Category: Infrastructure

Uber Provides Details on its Air Pilot Program in Melbourne

10 September 2019 || 4 min read

Uber has provided details on bringing air taxi services to Melbourne. Announced earlier this year, Melbourne will be the third official city in the company’s pilot program and the first of its kind outside of the United States. Uber has begun to collect data on how people move about the city and which routes they would most likely take. This information...

Uber Provides Details on its Air Pilot Program in Melbourne

10 September 2019 || 4 min read

Uber has provided details on bringing air taxi services to Melbourne.

Announced earlier this year, Melbourne will be the third official city in the company’s pilot program and the first of its kind outside of the United States. Uber has begun to collect data on how people move about the city and which routes they would most likely take. This information will help gauge demand and initial route offerings for their pilot program.

Melbourne will be Uber’s first international host city of the company’s air pilot program. Source: Uber

Although the ultimate vision for urban mobility in the city is to have autonomous vehicles, Uber will operate piloted 4-passenger aircraft. The company is currently working with vehicle manufacturers including: Aurora Flight Sciences, Pipistrel, Embraer, Bell, Karem and Jaunt.

Under the direction of Natalie Malligan, head of cities for Australia and New Zealand at Uber, her team has partnered with Scentre Group and Melbourne Airport to flesh out the operation and impact of urban air mobility in the city. They envision being able to take air taxis from the city center to the airport in as little as 10 minutes for the cost of a comparable Uber Black fare (~$73 USD).

Aurora Flight Science’s PAV prototype undergoing flight tests. Source: Aurora Flight Sciences

“You won’t have to think so much about modes, but when you want to go from A to B you put it into the app and it will tell you there is a car three minutes away or a bike 50 meters from you, then you can get an Uber Air to a skyport at a train station and you can book and pay for everything through the app,” she said.

Additionally, Uber has received overwhelming support from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) which vows to offer the company a federal regulatory license to operate in the country, opening the potential for inter-city travel on air taxi services.

“We are supportive of emerging aviation technology, with Australia having been a world leader in the safety regulation of drones,” A CASA spokesperson said.

Why it matters: Uber is beginning to plant itself in cities outside of the United States, signaling a global demand for urban air mobility. The service will ultimately offer a new mode of transportation for quick trips between the city center and other nearby destinations. Further, CASA’s strong relationship with Uber will help lead the way to quicker public acceptance and recognition from other international aviation regulatory agencies.

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Interview with EHang’s Co-Founder and CMO, Derrick Xiong

05 September 2019 || 6 min read

Derrick Xiong, co-founder and CMO of EHang shares his vision on the future of eVTOL and UAM. TransportUP: Where does your passion for aerospace and aviation come from and why are you particularly interested in eVTOL? Derrick Xiong: EHang was founded back in 2014 by myself and the other founder, Huazhi Hu. I had a passion to pursue a career...

Interview with EHang’s Co-Founder and CMO, Derrick Xiong

05 September 2019 || 6 min read

Derrick Xiong, co-founder and CMO of EHang shares his vision on the future of eVTOL and UAM.

EHang has completed multiple flight demos in China, Austria, Qatar, and the Netherlands

TransportUP: Where does your passion for aerospace and aviation come from and why are you particularly interested in eVTOL?

Derrick Xiong: EHang was founded back in 2014 by myself and the other founder, Huazhi Hu. I had a passion to pursue a career as an entrepreneur while Mr. Hu had the aviation dream as a helicopter pilot. I think the reason we wanted to start at EHang was because we’ve seen a lot of crashes every year from all kinds of traditional aircraft, especially helicopters. Actually, two mentors of Mr. Hu mentors died in accidents in 2010 and 2012.

Derrick Xiong, Co-Founder and CMO of EHang

How do you vision urban air mobility and eVTOL disrupting the global aviation paradigm in the next 10 years?

I think in the next ten years, a lot is going to happen. For example, we just announced this news that we are working with the Guangzhou municipal government to promote urban air mobility. We’re also working with the Civil Aviaton Authority in China to meet their airworthiness standards. I think we’re going to see a lot of positive changes. I see urban air mobility and eVTOL adding an additional layer to traditional current air transportation. You know, I’m seeing all these changes and there’s definitely going to be a commercialization of urban air mobility and more people who will be able to benefit from the progress and development of the industry.

How long do you believe it will be before UAM is commercialized to the general public?

When we announced the news with the Guangzhou government, we’re not looking at the next 5 to 10 years, but the near future. So I can’t give a timeline per se or guarantee that it is going to happen this year, but it’s not far away.

EHang recently partnered with the Guangzhou municipal government to be its first pilot city.

Who is your ideal customer? Is EHang marketing its products towards private customers or towards air taxi services or both?

As a company, we are open to either, but also want to establish meaningful business partnerships. As of recent, we have done demo flight in Vienna, Amsterdam, Doha, and Dubai. In doing this, we want to position ourselves as a global company and work with local partners to get approvals from federal regulators. So I think we will need individual partners and business partners alike to be successful.

There are many different new entrants to the eVTOL and urban air mobility markets how do you plan to remain ahead of that competition in such a fragmented industry?

First of all, I see the competition as a good thing because if you think back to 2016 when we first launched the EHang 184, you didn’t see many companies doing this. There was nobody talking about urban air mobility. Everyone’s participation in eVTOL will help to make the industry grow, which is very exciting.

I’ll say from what I’ve seen of public sources, we seem to be making the most progress towards flight demos and flights with passengers. We’ve carried hundreds of passengers and that has helped to build confidence in the technology of our products. Between that, the relationship with the Guangzhou government, and other developments, I think we will keep going and continue to make our own contributions to the industry.

What are some of the challenges to your continued growth and the overall adoption of UAM and how are you working to get ahead of some of those complexities?

We’re getting to a point now where the aircraft are becoming very safe and reliable. At EHang, we’d like to do better seeking out new partners and opportunities to showcase our technology and demo sites. I think the social acceptance of the general public will be one of the biggest challenges before the mass usage of these vehicles. But in terms of the safety and technology of our vehicles, we’re very comfortable in light of the number of successful tests we’ve had.

My last question for you on that note, if I’m a member of the general public, why should I particularly be interested in UAM?

I think eVTOL is a fundamental need no matter where you live. If you live in big cities, traffic can make it take much longer to get from Point A to Point B. This is something the general public needs to keep their eye on, it’s going to change the way we commute. I think people might have questions about the safety or regulation of these vehicles, but the need for eVTOL is enormous for everyone.

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Urban Air Mobility Investments to Pass $318B by 2040

26 August 2019 || 3 min read

By 2040, as much as $318 billion could be invested into Urban Air Mobility. The NEXA “Urban Air Mobility-Economics and Global Markets” report spans 74 cities worldwide and provides analysis of infrastructure challenges and opportunities in each market. The report uses a variety of factors including: congestion, population density, existing infrastructure, regulation, GDP, per capita income, among others to determine...

Urban Air Mobility Investments to Pass $318B by 2040

26 August 2019 || 3 min read

The report uses a variety of factors including: congestion, population density, existing infrastructure, regulation, GDP, per capita income, among others to determine whether or not a metropolitan area will be an early or late adopter of UAM.

“This study is a groundbreaking investigation into how the future meets the present. How does our society transform from the now—the astonishing electric vehicle prototypes, the conferences and summits, the thousand-and-one speculations—into that future of highways in the sky, the future we clearly know is on the way? It is a crucial question, not just for societal benefits—reduced congestion, greater mobility for those who crave it, scientific and technical jobs, and tax revenues—but also because billions of investment dollars are riding on it,” says NEXA’s website.

The $318B in projected UAM investment not only covers infrastructure, but also aircraft operations in five unique segments: airport shuttle service, air taxi, emergency transport, business aviation, and charter (up to 250 miles). “The report is also a first attempt to identify the cost of UAM infrastructure: $32 billion for all 74 cities by 2040,” says NEXA managing partner, Michael Dyment. “This is very affordable as potential revenues generated from this infrastructure will be in excess of $244 billion.”

Initially, NEXA believes current helicopter services will prevail as a rising demand for UAM arises. Further, the report sees Vancouver, Miami, and Singapore as hubs for accelerated investment in UAM infrastructure and operation.

Why it matters: This report shows a detailed analysis of the global UAM market and its potential implications for industry stakeholders. As UAM becomes a reality, investors will be looking to key markets ripe for innovation through the implementation of eVTOL aircraft and its supporting infrastructure. Further, the report addresses many of the barriers OEMs face today including battery/fuel cell technologies and air traffic management system changes, among others. The report will provide industry stakeholders with the knowledge needed to interpret recent investment trends and the future of the UAM space.

Uber’s Potential Expansion to Dallas Receives Tax Break

15 August 2019 || 4 min read

This week, new details emerged about Uber’s plan to potentially bring 3,000 jobs to the Dallas area by 2025 (2,500 by 2023). Dallas city council members approved an economic incentive package which includes $746,000 from a tax abatement over a five year period and up to $8.6M in economic grants. Uber’s $110M investment would make Dallas the company’s largest employment...

Uber’s Potential Expansion to Dallas Receives Tax Break

15 August 2019 || 4 min read

Potential office location for Uber at The Epic in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood. Source: Dallas Business Journal

“Uber is evaluating adding a significant number of jobs in Dallas and investing directly in the community,” said company spokesman Travis Considine. “Our team is currently discussing the opportunity with state and local leaders, and we hope to make a decision by the fall.” Mayor Eric Johnson says the company’s move to Dallas would create several high paying jobs for the local economy.

The Dallas City Council just approved a competitive economic incentive package and @CityofDallas will hopefully soon be welcoming @Uber to our city. Uber's expansion in Dallas will bring thousands of high-paying jobs & a $110 million investment to our city. Excited for Dallas!

— Mayor Eric Johnson (@DallasMayor) August 14, 2019

Uber’s relationship with the city has been public knowledge for some time. It became a focus market for Uber at its 2017 Elevate conference with the goal of beginning demonstrator flights in 2020 and commercial operations in 2023. It has developed partnerships with Hillwood Properties to build vertiports around the city and with Bell Helicopter’s Nexus hybrid-electric air taxi, among others. More recently, the company has received multiple concept designs from architectural firms like Gensler’s CitySpace below. These flexible spaces provide cities with the infrastructure needed to support air taxi services while still offering modern retail/commercial space.

Render of Gensler’s CitySpace, Credit: Gensler

While Uber has not formally announced its plan to accept the package, Dallas’ low cost of real estate and living make the city an attractive option. Uber plans to make a decision by this fall.

Why it matters: All eyes will be on Dallas for the roll-out of large scale urban air mobility (UAM) markets in the United States. The sprawling metropolis is ripe for taking advantage of the value proposition UAM offers. Between its low cost of land, local investment in infrastructure, and local governments willingness to work with Uber, the city seems to be ripe for building out America’s first UAM city.

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Matt Bohlsen’s Look at the Emerging Electric Aircraft Sector

12 August 2019 || 17 min read

Summary The reasons electric aircraft make a lot of sense. The electric aircraft sector – the number of electric aircraft in development increased by roughly 50% over the past year to 170. Roland Berger: “All indications suggest that we may be on the cusp of a revolution in the aerospace and aviation industries.” Companies that are leading the electric plane...

Matt Bohlsen’s Look at the Emerging Electric Aircraft Sector

12 August 2019 || 17 min read

Summary

The reasons electric aircraft make a lot of sense.
The electric aircraft sector – the number of electric aircraft in development increased by roughly 50% over the past year to 170.
Roland Berger: “All indications suggest that we may be on the cusp of a revolution in the aerospace and aviation industries.”
Companies that are leading the electric plane race.

This article used with permission and written by Matt Bohlsen

The era of electric aircraft is just starting now. Initially, we can expect to see very small electric aircraft flying short range trips. Next, we can expect the larger aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing (BA), Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF) (OTCPK:EADSY), and others to use hybrid aircraft. Beyond that, anything is possible, especially if technology continues to advance.

Two main types of electric aircraft being developed nowadays:

Electric planes (smaller conventional style).
Electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) vehicles.

Note: Most are pure electric; however, larger planes (>10-20 seats) usually need to be hybrid, as electric is not yet powerful enough.

An electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) vehicle

Source

The reasons electric aircraft make a lot of sense

Massive fuel savings. Given airlines typically spend 25-50% of their costs on fuel, switching to electric aircraft (where possible) is a no-brainer.
Cheaper maintenance costs.
Better for the environment as no carbon dioxide emissions.
Governments may support – e.g.: Norway said it is committing to all-electric domestic flights by 2040.

Back in March 2015, I correctly picked the start of the Chinese electric car boom, as you can see in my article “Chinese Electric Vehicle Companies About To Boom.” My reasons were based on China’s 3 key needs – to reduce pollution, to reduce oil, and to build a globally competitive car manufacturing industry in China.

Fast forward to now (2019) and we are approaching a similar time for electric aircraft. My view is that, in the 2020s, we will start to see commercial electric vehicles for short-range provincial trips (passenger loads ~10). The reasons are mostly economical, as 25-50% cost reductions (minimal fuel bill) will mean small provincial flights will start to go electric. Assuming battery technology and aircraft design continue to improve, we should see this gradually improve in the 2020s to a point where hybrid planes and just maybe long-range electric planes become more common.

For shorter helicopter-style trips or where there is no airport for landing (helipads will do), the electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) vehicle will also begin to take market share from competitors.

The benefits of electric aircraft

Source

Limitations

Due to technical limitations for now, there are still limitations on electric planes. For example, they are yet not able to carry huge passenger fleets due to lower power to weight ratios than conventional planes.

Technological breakthroughs will be needed for electric aircraft to completely replace conventional jet-fueled internal combustion engine [ICE] aircraft. This will mean higher battery energy density and lighter or better-designed planes. In the meantime, we will see small short-range all-electric aircraft and hybrid aircraft (electric and ICE).

A Look At The Electric Aircraft Sector

As reported by Statista:

According to German consulting firm Roland Berger: “All indications suggest that we may be on the cusp of a revolution in the aerospace and aviation industries.

As reported by CNN:

According to the consultancy Roland Berger, the number of electric aircraft in development increased by roughly 50% over the past year to 170. The number could swell to 200 by the end of 2019. There are two big factors driving increased investment: The global aviation industry produces up to 3% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a share that’s projected to increase sharply in coming years; and it spends roughly $180 billion a year on jet fuel. “Increased efficiency has been the name of the game when selling aircraft for decades,” said Nikhil Sachdeva, a senior consultant at Roland Berger. “Electric is the next phase.”

Source

Companies That Are Leading The Electric Plane Race

Airbus [FR:AIR]

Airbus E-Fan X is being developed with Rolls-Royce (OTCPK:RYCEF) and Siemens (OTCPK:SIEGY) as a hybrid-electric airline demonstrator. The E-Fan is a prototype two-seater electric aircraft. It has two electric motors and has a flight duration of 60 minutes.

Airbus state:

The E-Fan X hybrid-electric technology demonstrator is anticipated to fly in 2020 following a comprehensive ground test campaign, provisionally on a BAe 146 flying testbed, with one of the aircraft’s four gas turbine engines replaced by a two-megawatt electric motor. Provisions will be made to replace a second gas turbine with an electric motor once system maturity has been proven.

Airbus E-Fan hybrid-electric plane

Source

Airbus also has an advanced prototype electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) vehicle. It has 8 electric motors, can carry up to 4 passengers, and is currently in the testing stage.

Airbus states:

Self piloted flying vehicle can operate at three times the speed of the average road vehicle and extend commuters geographical reach by tenfold.”

An airbus electric vertical take-off & landing (eVTOL) – 440kWh Li-ion battery

Source

Ampaire (private)

Ampaire is currently developing a retrofitted electric aircraft with the aim to be FAA certified by the end of 2021.

Ampaire states:

Ampaire has LOI’s from regional airlines around the globe. And we’ve partnered with Mokulele Airlines in Hawaii to fly our retrofitted planes on their routes – the world’s first operational demonstration of electrified aircraft by a commercial operator.

On June 18, 2019, Aviation Pros reported:

Personal Airline Exchange [PAX] orders 50 Ampaire Electric Aircraft for on-demand…..with options for 50 additional electrified planes. PAX also intends to immediately acquire two upgraded aircraft from Ampaire to kickstart initial operations prior to hybrid conversion. For its commercial customers, Ampaire is targeting certifying its Electric EEL product in 2021. Ampaire’s hybrid aircraft will help PAX service thousands of airports of all sizes with industry-leading operating costs.

An Ampaire hybrid electric passenger plane

Source

Boeing

Boeing’s NeXt program focuses on urban mobility. Boeing has teamed up with Uber Air’s flying taxi service to develop a VTOL vehicle to begin ferrying passengers planned for 2023. You can view a video of their Passenger Air Vehicle [PAV] vehicle here.

Boeing, via its HorizonX subsidiary, has invested in several promising electric aircraft companies including Zunum Aero and Kitty Hawk.

Boeing’s Passenger Air Vehicle [PAV] – VTOL

Source

Dufour Aerospace (private)

Dufour Aerospace is a Swiss company developing the aEro 2, an advanced electric VTOL aircraft that brings you from your doorstep to nearly anywhere you want over 5 times faster than a car but at the same cost per kilometer.

The company plans to be in the testing phase in 2020 for their aEro 2 electric VTOL.

aEro2 – All electric VTOL vehicle

Source

Embraer [BR: EMBR3 ] (ERJ)

Embraer’s Embraer X unit is focused on disruptive technology such as VTOLs. Embraer recently unveiled their eVTOL aircraft concept. You can view a video here.

Embraer’s concept eVTOL

Source

Eviation Aircraft (OTCPK:EVTNF)

The Israeli startup Eviation Aircraft took the aviation world by storm recently at the Paris Air Show. Eviation received a “double-digit” number of orders for their $4 million electric plane called Alice. CNBC reported US regional airline Cape Air as their first customer forecasting first delivery in 2022.

The aircraft can fly 650 miles (1,046 km) at around 500 miles per hour (805 km/h) with three electric motors on the tail and one on each wingtip. The prototype carries a 900 kWh lithium-ion battery. The plane carries nine passengers.

Alice: A fully electric 9 seater plane, 900kWh battery, 650-mile range

Source

Harbour Air/MagniX (private)

Harbour Air recently announced they will run an all-electric aircraft fleet. MagniX is focused on providing advanced all-electric propulsion system for commercial aviation & defense.

Cleantechnica reported:

Harbour Air will be the first seafaring airline to convert its complete fleet of de Havilland Beaver, Otter, Twin Otter aircraft and lone Cessna Caravan to electricity. These 41 vintage aircraft will be converted to reach a longer lifecycle with highly improved efficiency and lowered maintenance costs, a win-win for all…..Harbour Air will have to work closely with MagniX, the company that developed the 750 hp electric motor and battery pack that will give the aircraft enough electricity and power for about an hour of flight.

Source: Cleantechnica

Joby Aviation (private)

Joby Aviation is a California-based start up focusing on developing a flying electric taxi vehicle. The Company has spent the last decade developing its own electric motors and their eVTOL vehicle. Then, in February 2018, the Company announced a $100 million in venture funding from investors including Intel Capital, Toyota AI Ventures, JetBlue Technology Ventures, and Capricorn Investment Group (who also backed Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)). Their latest VTOL vehicle is being developed to fly as many as five people as far as 150 miles on a single electric charge.

Joby is also working on a conventional style electric plane project, “the Sceptor” with NASA.

The X-57 Maxwell electric plane (The Sceptor project)

Source

Kitty Hawk (private)

Kitty Hawk was established by Google’s co-founder Larry Page. They have two key electric aircraft under development and testing – The Cora (2 passengers) and the Flyer (single pilot).

Kitty Hawk’s Cora is designed as an all-eVTOL taxi with about 100 kilometers of range.

On June 25, 2019, Kitty Hawk announced:

Boeing and Kitty Hawk form strategic partnership. The strategic partnership will bring together the innovation of Kitty Hawk’s Cora division with Boeing’s scale and aerospace expertise.

Cora electric ETOL – 2 passengers, 100 km range

Source

Lilium (private)

Germany’s Lilium aviation’s jet vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), zero-emission electric aircraft has completed its first flight in Germany. With remote controls from the ground, the unmanned two-seater faced a series of tests, including a mid-air transition from hovering to horizontal flight. The Company aims for its first manned flight in 2019 and a five-seater air taxi service planned by 2025.

Tencent (CEHY) was an early investor into Lilium. You can view a video of their latest plane here.

Lilium’s five-seater all-electric plane

Pipistrel (private)

Pipistrel is an established light aircraft manufacturer with over 1300 Pipistrel aircraft flying in 90 countries. Pipistrel already makes two small electric planes – The Alpha Electro and the Taurus Electro.

Pipistrel state:

Pioneer of high technology in light aviation, unveiling revolutionary concepts such as electric flight and pursuing extreme aeroefficiency.

Alpha Electro

Source

Tesla

Tesla has no current plans for an electric plane; however, Elon Musk has been looking at the idea for some years and, of course, also founded the Space X rocket company.

Electrek reported in July 2019:

Tesla Electric Airplane? Elon Musk sees electric aircraft in 5 years. Quoting a Musk tweet when asked about electric planes: “Yes, but still a bit too limited on range. That will change in coming years as battery energy density improves.” When he revealed that he had a design for an electric VTOL aircraft, Musk estimated that Li-Ion batteries would need to achieve a 400 Wh/kg energy density in order for batteries to beat kerosene and his electric aircraft to be viable. Today, battery cells with high cycles are achieving about 300 Wh/kg of energy density.

Tesla Electric Plane: Plans, Timeline for an Elon Musk’s Flying Machine

Wright Electric (private)

Wright Electric is a startup aiming to create a commercial airliner that runs on batteries and for distances of less than 300 miles. easyJet (OTCPK:EJTTF) announced it was developing with Wright Electric an electric 180-seater aircraft by 2027. To date, the Company has built a two-seat proof of concept electric plane. They also advocate using swappable battery packs with advanced cell chemistry.

Wright Electric is also making preparations to perform a first flight of a nine-seat electric aircraft in 2019.

The Company states:

Wright Electric’s goal is for every short flight to be zero-emissions within 20 years. Our first plane is an airliner designed for flights like New York-Boston, London-Paris, and Seoul-Jeju.

Zunum Aero (private)

Zunum Aero is an aircraft manufacturer startup based in Kirkland, Washington that is backed by Boeing HorizonX and JetBlue Technology. The company’s concept is to make short haul flights affordable, easy and simple.

Zunum Aero states:

Imagine leaving your doorstep in San Jose at 7 AM and making it to a 9:30 AM meeting in Pasadena. With Zunum Aero, simply drive to a nearby airfield and walk to your aircraft with bags in tow, for a trip that will take half the time and at a much lower fare. Or skip the meeting altogether, and be on the slopes in Tahoe by 8:40 AM for $100 round-trip, and back home the same evening.

Zunum has reportedly struggled with funding recently, despite previously being supported by Boeing and JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU).

Zunum’s hybrid electric plane

Source

Others

Other names in the electric aircraft space include: Bye Aerospace (US), DeLorean Aerospace (US), Electric Aircraft Corporation (US), Evektor (Czech Republic), PC Aero (Germany), Schempp-Hirth (Germany), Siemens (Germany), Volta-Volaré (US), and Yuneec International (China).

Risks

Electric aviation is a new industry requiring large start-up costs.
The usual start-up risks – funding, technology change, cash burn.
Many companies are private and not accessible to investors.
Management risk.
The usual stock market risks – dilution, sentiment, volatility.

Conclusion

Investors should remain mindful that electric plane development is expensive and challenges remain, particularly for longer flights and larger planes. The sector is largely made up of a mix of private startups and the established manufacturing giants (Boeing, Airbus, Embraer). Clearly, only the best and well-funded startups will survive.

On the other side, any manufacturer that can make a compelling electric plane with good range at a reasonable cost stands to do very well. Many promising private companies are making good progress towards commercialization of their aircraft. The very recent news of Eviation receiving commercial double-digit orders for a 2022 delivery just highlights how fast the electric aviation sector is now moving.

Singapore’s Air Taxi Volume Expected To Reach 3,000 By 2025

13 July 2019 || 4 min read

Singapore plans to improve its already world-class transportation system by welcoming U.S. firm Bell Helicopter and Germany’s Volocopter to introduce their products and services to the island city-state. Bell Helicopter air taxis are expected to take flight in Singapore in 2025, while Volocopter is looking to launch air taxi demonstration flights there as soon as the second half of this...

Singapore’s Air Taxi Volume Expected To Reach 3,000 By 2025

13 July 2019 || 4 min read

Singapore plans to improve its already world-class transportation system by welcoming U.S. firm Bell Helicopter and Germany’s Volocopter to introduce their products and services to the island city-state.

Bell Helicopter air taxis are expected to take flight in Singapore in 2025, while Volocopter is looking to launch air taxi demonstration flights there as soon as the second half of this year. A handful of urban air mobility startup companies were deterred from establishing business in Singapore due to factors such as the unavailability of infrastructure. However, Volocopter’s announcement of plans to construct vertiports later this year could very well entice more and more companies to also build infrastructure in Singapore. In fact, despite the initial doubts, consulting firm Roland Berger has predicted that the nation will see growth in terms of passenger volumes to 3,000 within the next six years.

In May of 2019, Volocopter confirmed and elaborated upon initial statements regarding test flights slated to take place later this year. Singapore will be the first location of Volocopter’s flight test program and will result in the country’s first-ever air taxi vertiport. According to Volocopter, “public flight trials have been scheduled to take place in the second half of 2019.” The company has received consistent, strong support from the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and the Economic Development Board. Learn more about the plans regarding the “Volo-Port” here.

Rendering of how a future Volo-Port may look.

The Volocopter 2X is the company’s flagship eVTOL and features 18 propellors, all arranged in a circular symmetrical pattern. Volocopter has been successful thus far in garnering public support and has even hosted ride-along events in the vehicle for high-profile individuals. The current design includes a capacity for two passengers, a high level of redundancy, and a range of 27 kilometers. To read more about the technical specifications of the aircraft, visit our Hangar.

The Volocopter 2X eVTOL

Volocopter has not only been developing its own vehicle and infrastucture, but has also been conducting analyses of the of urban air mobility as a whole. Just last month, Volocopter published a white paper that focuses on how to to overcome barriers for urban air mobility, covering issues like development, certification and service launch. Specific sections of the document discuss safety, noise emissions, range & speed, operating costs, capacity, and usability. Read the full white paper here.

Why it’s important: Through its latest agreements with Bell and Volocopter, Singapore may likely be the starting point for urban air mobility globally. As new transportation services are integrated and offered to the public in Singapore, the country will begin to set a model and standard that the rest of the world can follow.

Source // Business Times

Paris Aims to Offer Flying Taxis at 2024 Olympics

30 June 2019 || 4 min read

Aeroports de Paris (ADP), Airbus and the RATP regional transport are working together to provide visitors to the 2024 Paris Olympics with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) taxis straight from the airport to tournament sites. The infrastructural planning and development involved in hosting the Olympic Games is a highly challenging logistical effort. Countries are often pressed to expand and spend money...

Paris Aims to Offer Flying Taxis at 2024 Olympics

30 June 2019 || 4 min read

Aeroports de Paris (ADP), Airbus and the RATP regional transport are working together to provide visitors to the 2024 Paris Olympics with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) taxis straight from the airport to tournament sites.

The infrastructural planning and development involved in hosting the Olympic Games is a highly challenging logistical effort. Countries are often pressed to expand and spend money on building infrastructure that will cost more money than the Games will generate, and that often are underutilized in the years after the 16-day event has concluded. In the words of Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, it is time that Paris taps in to “the third dimension” for providing transportation to the various events in the urban areas of Paris.

Currently, to get to the city center, visitors arriving at Charles de Gaulle International Airport have to take a costly taxi, a 35-minute train, or a bus that could take up to 90 minutes. Further, the new express train designed to cut congestion and travel time between Charles de Gaulle airport and the city centre has been delayed to 2025, after the Games will take place. This instead could be an opportunistic time to showcase French savoir-faire in urban air mobility.

Read more about the CityAirbus, one of the prototypes for the Paris 2024 Olympics

Airbus is working with Aeroports de Paris and the Paris Transport Authority to fly their regional air taxis from Charles de Gaulle to an undecided “vertiport” location in the region around Paris. However, to minimize initial infrastructural development and financial burden, an existing helicopter corridor will be used to test the transportation system. Currently, Airbus has a one-seater eVTOL, the Vahana, and a four-seater, the CityAirbus; Faury explained that “the two projects will converge towards a vehicle that will respond to first cases of use.” The service ultimately has a goal to deploy one vehicle every six minutes from Charles de Gaulle International Airport.

Read more about the Vahana, another proposed prototype for the Paris 2024 Games

Why it’s important: France’s transport minister, Elisabeth Borne, recognizes the challenges with integrating a new form of flying transportation at this scale, but also sees it as an important step toward “the emergence of a complete transport offering.” If successful, this effort would serve as a strong validation and proof-of-concept for urban air mobility and could jumpstart many more applications of VTOL technology across the globe.

Sources // Phys.org; CNNtravel

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Lilium Selects London for its Software Engineering Base

19 June 2019 || 3 min read

Air taxi company Lilium has officially selected London to host its software engineering and development team. Lilium is a well-known aspiring air taxi company famous for developing the Lilium Jet. Although its headquarters are in Munich, Lilium recently announced its decision to build a software engineering base in London. Lilium believes this new software base will create hundreds of jobs in London...

Lilium Selects London for its Software Engineering Base

19 June 2019 || 3 min read

Air taxi company Lilium has officially selected London to host its software engineering and development team.

The Lilium Jet air taxi

Lilium is a well-known aspiring air taxi company famous for developing the Lilium Jet. Although its headquarters are in Munich, Lilium recently announced its decision to build a software engineering base in London. Lilium believes this new software base will create hundreds of jobs in London over the next five years.

Lilium is one of the primary air taxi companies in the UK, looking to begin commercial services in 2025. The company is not only developing its own jet, but is also building the entire eVTOL network including Skyports, day-to-day operations technology, and the mobile application for users.

Conceptual rendering of a Lilium Skyport in London

Along with this announcement, Lilium also announced new team members. These include Carlos Morgado, former CTO at Just Eat, and Anja Maassen van den Brink of VodafoneZiggo. At the new London base, Mordago will assist in forming the new engineering team as Vice President of Digital Technology, while Maassen will work as the new CPO (Chief People Officer). The company also hired Luca Benassi as chief development engineer, who previously worked at NASA, Boeing, and Airbus.

This announcement comes shortly after Lilium revealed the new, larger version of its eVTOL jet, now capable of carrying five passengers. Just last month, the new jet could be seen completing a successful hover flight. Watch that flight here.

“We are one of very few companies in our sector that wants to both produce air taxis and then operate them day-to-day. Today’s announcement and the recruitment of these three new leaders underlines our continuous efforts to build the very best team in air mobility. We are hiring the best of the best from a global talent base, forming the basis for achieving our target of becoming the leading air mobility company.” –Lilium CEO Daniel Wiegand

The potential for Lilium air taxi operations in the UK

Why it’s important: Notably, Lilium is one of the few UAM companies building both an aircraft itself and the operations and infrastructure for customer use. Although this is an ambitious task, Lilium has already added executives from Rollls-Royce Aerospace, Airbus, Audi, and more. While the company certainly has its work cut out, the highly capable team is likely to fulfill its vision.

Uber Elevate Summit 2019: The Bullet Points

16 June 2019 || 4 min read

This week’s Uber Elevate conference in Washington D.C was a hallmark event for the entire Urban Aviation industry. With a plethora of new announcements, Uber continues to lead the charge forward for Urban Air Mobility. Uber made several major announcements of new partnerships, designs, and technologies. Here’s what we’ve identified as the most important, all readable on TransportUP: Uber Releases...

Uber Elevate Summit 2019: The Bullet Points

16 June 2019 || 4 min read

This week’s Uber Elevate conference in Washington D.C was a hallmark event for the entire Urban Aviation industry. With a plethora of new announcements, Uber continues to lead the charge forward for Urban Air Mobility.

Uber made several major announcements of new partnerships, designs, and technologies.
Here’s what we’ve identified as the most important, all readable on TransportUP:

Uber Releases Standardized Cabin for Use in Future Air Taxis

In collaboration with Safran Cabin, Uber has built a prototype of the interior it plans to implement in its future air taxis, for any vehicle.

Uber Elevate Announces Melbourne, Australia as Third Pilot City

Together on stage with representatives from the Australian government, Uber Elevate revealed this week that Elevate has selected Melbourne as its third city to pilot Uber Air flights.

Uber Unveils Jaunt Air Mobility as a New Network Partner

Long in the shadows, Jaunt Air Mobility, which acquired rights to the ‘Carter Copter’ last February, has been announced as Uber’s sixth eVTOL network partner.

AT&T and Uber Parter for Urban Air Mobility 5G Connectivity

For a data and tech company like Uber, having flawless internet access in the air is essential both to operations and to the customer experience. Together, AT&T and Uber have a multi-phase plan to begin supporting the future aerial mobility network.

Uber Elevate Reveals New SkyPort Concepts, and Multiple Partnerships for Ground Operations.

Sixteen new designs have been unveiled by U.S architecture firms for SkyPorts in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne. Uber also announced its partnership with Related Companies, a major ‘global real estate and lifestyle company’ in the U.S , as well as with Signature Flight Support for ground operations and customer service.

EmbraerX and Pipistrel Unveil New eVTOL Designs

EmbraerX and Pipistrel have both released images and specifications of their new eVTOL designs, both of which have competitive performance standards preparing to meet the needs for urban aviation.

Uber Elevate Announces Melbourne as Third Pilot City

16 June 2019 || 3 min read

Uber Elevate has officially announced Melbourne, Australia as its international pilot city for Uber Air. This marks Uber’s first international pilot city, and its third city overall. In 2018, Uber Elevate announced that it would launch its pilot program in a third, international city as well as in Dallas and Los Angeles in the U.S. At the time, it gave...

Uber Elevate Announces Melbourne as Third Pilot City

16 June 2019 || 3 min read

Uber Elevate has officially announced Melbourne, Australia as its international pilot city for Uber Air. This marks Uber’s first international pilot city, and its third city overall.

In 2018, Uber Elevate announced that it would launch its pilot program in a third, international city as well as in Dallas and Los Angeles in the U.S. At the time, it gave five possible cities for the international location: Australia, India, France, or Japan. Of these, it has now chosen Australia.

According to Susan Anderson, general Manager for Uber Australia and New Zealand, Australia was chosen for its forward looking governance, its environment of support for innovation, and the magnitude of the positive impact Uber Air could have on Australian’s daily lives.

Uber also chose Australia because of its success there with ride-sharing. According to Anderson, 3.8 million Australians use Uber every month, with 67,000 driver partners. Not only does this demonstrate demand for mobility in Australia, it also means Uber has a massive amount of data about Australian commutes, allowing the company to choose SkyPort locations with pin-point accuracy.

Hotspots of travel demand could equal future SkyPort locations:

Importantly, Anderson also mentioned that Australia is expecting an 80% growth in population over the next 30 years, all of which is predicted to occur in Australia’s five capital cities. This statistics make it one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

Said Hon Robin Scott, Assistant Treasurer for Victoria:
“We are delighted that Melbourne has been chosen as the first international trial city for Uber Air. Victoria is a dynamic, innovative tech state and an economy leading the Asia Pacific region in transformative technologies.”

Why it’s important: Through its selection of Australia, Uber Elevate has shown its commitment to making an Uber Air an international service. Working with Australia will give Uber experience with foreign governments, allowing to eventually expand to places like India, Japan, and Brazil, and France, as it originally intended.

Uber Elevate Reveals 16 New SkyPort Concepts, Additional Ground Operations Partners

16 June 2019 || 9 min read

Uber Elevate unveiled this week 16 new SkyPort concepts from 8 different architecture firms. These were designed for Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne. SkyPorts for Uber Elevate are not just landing pads for eVTOLs, but are designed to enable seamless transportation in major cities. As such, each SkyPort is connected with public transit, has parking and charging for Uber Jump...

Uber Elevate Reveals 16 New SkyPort Concepts, Additional Ground Operations Partners

16 June 2019 || 9 min read

Uber Elevate unveiled this week 16 new SkyPort concepts from 8 different architecture firms. These were designed for Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne.

SkyPorts for Uber Elevate are not just landing pads for eVTOLs, but are designed to enable seamless transportation in major cities. As such, each SkyPort is connected with public transit, has parking and charging for Uber Jump bikes & scooters, and has areas for easily connecting with Uber cars (one day to be autonomous).

Each of the designs bring forward a different design philosophy. While some are built for easy of assembly and parking structure retro fits, others are designed as community centers. Here are some of the top designs unveiled last the conference:

Community Centers:

Mithun “SkyPark” (Los Angeles)

The Mithun SkyPark is designed to transform the surrounding community into a hub for connectivity. It uses nature itself, through a garden on the ground floor, to absorb noise and reduce pollution. Its ground floor has an open air concept, with room for retail and small cafe’s and restaurants. JUMP bikes and scooters can be easily retrieved from revolving carousel. See the full Mithun SkyPark video here.

Pickard Chilton and Arup “Sky Loft” (Melbourne)

The Sky Loft by Arup and Pickard Chilton is designed to provide for all transportation infrastructure needs, even including a lounge for driver partners. Although it’s a parking structure retrofit and not an entire building, it acts as a hub for all things Uber including an Uber Greenlight Hub (for Uber operations and customer service), an operations facility for JUMP bikes and scooters, and retail. Even more notably, the Sky Loft utilizes natural wood to offset multiple tons of carbon emissions, and add to the buildings aesthetic. See the full Arup and Pickard Chilton Sky Loft video here.

Boka Powell “Urban Re-Vision” (Dallas)

The Boka Powell “Urban Revision” is designed as a larger center, with options for a large amount of retail and restaurants. Boka Powell envisions that residents will able to do their shopping, enjoy a high quality meal or coffee, and more all in the same center they use to travel. To this effect, the Uber Air hub runs through the middle of the large building as rectangle which can be accessed from almost any area. The Urban Re-Vision also places a heavy emphasis on a seamless travel experience, with plenty of room for all travel modalities from cars to bikes and scooters. See the full Boka Powell Volary video here.

Over-Highway Designs

Corgan CONNECT | EVOLVED

“A scalable design that seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure and considers its environmental impact, our design is comprised of a kit of parts that can be customized for a variety of budgets and locations.” –John Trupiano, Principal at Corgan.

Corgan’s approach to SkyPort design is practicality and feasibility. The CONNECT | EVOLVED comes as system of modular components that can be interchanged between locations. Notably, this design is the second version of the Mega SkyPort it designed for Uber Elevate last year. The new CONNECT | EVOLVED features separate levels for pedestrians and vehicles, solar skin, flooring that harnesses kinetic energy, and heliostats that harvest and redirect sunlight under highways. Watch the full CONNECT | EVOLVED video here.

Humphrey & Partners’ “Volary” (Dallas)

“Our approach is based on the idea that ‘less is more’. This idea has motivated us to create a structure that is simple to build and operate while reinforcing Uber’s brand identity.” – Walter Hughes, Chief Innovation Office at Humphrey & Partners.

The Humphrey & Partners Volary pays homage to the pursuit of flight with a structure that is designed to look as if it is suspended in the air. The vertical atrium is constructed of tinted, sound-absorbing Smart Glass, providing a modern look focused on sustainable energy and functional ease. Volary hosts facilities for supporting eVTOL and JUMP operations as well as bikes, scooter and electric vehicle charging and more than 9,500 square feet of retail space. See the full Humphrey & PartnersVolary video here.

Parking Structure Retrofits

The Beck Group “Dallas SkyPort” (Dallas)

“The design and fabrication of modular elements in our Dallas SkyPort deliver a concept that aligns with Uber’s innovative vision and is within budget,” – Timothy Shippey, Associate Principal at The Beck Group.

Beck’s retrofit concept focuses on combining an existing seven story parking structure with pre-fabricated components, like the undulating cloud canopy, unique elevator enclosure, and sky lounge. The Dallas Skyport facilitates eVTOL take off and landing as well as space for bikes, scooters and electric vehicles. The Skyport features a 6,000 square foot lobby as well as a 2,000 square foot sky lounge at the top for travelers to wait for their departing aircraft. See the full Beck Dallas Skyport video here.

Mithun SkyPark Retrofit (Los Angeles)

This is the ‘Santa Monica Retrofit’ that complements Mithun’s “SkyPark” hub near downtown. A flight from the downtown hub to the Santa Monica retro fit will take about 7 minutes. The Santa Monica retrofit has an L-shaped open-air concept on the ground, and features a simple elevator system to reach the Sky Deck. On the Sky Deck, vehicles are set on a turnable parking which allows for management of deck space and a seamless customer experience. Watch the full Mithun Skyports video here.

Shop Architects “Arc” (Los Angeles)

“To celebrate Uber’s vision of our shared transportation future, we shaped the architecture around the experience of boarding and takeoff, that bold first step into the future of urban flight. ” – Shannon Han, Project Director at SHoP Architects.

SHoP’s Arc concept looks to reclaim the past eras of flight. The roof’s form and feel is built to capture the capture the wonder of air travel while also doubling as a platform for integrated photovoltaics, generating energy to offset the power demands of the facility. The Arc is a greenfield design that facilitates 72 eVTOL round trips per hour with space for electric bikes and scooters, as well as electric vehicle charging and supporting operations. See the full SHop Arc video here.

Significant Partnerships

Uber Elevate announced that Related Companies will be its preferred real estate development partner supporting its Uber Air network in the United States. As part of this partnership, Uber and Related have collaborated on a vision for a future skyport at Related’s 240-acre Santa Clara development to illustrate the benefits aerial ridesharing could provide for the Bay Area and other cities in the future. Related is one of the country’s largest real estate developers, known for its city defining, mixed-use developments and innovative residential and commercial offerings in many of Uber’s biggest cities.

Signature Flight Support and Uber Elevate have announced a nationwide partnership in which Signature Flight Support will facilitate ground based operations and Skyport infrastructure for Uber Air. Signature Flight Support is Uber Elevate’s first nationwide operations and on-airport infrastructure partner. Signature will also be the ground-based operator of choice for Uber Copter services, which offers the first real demonstration of the Elevate experience in New York.

Signature is the world leader in ground based private aviation services known as Fixed Based Operations (FBO’s), with over 200 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Signature has been committed to aviation safety and perfecting the customer experience for over 25 years.

“Signature Flight Support’s operational prowess and industry leading understanding of the private aviation space makes them an ideal fit for Uber Elevate’s business. Efficient and safe Skyports are a critical component of our business model, and our future collaboration with Signature will allow for a seamless rider experience from the moment they arrive at a Skyport, to the moment they depart.” –Eric Allison, Head of Uber Elevate

Uber Air Partners with AT&T for Air Mobility Connectivity

16 June 2019 || 3 min read

Together, Uber and AT&T have created a multi-phase plan to develop connectivity for Uber Air cargo and passenger flights. For Uber Elevate, connectivity to the internet during flight is not a luxury, but an absolute must. Unlike existing aviation infrastructure, Uber’s platform for operations and communication relies on the internet. Everything from the customer experience to instructions for pilots and...

Uber Air Partners with AT&T for Air Mobility Connectivity

16 June 2019 || 3 min read

Together, Uber and AT&T have created a multi-phase plan to develop connectivity for Uber Air cargo and passenger flights.

Uber is already beginning to implement AT&T services in its new Uber Copter program in New York.

For Uber Elevate, connectivity to the internet during flight is not a luxury, but an absolute must. Unlike existing aviation infrastructure, Uber’s platform for operations and communication relies on the internet. Everything from the customer experience to instructions for pilots and on-the-ground drivers is relayed through mobile apps.

AT&T plans on using its extensive 4G LTE network as well its growing 5G expertise to create a connectivity network for Uber Elevate that prioritizes safety and reliability. The company that its contribution will help Uber revolutionize short-distance air transport.

Said Andre Fuetsch, president, AT&T Labs, and chief technology officer:
“We’re in the very earliest stages of seeing what 5G can do to augment next-generation air travel, but we’re excited for the possibilities…Ridesharing services were one of the defining mobile applications of the 4G era. Air taxis and other new air vehicles could well eventually become a signature use case for 5G.”

Ultimately, 5G networks will enable autonomous flight for urban air aircraft. Delivery drones and passenger vehicles will require automated air traffic management systems (UTM), that will need to consistently send large amounts of data to aircraft in order direct them. Sending this critical information needs to be done with an extremely reliable, very fast network. Already, companies like Oredoo in Dubai are showcasing their ability to manage urban aircraft, and AT&T has already begun demonstrating connectivity above 500 feet.

The eHANG 184, which used Oredoo’s 5G service in to complete a demonstration flight in Qatar

AT&T first launched 5G in 2018. The service is now available in 19 cities, and plans to have nationwide coverage in late 2020.

Why its important: Given that Uber’s pilot, operations, and customer service applications all rely on wireless connectivity, AT&T will need near-flawless standards for coverage. While initial tests with drones have proved promising, the FAA or another government entity may require certain connectivity standards in addition to flight performance standards. Any UAM stakeholders should start now in supporting connectivity efforts.

Amazon Prime Air Receives FAA Approval for Drone Deliveries, Unveils New Drone Design

09 June 2019 || 4 min read

Amazon Prime Air has just joined Wing Aviation to become the second FAA-approved drone delivery service. On the same day as this announcement, it also unveiled a new design of its drones. The latest announcement from Amazon is two-fold: Firstly, the company confirmed that it has received approval from the FAA as an operator for commercial drone deliveries, and secondly,...

Amazon Prime Air Receives FAA Approval for Drone Deliveries, Unveils New Drone Design

09 June 2019 || 4 min read

Amazon Prime Air has just joined Wing Aviation to become the second FAA-approved drone delivery service. On the same day as this announcement, it also unveiled a new design of its drones.

The latest announcement from Amazon is two-fold: Firstly, the company confirmed that it has received approval from the FAA as an operator for commercial drone deliveries, and secondly, Amazon unveiled a new design for its delivery drones.

The FAA has stated that it has “issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate to Amazon Prime Air allowing the company to operate its MK27 unmanned aircraft for research and development and crew training in authorized flight areas.” You may remember Amazon showing off photos of its original delivery drone, which is the MK27. According to Amazon, this certification will allow the company to begin making deliveries to homes “within months”.

Now, Amazon also hopes to get approval for the design of its new drone, announced last Wednesday at the re:MARS conference in Las Vegas. The new design is significantly larger than the the MK27, and features a hexagonal fixed wing for flight efficiency. The aircraft, like many eVTOLs, is capable of tilting its rotors from vertical flight position to horizontal fixed wing flight. The hexagonal wing design is unique to Amazon however.

Amazon’s newly unveiled Prime Air Drone, which can fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages in less than 30 minutes.

According to Amazon, the new drone is fully electric, and “can fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages under 5 pounds to customers in less than 30 minutes.” Amazon executive Jeff Wilkes mentioned that although this payload may seem small, the new drone could theoretically complete between 75 and 90% of Amazon’s deliveries.

Amazon also puts a major emphasis on safety. A recent blog post by Amazon mentioned that the hexagonal wing also acts as a cover for the rotors so that they are not exposed, keeping anyone on the ground safe from harm in the event of a malfunction. Drones will be flown autonomously using Amazon’s artificial intelligence software. Watch the full test flight of the new Prime Air Drone below:

This latest announced from Amazon is one of a slew of major drone delivery related news in the last few weeks. Amazon is the second drone delivery service to receive approval, shortly following Alphabet’s Wing Aviation, which received FAA certification last . Additionally, Uber Eats applied just last week to the FAA to begin delivery operations in San Diego.

Why it’s important: Amazon’s latest news is massively important for Urban Aviation. By giving approval for Amazon to operate drone deliveries, the FAA signaling its willingness to move forward with autonomous urban flight. With the volume of Prime Air drones soon to be in use, both regulation and technology are gearing up for larger-sized aircraft and larger-scale operations. The Prime Air drones will begin to lay the infrastructural groundwork and safety standards for larger aircraft.

Sources // Yahoo Finance, The Verge, Forbes, Amazon

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EmbraerX’s Flight Plan 2030: Meeting the Infrastructural Needs of UAM

04 June 2019 || 4 min read

EmbraerX, Embraer’s own innovation division, recently publicly released Flight Plan 2030, a 48-page document calling for the creation and implementation of an “urban air traffic management” (UATM) system. The report presents a preliminary concept of the “design and management of low-altitude urban airspace that will allow UAM to evolve over the next decade.” Flight Plan 2030 envisions a single urban...

EmbraerX’s Flight Plan 2030: Meeting the Infrastructural Needs of UAM

04 June 2019 || 4 min read

EmbraerX, Embraer’s own innovation division, recently publicly released Flight Plan 2030, a 48-page document calling for the creation and implementation of an “urban air traffic management” (UATM) system. The report presents a preliminary concept of the “design and management of low-altitude urban airspace that will allow UAM to evolve over the next decade.”

Embraer’s own eVTOL concept, the DreamMaker.

Flight Plan 2030 envisions a single urban air traffic control that would manage urban airspace for not just eVTOLs, but any aircraft, manned or unmanned, in urban airspace. Drawing upon existing air traffic control technology, provided by Atech and Harris Corporation, Flight Plan 2030 ideally would create a unified urban air traffic control system that can meet the demands of next generation air transportation.

These UATM systems would span across each city, and rely on advanced information networks and possibly even artificial intelligence, all in order to define safe air routes and corridors for air taxis to take. The air taxis would run between Skyports, or landing zones, and would run similarly to how airplanes work with airports today. During cruise flight, all flights would be managed by a single “urban airspace service provider” (UASP), that would have the authority to adjust flight plans and track each individual flight to prevent collisions.

The UATM systems would function similarly to existing conventional air traffic control systems, directing eVTOL aircraft through flight routes in between “Skyports”, or landing zones.

Flight Plan 2030 also provides some insight as to how the urban air mobility industry would interact and collaborate with pre-existing dedicated air traffic control systems, such as conventional Air Traffic Control (ATC) agencies and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems for drones. Predicting an increased volume of air traffic in the next few decades, Flight Plan 2030 indicates that Embraer, among other aerospace companies, have already begun preparing to find solutions on how to develop a safe and efficient air traffic control system.

“Urban air mobility will evolve to become a significant mode of transportation in the next decade and will require a truly collaborative ecosystem,” said Antonio Campello, President & CEO of EmbraerX. “Our Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) concept ensures equitable and safe access to urban airspace for a broad spectrum of aircraft, including conventional helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and eVTOLs. FlightPlan 2030 presents what we believe are the necessary first steps towards autonomous capabilities.”

Why it’s important: While many aircraft makers are in the various stages of eVTOL aircraft development, EmbraerX has begun addressing a key issue in the infrastructural and technological challenges that the UAM industry faces. For air taxi services to become widespread, there must first be a reliable and efficient urban air traffic control system ready to integrate those services. Flight Plan 2030 represents a strong first step into taking a serious look at how the UAM industry would fit and interact with pre-existing air traffic, and what kind of requirements a new system would need to function properly.

Read the full Flight Plan 2030 White Paper here.

Sources // EmbraerX White Paper: Flight Plan 2030

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The Volo-Port: Volocopter’s First Vertiport to be Built By 2019

27 May 2019 || 4 min read

Volocopter has announced a partnership with Skyport to create the first mobile “Volo-Port” for air taxis by the end of 2019. With designs provided by Brandlab, the aim of the Volo-Port is to provide an eVTOL-exclusive landing pad for air taxi operations in cities. Construction of the first Volo-Port will be initiated in Singapore in time for public flight trials...

The Volo-Port: Volocopter’s First Vertiport to be Built By 2019

27 May 2019 || 4 min read

Volocopter has announced a partnership with Skyport to create the first mobile “Volo-Port” for air taxis by the end of 2019. With designs provided by Brandlab, the aim of the Volo-Port is to provide an eVTOL-exclusive landing pad for air taxi operations in cities. Construction of the first Volo-Port will be initiated in Singapore in time for public flight trials in the latter half of 2019.

According to Volocopter’s press release, the prototype Volo-Port will provide opportunities to observe and improve interactions with passengers, ground operators, authorities and industry regulators in order to craft the ideal flight experience. The prototype will specifically enable testing of procedures and interactions, emulating the features of an airport, such as pre-flight checks, boarding procedures, maintenance and security.

A vertiport is the most critical physical infrastructure needed to initiate air taxi operations in urban areas, and will likely be the sole point of interaction between customers and air taxis. Versatility and a sleek appearance are both key features of the Volo-Port. According to Volocopter’s press release, Volo-Ports will be “designed to provide passengers with a seamless air taxi experience that is safe, secure, and relaxing. They will merge with their surroundings, allowing passengers and passers-by to see through the whole structure”.

“Each individual Volo-Port is designed so that it can stand alone or connect to other ports in numerous formations, enabling rapid deployment and scalability. We have analysed the available spaces and movement dynamics in city centres across the world and recognize that infrastructure is a key enabler for the emerging UAM market. We are delighted to be building the world’s first operational Volo-Port in partnership with Volocopter.” says Duncan Walker, Managing Director of Skyports.

According to Alex Zosel, co-founder of Volocopter, “Receiving the commercial license for air taxi aircraft is a question of time not possibility. We are thus focusing on shaping the necessary ecosystem around UAM including air traffic management, city regulation and the take-off and landing infrastructure. It takes visionary partners like Skyports and Brandlabs willing to make investments to actively shape the future of urban air mobility.”

“Once regulation comes through on the aviation and city level – and this will be sooner than most think – we will be ready to take off.”

Why it’s important: With the 2020s drawing closer the designs of many air taxis are being finalized. Many companies have announced their intention to launch air taxi services in the early 2020s, and as result the need for infrastructure is becoming more imminent. The Skyports Volo-Port, as one of the world’s first air taxi ports, will provide critical insights into infrastructure design.

Sources // Volocopter Press Release

Uber has provided details on bringing air taxi services to Melbourne.

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Derrick Xiong, co-founder and CMO of EHang shares his vision on the future of eVTOL and UAM.

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Summary

The reasons electric aircraft make a lot of sense

A Look At The Electric Aircraft Sector

Companies That Are Leading The Electric Plane Race

Risks

Conclusion

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Singapore plans to improve its already world-class transportation system by welcoming U.S. firm Bell Helicopter and Germany’s Volocopter to introduce their products and services to the island city-state.

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Aeroports de Paris (ADP), Airbus and the RATP regional transport are working together to provide visitors to the 2024 Paris Olympics with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) taxis straight from the airport to tournament sites.

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Air taxi company Lilium has officially selected London to host its software engineering and development team.

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This week’s Uber Elevate conference in Washington D.C was a hallmark event for the entire Urban Aviation industry. With a plethora of new announcements, Uber continues to lead the charge forward for Urban Air Mobility.

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Uber Elevate has officially announced Melbourne, Australia as its international pilot city for Uber Air. This marks Uber’s first international pilot city, and its third city overall.

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Uber Elevate unveiled this week 16 new SkyPort concepts from 8 different architecture firms. These were designed for Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne.

Community Centers:

Mithun “SkyPark” (Los Angeles)

Pickard Chilton and Arup “Sky Loft” (Melbourne)

Over-Highway Designs

Parking Structure Retrofits

The Beck Group “Dallas SkyPort” (Dallas)

Significant Partnerships

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Together, Uber and AT&T have created a multi-phase plan to develop connectivity for Uber Air cargo and passenger flights.

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Amazon Prime Air has just joined Wing Aviation to become the second FAA-approved drone delivery service. On the same day as this announcement, it also unveiled a new design of its drones.

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