smart air traffic control (ATC) system for the aerial mobility industry. CEO of Embraer Antonio Campello sees Elroy as the perfect partner for this vision. The mutually beneficial partnership will give Elroy Air access to a wide range of Embraer’s resources during aircraft development, while EmbraerX looks to gain new insight for their own “innovation” projects from Elroy’s designs.

Source // Aviation Today

Airbus’ CityAirbus Makes First Untethered Flight

12 January 2020 || 2 min read

The all-electric multicopter VTOL from Airbus, the CityAirbus, has made its first untethered flight in Donauwörth, Germany at Airbus’ own competence center for military air systems. The CityAirbus project, part of Airbus’ designs to develop a workable and mass-producible commercial electric air taxi service, explores many aspects for Airbus’ future program. The demonstrator features a four-seat, multicopter design, with eight propellers...

Bell Unveils All-Electric Nexus 4EX at CES 2020

08 January 2020 || 4 min read

Bell’s new four-rotor version of its Nexus eVTOL is optimized for intra-urban mobility. The Consumer Electronics Show 2019 was a hotbed for new aerial mobility technologies, and this year is culminating in a similarly exciting event for breakthrough UAM innovations. Last year, we saw the initial unveiling of Bell’s Nexus prototype which featured six ducted fans with variable tilt angles...

Bell Unveils All-Electric Nexus 4EX at CES 2020

08 January 2020 || 4 min read

Bell’s new four-rotor version of its Nexus eVTOL is optimized for intra-urban mobility.

The Consumer Electronics Show 2019 was a hotbed for new aerial mobility technologies, and this year is culminating in a similarly exciting event for breakthrough UAM innovations. Last year, we saw the initial unveiling of Bell’s Nexus prototype which featured six ducted fans with variable tilt angles to facilitate vertical takeoff and landing. The original prototype, now dubbed the Nexus 6HX due to its six hybrid-electric powered rotors, is accompanied by a fully-electric version.

Whereas the Nexus 6HX touts a range of up to 150 miles, the vehicle was originally optimized with inter-urban mobility, which necessitated the use of hybrid-electric propulsion. The specialized Nexus 4EX is instead designed specifically with up to 60-mile intra-urban flights in mind, which enabled the powerplant to be completely reliant on the latest battery technologies.

Bell CEO Mitch Snyder commented on the design choices that ultimately led to a reduced fan count and the hurdle to an all-electric powerplant:

One vehicle was compromising the attributes of each, and so we went at it in a different direction,” said Snyder. “We looked at . . . what was coming from the market and what they wanted. And we were also able to progress our technology further and understand it and say, ‘You know what? I think we can build an all-electrical [aircraft].’

Snyder also spoke about the emphasis Bell is placing on safety, and the path it plans to take to achieve EASA’s level of safety recently identified in its certification standards for small VTOL aircraft. “With this form of transportation, we want to make it safe, we want to make it quiet, [and] we want to make it clean and green,” said Snyder. “And the most important thing here, besides the safety, is we want to make it affordable, [and] accessible to everyone.”

More efficient operation was the driver for fewer ducts in the Nexus design, said Scott Drennan, Bell’s VP of Innovation. Bell Image

Bell is looking to have a certified system ready to serve the public in the middle to late 2020s, with a demonstrator to “come in appropriately” between now and then. In the interim, the company plans to continue technological development in venues such as its Systems Integration Lab (SIL), as well as regulatory development by working with the FAA to level-set all aerial mobility infrastructure to a common vision.

Why it’s important: Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are coming to the realization that the demands of an eVTOLs powerplant are largely determined by the missions it is intended to serve. As the industry hones in to what the market is demanding of a new aerial mobility service, more OEMs will under an optimization of their vehicles to make best use of electric propulsion technologies where applicable.

Sources // Bell; Vertical Mag

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Airbus Concludes Testing of Vahana at Pendleton

04 January 2020 || 4 min read

Airbus, one of Pendleton Unmanned Aerial System Range’s largest customers, is moving out Airbus had been utilizing the space at the Pendleton Range to work on Project Vahana; their unmanned air taxi concept. Steve Chrisman, the airport manager and economic development director of the Pendleton Range, confirmed on December 17th that A^3, the Silicon Valley subsidiary of French aviation company...

Airbus Concludes Testing of Vahana at Pendleton

04 January 2020 || 4 min read

Airbus, one of Pendleton Unmanned Aerial System Range’s largest customers, is moving out

Airbus had been utilizing the space at the Pendleton Range to work on Project Vahana; their unmanned air taxi concept. Steve Chrisman, the airport manager and economic development director of the Pendleton Range, confirmed on December 17th that A^3, the Silicon Valley subsidiary of French aviation company Airbus, had finished up testing for Project Vahana at Pendleton and was moving out of town.

Zach Lovering, VP of A^3’s urban air mobility systems, wrote in a blog post late December that the group had achieved everything that they had set out to do since they first started testing the aircraft in January 2018. Lovering additionally reported that during the time A^3 was testing, Project Vahana had created four to six full-time jobs, although none of the employees would continue with Pendleton.

According to Chrisman, the reasoning behind Airbus’ departure from Pendleton was fully specified, but it was confirmed that the company would forward the information from Project Vahana over to other air-taxi projects being worked on internationally. Although Airbus is moving on, Chrisman said the city’s working relationship with the company was good and both sides could reconnect one day on a future project. Chrisman was optimistic about the future of UAS in Pendleton, quoted as saying:

We’re going to see a lot of movement in the next decade or two.

Airbus’ departure comes in the midst of a multi-million dollar industrial project in the city of Pendleton in anticipation of rapid growth in the UAS industry. According to Chrisman, turnover should be expected at the UAS range in the future, but one of those companies settling down to start a production facility was still expected.

Why it’s important: Airbus’ departure from Pendleton and the conclusion of testing for Project Vahana indicates that the company has drawn all relevant data on the air taxi demonstrator that is required for the time being, and can now augment and advance their current designs with the learnings from the variety of testing that was conducted at Pendleton. Additionally, Pendleton Range now has space and resources available to other aerial mobility companies that are interested in testing their concepts.

Source // East Oregonian

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Hyundai Set to Unveil Flying Car Concept at CES 2020

29 December 2019 || 3 min read

Soon after establishing their own flying car division, Hyundai will unveil their first concept design at CES 2020 Hyundai has not yet released any specifics on the design for their flying taxi, or the “personal air vehicle” (PAV). However, Hyundai intends to release both the concept PAV design as well as another autonomous concept car design — a “purpose built...

Hyundai Set to Unveil Flying Car Concept at CES 2020

29 December 2019 || 3 min read

Soon after establishing their own flying car division, Hyundai will unveil their first concept design at CES 2020

Hyundai has not yet released any specifics on the design for their flying taxi, or the “personal air vehicle” (PAV). However, Hyundai intends to release both the concept PAV design as well as another autonomous concept car design — a “purpose built vehicle” — at CES 2020. The PBV will have a customizable design, and both vehicles are intended to be used out of a transportation center in urban areas, according to Hyundai.

Flying taxis will free up space on city streets and “give back quality time to city commuters,” according to Hyundai.

What is known about Hyundai’s aerial mobility plans at the moment are that they plan on providing not only the PAV, but a full-scale aerial rideshare service as well. Flying taxis will free up space on city streets and “give back quality time to city commuters,” according to Hyundai. After naming Dr. Jaiwon Shin, formerly NASA’s aeronautics chief, as the head of their aerial mobility program, Hyundai remains on track to provide a completed rideshare service within the next decade.

CES 2020, described as “the world’s gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies,” will begin on January 7 and continue on until January 10. According to the CES website, “It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years — the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.”

Visit CES’s website here

Why it’s important: With Hyundai looking to provide both their own design for a PAV as well as their own rideshare service, creating a successful concept design will be the first step for Hyundai. With so many other aerial mobility based rideshare services being announced, making a strong first impression with their concept design will be critical for Hyundai to move forward with their own aerial mobility program.

Source // Digital Trends

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NARI’s Sustainable Aerospace Supply Chain & Manufacturing Workshop

29 December 2019 || 3 min read

NARI’s workshop aims to address potential aerial mobility growing pains before they occur The NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI) is planning to host a Sustainable Aerospace Supply Chain & Manufacturing Workshop on February 4th and 5th, 2020, at the AMES Conference center at Moffett Field, California. The workshop has three desired outcomes, as listed on NASA’s overview of the event that...

NARI’s Sustainable Aerospace Supply Chain & Manufacturing Workshop

29 December 2019 || 3 min read

NARI’s workshop aims to address potential aerial mobility growing pains before they occur

The NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI) is planning to host a Sustainable Aerospace Supply Chain & Manufacturing Workshop on February 4th and 5th, 2020, at the AMES Conference center at Moffett Field, California.

The workshop has three desired outcomes, as listed on NASA’s overview of the event that can be read here:

Clear identification of national aerospace supply chain and manufacturing current bottlenecks and what is required to meet future needs for large, medium, and smaller size aircraft including drones and eVTOL
Clear identification of capabilities and supply chain and manufacturing assets that can be redeployed or transitioned to identified needs (e.g., from auto industry)
Clear action plan to develop and enrich the national talents and skills to meet future aerospace supply chain and manufacturing needs

Addressing the concerns of future scaling for supply chain and manufacturing processes is crucial to the long term performance of any manufacturing-centric industry. For Aerial Mobility, there is no difference – and facilitating these discussions now that will clearly lay out a plan for future expansion is a key component of consideration in the larger eVTOL ecosystem.

An additional focus of the conference that should be reassuring to the mobility-inclined public is the inclusion of discussions that’ll focus on the development of future talent to support the growing needs of the aerospace industry in years to come, both from private and public sector resource demand perspectives.

Attendees should represent US-based original equipment manufacturers from aerospace, avionics, electrical, sensing, autonomous flight path control, or other supporting technology companies.

Why it’s important: NARI’s Workshop is another instantiation of working groups that are conducting the necessary pre-planning and due diligence to ensure that no forecastable portion of the manufacturing process for the emergent industry of Aerial Mobility is overlooked. Registration is still open for the workshop, and questions may be directed to organizers via the response form on the information page linked above.

Joby Aviation, Uber Air Partner to Launch Air Taxi Service by 2023

22 December 2019 || 4 min read

Joby is the first company to commit to Uber’s 2023 launch of its air taxi service. Rideshare group Uber and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation have announced a partnership to launch urban air-taxi services in selected locations from 2023. California-based Joby Aviation has become the first of seven partner companies in Uber’s Elevate urban air...

Joby Aviation, Uber Air Partner to Launch Air Taxi Service by 2023

22 December 2019 || 4 min read

Joby is the first company to commit to Uber’s 2023 launch of its air taxi service.

Rideshare group Uber and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation have announced a partnership to launch urban air-taxi services in selected locations from 2023. California-based Joby Aviation has become the first of seven partner companies in Uber’s Elevate urban air mobility initiative to commit to a timetable for launching operations. The other companies are Bell, Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, Embraer, Pipistrel, Karem Aircraft, and Jaunt Air Mobility. Uber has named Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne as prospective launch cities, but the logistics of deploying its air taxi fleet remain underdeveloped.

Image result for joby aviation the verge

A mockup of Joby Aviation’s S4 eVTOL aircraft prototype.

Joby is developing a four-seat eVTOL aircraft called the S4 and appears to have plans for a larger S5 model. The covert aircraft development team has mentioned a complete full-scale prototype of the S4, but otherwise has kept plans for certification and manufacturing expansion under wraps. The few publicized renderings show a plane-drone hybrid with 12 rotors and room in the cabin for four passengers, though a spokesperson previously cautioned that what Joby is working on now is “entirely new.” The company has yet to provide any recent photographs or images of its prototype aircraft; however, all public information about Joby’s developments are can be found in the TransportUP Hangar.

Joby is the brainchild of inventor JoeBen Bevirt, who started the company in 2009. The company operated in relative obscurity until 2018, when Joby announced it had raised a surprising $100 million from a variety of investors, including the venture capital arms of Intel, Toyota, and JetBlue. The money helped finance development of the company’s air taxi prototype, which has been conducting test flights at Joby’s private airfield in Northern California.

JoeBen Bevirt had the following to say about the partnership:

We’re excited to partner with Uber. By bringing our next-generation aircraft and urban flight operations to Uber’s on-demand ground mobility network, we aim to get people to their destinations five-times faster than driving, reduce urban congestion and accelerate the shift to sustainable modes of transit.

Photo // Joby Aviation

Why it’s important: While Uber has performed considerable research and development on its own eVTOL prototype for the future air taxi service, it will ultimately rely on the consistent manufacturing technologies of a specialized airframer to provide and maintain vehicles. The demands of operating a transportation service are far greater than would allow for a single company to simultaneously develop its own aviation technologies. Therefore, Joby Aviation is slated to fill this important role, and has committed to support the aggressive timetable of a 2023 launch.

Source // AINOnline; The Verge

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NBAA Signals Increased UAM Support Through Board Member Additions

21 December 2019 || 5 min read

2019 has been a year of rapid expansion into the urban aerial mobility industry for the NBAA. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has shown prominent support of aerial mobility technology and infrastructure throughout the year. NBAA’s support for UAM was evident at the recent Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), which featured, for the first time, an exhibit area for...

NBAA Signals Increased UAM Support Through Board Member Additions

21 December 2019 || 5 min read

2019 has been a year of rapid expansion into the urban aerial mobility industry for the NBAA.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has shown prominent support of aerial mobility technology and infrastructure throughout the year. NBAA’s support for UAM was evident at the recent Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), which featured, for the first time, an exhibit area for UAM aircraft, many education sessions about this emerging technology and the release of a report, co-authored by NBAA and NEXA Advisors, detailing the financial and business case for UAM.

Photo of the Bell Nexus air taxi from NBAA-BACE Las Vegas 2019. Credit // NBAA

The business aviation community continues to evolve, and NBAA is looking internally for ways to shift its focus toward UAM as the industry continues to gain traction and feasibility. As a result, the NBAA is adding to its board of directors two new members who bring backgrounds in UAM and aviation systems and aerospace. These additions are Kate Fraser, who is head of safety for California-based eVTOL developer Joby Aviation, and Charlie Precourt, a former astronaut who is v-p and general manager of propulsion systems at Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

Before her work at Joby, Fraser led aviation policy for Uber and has worked with regulators and policymakers to pave a path for UAM. She also has served with the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention, collaborating with industry partners on both the Commercial Aviation Safety Team in Europe and South America and the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee.

In a press release, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen had the following to say:

Joby Aviation’s eVTOL prototype, for which NBAA board member Kate Fraser is the Safety Lead. Credit // Joby Aviation

NBAA is honored to have the diversity of experience and knowledge that Kate and Charlie bring to our board, which will help inform and enhance NBAA’s programs and operations. As both an aviation young professional and an urban air mobility pioneer, Kate brings fresh ideas and future vision to our organization. Charlie, as a propulsion expert and former astronaut, brings to NBAA deep aviation systems and aerospace experience.”

Also in 2019, NBAA became a founding member of the Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI), a new Washington-based organization dedicated to providing communities and policy makers with the information and tools that will be vital to the successful integration of UAM aircraft into daily transportation options. Other founding members of CAMI include Bell, Joby Aviation, and Karem Aircraft. CAM, CAE, NBAA senior vice president of strategy and innovation, Mike Nichols, reinforced:

NBAA is a strong proponent of UAM and eVTOL, as there’s a clear connection to this technology for business aviation – whether it’s transporting employees within or between cities, or connecting transportation centers with local businesses. We have a great infrastructure in place with our regional representatives and regional business aviation groups to advocate in support of UAM and we look forward to working with CAMI to achieve this.

Community Air Mobility Initiative Launches to Support Integration of UAM

Why it’s important: The NBAA is an outspoken and valuable proponent for the advancement of aerial mobility technology and infrastructural development in the upcoming decade. Recently, it applauded the Trump administration for its attention to UAM and eVTOL technology in its 2020 budget priorities. The 2020s are expected to see an expansion of UAM aircraft – both developers and operators – and the backing of the NBAA is vital to garnering public support and financial adoption.

Sources // NBAA; AINOnline

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EHang Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

14 December 2019 || 4 min read

EHang stock debuted on the NASDAQ exchange this Thursday, priced at $12.50 per share. According to an official release of the IPO terms, the pricing of EHang’s initial public offering of 3,200,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) represents 6,400,000 Class A ordinary shares at a public offering price of $12.50 per ADS. In addition, EHang has granted the underwriters a 30-day...

EHang Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

14 December 2019 || 4 min read

EHang stock debuted on the NASDAQ exchange this Thursday, priced at $12.50 per share.

According to an official release of the IPO terms, the pricing of EHang’s initial public offering of 3,200,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) represents 6,400,000 Class A ordinary shares at a public offering price of $12.50 per ADS. In addition, EHang has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 480,000 ADSs at the initial public offering price. The ADSs began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on Thursday December 12, 2019 under the symbol “EH,” opening at $12.55 and closed at $12.49. The offering is expected to close on Monday December 16, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.

Inside EHang Inc.'s Drone-Testing Facility

Credit // Bloomberg

The debut price of $12.50 per share valued the IPO of Guangzhou-based EHang at $684 million, and the company has raised over $40 million incidental to its IPO. These announcements both come after the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform company announced an initial valuation of $100 million just one month ago. If underwriters were to exercise the option to purchase the additional 480,000 ADS’s at the IPO price of $12.50, that could potentially add up to $12 million to the total valuation of the company.

However, EHang has made other recent advancements in developing and testing its technology platform. Most recently EHang took the next step towards launching a pilotless air taxi route in Guangzhou, which continued the company’s progress toward its aerial mobility vision. In October, the AAV manufacturer also announced a key partnership with Vodafone, as well as a UAV Control Center at Heydar Aliyev Airport alongside Azerbaijan Airlines.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, is acting as the sole bookrunner for the offering, and Needham & Company, LLC, Tiger Brokers (NZ) Limited and Prime Number Capital, LLC are acting as co-managers for the offering. A registration statement relating to the ADSs being sold in this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2019. The offering is being made by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained, when available, for free by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Why it’s important: Although the valuation for EHang was lower than anticipated, the successful IPO of an aerial mobility technology company is a major step for the emerging industry. The IPO release will provide an immense opportunity for EHang to further develop and test its vehicles, as well as seek out additional business opportunities. This new influx of capital could be the necessary provision for the company to take its product commercial operation and widespread production.

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Dutch Drone Delta: A Netherlands UAM Coalition to Launch in 2020

12 December 2019 || 4 min read

13 Dutch companies have joined together to realize the full potential of urban aerial mobility The Royal Schiphol Group has announced that, along with 12 other companies including KLM and Air Traffic Control of the Netherlands (LVNL), they will establish Dutch Drone Delta, an alliance aimed at developing “smart, sustainable UAM solutions,” set to launch in January 1st, 2020. The...

Dutch Drone Delta: A Netherlands UAM Coalition to Launch in 2020

12 December 2019 || 4 min read

13 Dutch companies have joined together to realize the full potential of urban aerial mobility

The Royal Schiphol Group has announced that, along with 12 other companies including KLM and Air Traffic Control of the Netherlands (LVNL), they will establish Dutch Drone Delta, an alliance aimed at developing “smart, sustainable UAM solutions,” set to launch in January 1st, 2020. The alliance will look to work with various partners, both domestic and international, to explore innovative solutions towards the development of urban aerial mobility.

13 partners are set to establish Dutch Drone Delta – a new alliance that is set to develop smart, sustainable solutions through close collaboration and the will to innovate through action.

Starting on January 1st, Dutch Drone Delta will pursue 5 main tracks towards the continued development of drone and UAM technology:

Social embracement of drones and UAM
Autonomous long-distance flights
Safe integration of manned and unmanned traffic
Delivery by drones
Transport of cargo and people between and within cities

Dutch Drone Delta will work on the essential requirements for the successful integration of drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Dutch society, including public approval and safe integration into both manned and unmanned airspace. By using drones for medical deliveries, surveillance and inspections of ports and ultimately the transport of cargo and people by air the socially added value will be shown to the general public. In the first year, a study will be conducted to assess relevant requirements and potential infrastructure locations. An assessment will also be conducted to determine how UAM will impact the living environment.

According to Henk Jan Gerzee, chief digital and innovation officer at Royal Schiphol Group:

We feel it’s important to participate in any promising mobility-related developments. That’s why we’re currently working with our partners to explore the future. We want to determine Urban Air Mobility’s potential in terms of improving airport accessibility

The alliance consists of partners who can contribute both financially and with experience in the aviation/UAM sector. The partners are KLM, Air Traffic Control The Netherlands (LVNL), Royal Schiphol Group, Port of Rotterdam, KPN, a.s.r. insurance, RAI, Connekt, Antea Group, Space53, Royal NLR, AirHub and Department of Waterways and Public Works.

Why it’s important: The foundation of Dutch Drone Delta is aimed at the safe integration of drones and UAM in a socially sustainable and economically feasible way. According to the partners, the Netherlands is well positioned to play a leading role, with a rich history in aviation, an innovative nature and the will to work together. With interest in urban aerial mobility growing

Source // Schiphol Newsroom

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Urban Air Mobility at Amsterdam Drone Week 2019

08 December 2019 || 5 min read

Amsterdam Drone Week opened this week, and urban air mobility took center stage. The second annual Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW) took place on December 4th-6th this week, and provided a global venue for exchanging knowledge and expertise on current as well as future air mobility solutions, innovations, and essential regulations. RAI Amsterdam served as the focal point for top-level players, large...

Urban Air Mobility at Amsterdam Drone Week 2019

08 December 2019 || 5 min read

Amsterdam Drone Week opened this week, and urban air mobility took center stage.

The second annual Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW) took place on December 4th-6th this week, and provided a global venue for exchanging knowledge and expertise on current as well as future air mobility solutions, innovations, and essential regulations. RAI Amsterdam served as the focal point for top-level players, large and small, commercial and non-commercial, from various industries, knowledge institutes and authorized bodies to come together to create, innovate, and collaborate.

Philip Butterworth Hayes, the editor of Urban Air Mobility News, appropriately kicked things off: creating a vision not only of a world where drones provide an integral part of urban transportation systems – but where humans and robots establish a working relationship. “What do we want to achieve this week?” asked Hayes. “We need to achieve a closer understanding of the drone market and its potential, both in the short and long term.” If that isn’t enough of a challenge, Hayes says that Urban Air Mobility is nothing short of a revolution. UAM represents a complete change in thinking for cities. “We’re creating a new transportation ecosystem,” says Hayes. “The last time we did that was in 1945, when we started the commercial aviation industry.”

To discuss and brainstorm ideas for the new transportation ecosystem, Hayes moderated a roundtable discussion on “Reinventing Mobility” featuring key industry experts and innovators. The speakers included CMO Europe at EHang Andreas Perroti, Founder of AirMap Ben Marcus, Innovation and Deployment Director at ERTICO Dr. Johanna Tzanidaki, and Director New Business Ventures at Boeing Next John Damush. Boeing also hosted a handful of presentations on the Future of Airspace Management as well as Mobility & Sustainable Aviation.

In another address at ADW, Dr. Johanna Tzanidaki explained the “Internet of Mobility” and what that means for the future of drone transportation. ERTICO is focused on Intelligent Transport Systems, or ITS. ERTICO’s vision for mobility is a shared, digital, multi-modal and on-demand network. In practical terms, that means logging on to one system and determining the best and most convenient way to get from point A to point B: combining modes like bikes, cars, and drones as appropriate. Companies like BLADE are already providing services that combine multiple modes of transportation, and technology like that of ERTICO could be a solution that leads to further optimization.

ADW was also an opportunity for Avy to reveal its new long-endurance VTOL drone designed for lifesaving beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions. The vehicle, named Aera, features modular payload capabilities, integrated avionics, and redundant communications, and will be used, amongst other things, in the Medical Drone Service pilot project, launched earlier this week. The Medical Drone Service will investigate safe and reliable transport of blood products and medicines between blood banks and hospitals over the next three years. During the exhibition, Avy performed live flight demonstrations in the drone arena on each day, and displayed the Aera in the showcase area. Founder Mr Patrique Zaman also hosted a humble talk on his success thus far with Avy and the future of Urban Air Mobility.

Why it’s important: Amsterdam Drone Week is seeing growing success in its ability to rally key industry leaders, regulators, and manufacturers together for the purpose of expediting a new transportation ecosystem safely and efficiently. It’s the continual efforts of conferences and gatherings like ADW that will ultimately shape the aerial mobility industry and aid in garnering the public’s acceptance.

Sources // dronelife; Amsterdam Drone Week

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Avy Launches Aera to Provide Medical Drone Service

05 December 2019 || 4 min read

Avy’s Aera is a long-endurance VTOL drone designed for lifesaving BVLOS missions. Avy is a ‘wing drones for good’ company, pioneering in innovative aircraft technology for the transition to sustainable aviation and focusing on life-saving missions. Avy is a Dutch manufacturer winged drones, which combine the vertical take-off capability of a drone with an airplane’s efficiency in horizontal flight, thus...

Avy Launches Aera to Provide Medical Drone Service

05 December 2019 || 4 min read

Avy’s Aera is a long-endurance VTOL drone designed for lifesaving BVLOS missions.

Avy is a ‘wing drones for good’ company, pioneering in innovative aircraft technology for the transition to sustainable aviation and focusing on life-saving missions. Avy is a Dutch manufacturer winged drones, which combine the vertical take-off capability of a drone with an airplane’s efficiency in horizontal flight, thus enabling beyond visual lines of sight delivery. Avy drones are used for applications such as first response operations, medical deliveries, nature conservation purposes and search & rescue.

Avy will launch its “lifesaving wing drone” this week (December 4th – 6th) at the Amsterdam Drone Week. During the exhibition, the company will be giving live flight demonstrations in the drone arena on each day, and will be on display in the showcase area. Founder Mr Patrique Zaman will also host a talk on Urban Air Mobility.

The Aera is designed for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions and features modular payload capabilities, integrated avionics, and redundant communications. The aircraft will be used, amongst other things, in the Medical Drone Service pilot project, launched earlier this week. The Medical Drone Service will investigate safe and reliable transport of blood products and medicines between blood banks and hospitals over the next three years.

We use drone technology to have a positive impact on the world by saving lives. Avy flies autonomously and can cover long distances thanks to its wings, and can transport packages of 1.5 kilos in cold chain conditions. We took to the air because we don’t want road traffic to slow us down, and we have the possibility to reach our destination in a straight line. Avy is a ‘wing drones for good’ company and produces zero emissions. You may just call it the superhero of this new technological era.

– Mr. Patrique Zaman, Founder of Avy

Avy also recently announced a partnership with Auterion, an open-source based operating system for enterprise drone. The Avy Aera drone will leverage the complete Auterion software platform, including the operating system, Auterion Enterprise PX4, the Auterion Ground Station software for flight planning, and Auterion Insights for flight, safety, and compliance management.

Why it’s important: Avy’s attention to current and future regulations will ultimately be a determining factor in the Aera’s success and ability to carry out its mission. The drone is designed to meet the latest EU regulations and with a range of over 100 km carrying cargo or sensor payloads up to 1,5 kg, and is equipped with onboard redundant communication links (RF, LTE, Satlink) and ADS-B transponder. As mentioned, Avy Aera is able to operate BVLOS and is compliant with the upcoming EASA regulations, by following the SORA framework.

Source // Avy

CoMotion LA Recap: Sikorsky to Advance Aerial Mobility Vision

20 November 2019 || 4 min read

“CoMotion LA 2019: Where Innovation, Policy and Business come together to design the future of urban mobility” The CoMotion LA Leadership Conference brought together global leaders of the mobility revolution last week on November 14-15, 2019. Reserved for policymakers and industry players from around the world, the event featured curated discussions about how urban mobility is set to transform where...

CoMotion LA Recap: Sikorsky to Advance Aerial Mobility Vision

20 November 2019 || 4 min read

“CoMotion LA 2019: Where Innovation, Policy and Business come together to design the future of urban mobility”

Photo // CoMotion LA

The CoMotion LA Leadership Conference brought together global leaders of the mobility revolution last week on November 14-15, 2019. Reserved for policymakers and industry players from around the world, the event featured curated discussions about how urban mobility is set to transform where and how we live, work, and play — and walk, bike and ride. A portion of the discussions on technology and policy focused specifically on aerial mobility, and highlighted its potential as well as the companies that are leading the charge.

Key metrics highlighting the reach of CoMotion LA’s November 2019 conference. Credit // CoMotion LA

Over the two days of the conference, participants had exclusive admission to the CoMotion LA Leadership conference, exhibits, demos and receptions – all in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The technology on display ranged from electric scooters to autonomous urban shuttles, and showcased the most advance technologies that are soon to comprise the urban mobility infrastructure in major cities around the world.

Sikorsky s-76 lifts off from an urban helipad. Photo // Sikorsky

One demonstration in LA last week featured an integrated, app-based approach to fulfill a new vision for urban air mobility (UAM). Sikorsky announced that it is working on the tech alongside Otis Elevator Company and the helicopter operator Helinet Aviation. Ultimately, the app will enable users to download a version of Otis Elevator’s eCall smartphone app, which will present them with a choice of destinations and relevant flight times.

The functionality was showcased at the conference where, after participants made their selection on the app, it guided them to an elevator and up to the rooftop of a parking garage. Users were even directed to a specific elevator by the app so as to avoid congestion, and upon reaching the top of the building, they were welcomed to a future heliport concept, designed by Helinet. The demonstration concluded with flyovers by a Sikorsky S-76D, which serves as today’s placeholder for a VTOL aircraft until quieter vehicles become commercially operable.

Why it’s important: CoMotion is a recurring international conference serving as a global laboratory and collaborative space for the future of urban mobility. It will continue to bring together many of the key influencers and doers that will contribute to the seamless integration in to major cities. Meanwhile, Sikorsky, as well as partners Otis and Helinet, are focused on adapting to existing infrastructure. As they make strides and hone in on aspects such as safety and affordability, aerial mobility will incrementally reach a point of being more widely accepted and normalized by society.

Source // CoMotion LA

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“CoMotion LA 2019: Where Innovation, Policy and Business come together to design the future of urban mobility”

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