Category: Infrastructure
ZeroAvia and Masdar to build hydrogen aircraft fueling infrastructure
ZeroAvia, developer of sustainable aviation solutions and operator of its hydrogen-electric Dornier 228 aircraft, has announced a strategic partnership with Masdar, a global leader in clean energy, to advance the production and supply of hydrogen for aviation. This partnership marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of emission-free air travel on a commercial scale. The collaboration between ZeroAvia and...

ZeroAvia and Masdar to build hydrogen aircraft fueling infrastructure

ZeroAvia, developer of sustainable aviation solutions and operator of its hydrogen-electric Dornier 228 aircraft, has announced a strategic partnership with Masdar, a global leader in clean energy, to advance the production and supply of hydrogen for aviation. This partnership marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of emission-free air travel on a commercial scale.

The collaboration between ZeroAvia and Masdar will primarily focus on hydrogen projects in North America and Europe, with an eye towards establishing clean flight operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Masdar, a renowned renewable energy company based in the UAE, is positioning itself as a trailblazer in green hydrogen technology, aiming to lead the industry by implementing strategic projects and scalable platforms in key markets. Their ambitious goal of producing 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030 underscores their commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
Masdar’s Green Hydrogen division has already been actively engaged in major aviation initiatives centered around green hydrogen production. This new partnership with ZeroAvia is poised to catalyze the development of the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial flights.
The UAE’s ambitious hydrogen production targets, aiming to reach 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2031 and an astounding 15 million tonnes by 2050, exemplify their dedication to fostering a green hydrogen economy. Masdar has been a driving force behind this effort, forging global collaborations with strategic partners to realize these ambitions.
ZeroAvia, on the other hand, is making remarkable strides in revolutionizing aviation with hydrogen-electric technology. Collaborating with major energy companies, the company aims to provide hydrogen fuel to airlines as early as 2025. Their pioneering efforts aim to enable refueling of aircraft tanks with hydrogen, targeting aircraft with capacities of up to 90 seats. With the potential to meet the hydrogen demand for short regional flights, ZeroAvia’s innovative approach aligns perfectly with the industry’s sustainability goals.
The recent successful flight test campaign of the ZA600 engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft showcased the feasibility of hydrogen-electric engines. These engines utilize fuel cells to generate electricity from hydrogen, powering electric motors that drive the aircraft’s propellers. Notably, the only emission produced is water, aligning perfectly with the clean energy objectives pursued by both ZeroAvia and Masdar.
Related:
- Surcar Airlines to use ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric engines for Canary Islands seaplane flights
- ZeroAvia’s Hydrogen Engines to Power Natilus Autonomous Cargo Aircraft
- ZeroAvia Achieves ‘Record-Breaking’ Hydrogen Fuel Cell Performance
Why it’s important: ZeroAvia and Masdar have joined forces to develop the future of refueling infrastructure for green hydrogen-powered aviation. This partnership not only signifies a milestone in sustainable air travel but also demonstrates the potential of collaboration between industry leaders to drive positive change for the environment and the aviation sector as a whole – notably with global reach, spanning from ZeroAvia’s headquarters in the UK and California, to Masdar in the UAE.
Australia Release Advisory Circular for Design of Vertiports
Australia’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority today released guidelines for vertiport design following extensive community and industry consultation. This advisory circular (AC) applies to:• persons involved in the design, construction, and operation of vertiports• proponents of vertiports• AAM aircraft owners/operators• planning authorities• aerodrome operators• the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). “This is a great step forward for Australia and shows...

Australia Release Advisory Circular for Design of Vertiports

Australia’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority today released guidelines for vertiport design following extensive community and industry consultation.

This advisory circular (AC) applies to:
• persons involved in the design, construction, and operation of vertiports
• proponents of vertiports
• AAM aircraft owners/operators
• planning authorities
• aerodrome operators
• the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
“This is a great step forward for Australia and shows our preparedness to welcome this new industry into Australian skies’, said vertiport infrastructure developer, Clem Newton-Brown from Skyportz.
“There is no doubt the aircraft are coming. However, the potential for this industry will only be achieved if we break the nexus between aviation and airports and enable a new class of land use to emerge, giving property owners the opportunity to host electric air taxi vertiports”.
Skyportz has been collecting together options on a stable of potential vertiport sites primarily in Australia and has many hundreds of enthusiastic property partners. This new document will provide more clarity on the development of sites for vertiport uses.
The Australian regulations will allow corporate branded vertiports, enabling companies such as Skyportz to develop operational networks.
“We look forward to welcoming air taxi developers to Australia to operate from our network of Skyportz vertiports in the future’, said Mr Newton-Brown.
Why it matters: Other regulatory agencies have released guidelines for the design of vertiport infrastructure. Australia’s guidelines don’t appear vastly different that other regulators and will allow for eVTOL aircraft to safetly and efficiently integrate with existing infrastructure in urban environments.
Related:
Ferrovial Vertiports to Explore the Use of Embraer Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management Solutions
Eve Air Mobility has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ferrovial Vertiports, a subsidiary of the global infrastructure operator Ferrovial, to explore the use of Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software solution to support the safe and reliable operation of vertiports and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Ferrovial Vertiports focuses on the development of vertiport...

Ferrovial Vertiports to Explore the Use of Embraer Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management Solutions

Eve Air Mobility has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ferrovial Vertiports, a subsidiary of the global infrastructure operator Ferrovial, to explore the use of Eve’s Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software solution to support the safe and reliable operation of vertiports and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Ferrovial Vertiports focuses on the development of vertiport networks for the take-off, landing, operation, and maintenance of passenger services of eVTOL.
“This agreement represents a significant step forward and is a strong validation of Eve’s Urban ATM service offering,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve. “Eve is more than an eVTOL manufacturer and we are working with companies like Ferrovial Vertiports to provide them with solutions that will allow these aircraft to operate safely and efficiently.”
“As a leading global infrastructure provider and operator for over 70 years, Ferrovial is committed to building and operating safe, efficient and sustainable transportation infrastructure, which is why we are truly excited to announce our collaboration with Eve. Our goal is to build a series of agnostic vertiport networks across the United States and Europe and ensuring that we are utilizing an agnostic state-of-the-art Urban Air Traffic Management system will be key to achieving our ambitions,” said Kevin Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Ferrovial Vertiports.
Ferrovial’s Vertiport division will provide an essential piece of the ecosystem to enable landing, recharging, and taking off with passengers of eVTOL aircraft. These intermodal centers will be integrated into cities and adapted to the surrounding environment. Their innovative design will reduce noise impact, allow zero operating emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Related:
- Eve Announces First Vertiport Operator Partner Bluenest by Globalvia
- United Airlines Ventures Adds Eve to its UAM Portfolio
- FlyBIS to Purchase 40 eVTOLs from Eve
Ferrovial Vertiports has already announced that it will develop a network of more than 10 vertiports across state of Florida, USA and a network of 25 vertiports across the United Kingdom. It is currently studying other markets in the United States and around the globe which will benefit from a more sustainable and efficient mode of urban transportation.
Why it’s important: Eve’s Urban ATM software is an agnostic solution that will enable the integration of all airspace users in the urban environment. This is critical to support the safety, efficiency, and improvement of the entire Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem, including fleet and vertiport operators. This new collaboration reinforces a shared commitment to safely integrating and scaling global UAM operations.
Skyports Drone Services Begins Hiring Project for Contract Drone Hub Operators
Skyports Drone Services announced on January 13th the launch of a large scale employment program aimed at recruiting personnel to support the roll out of drone operations across existing and emerging markets. The program is named the “Hub Operator Program” and intends to find applicants willing to travel for extended periods of time and work at the leading edge of...

Skyports Drone Services Begins Hiring Project for Contract Drone Hub Operators

Skyports Drone Services announced on January 13th the launch of a large scale employment program aimed at recruiting personnel to support the roll out of drone operations across existing and emerging markets. The program is named the “Hub Operator Program” and intends to find applicants willing to travel for extended periods of time and work at the leading edge of drone operations in the company’s key markets for 2023, which include Columbia, UAE, the UK, Kenya, and Korea.

Successful applicants to the Hub Operator Program will work alongside Skyports Drone Services’ team of experienced drone pilots to support flight operations.
Those selected for this program will serve as Hub Operators, who will support through the execution of non-safety critical roles, including: assisting the management and set up of flight hubs to enable efficient and safe aircraft landings and departures and the execution of key checklists required for the safe operation of Skyports Drone Services’ aircraft.
Applicants selected for the program will undergo a training program as well as receive ongoing guidance throughout to ensure they meet Skyports Drone Services high safety standard, and Skyports has stated that some of these operator jobs may be eligible for conversion to a full time role after completion of the program.
Alex Brown, Director, Skyports Drone Services, said of the program: “Demand for drone operations has skyrocketed in the last 18 months and we’re busier than ever with our delivery, survey and monitoring services.
Why it’s important: Skyports’ increased hiring targets for the Drone Hub operator program reinforce the level of demand for skilled persons who can manage drone hubs globally; further, the program will facilitate higher capacity flight operations rates to help develop the necessary knowledge and experience to eventually support larger scale aerial mobility operations of the future.
More information on the program and application information can be found here:
Altaport Launches Vertiport Ground Operations Integration Software
Salt Lake City, UT based Altaport shared on December 20th the completion of their vertiport automation system (VAS) platform which will facilitate the future of travel by automating ground infrastructure operations at airports, heliports, and vertiports. Altaport’s platform controls a range of activities on behalf of ground infrastructure managers, including resource management and scheduling, ground movement safety monitoring, passenger management,...

Altaport Launches Vertiport Ground Operations Integration Software

Salt Lake City, UT based Altaport shared on December 20th the completion of their vertiport automation system (VAS) platform which will facilitate the future of travel by automating ground infrastructure operations at airports, heliports, and vertiports. Altaport’s platform controls a range of activities on behalf of ground infrastructure managers, including resource management and scheduling, ground movement safety monitoring, passenger management, and fee collection.

Altaport was launched within the Philo Ventures startup studio and was co-founded by former Airbus and Google employees who saw the need to prepare today’s ground infrastructure for the future of high-volume eVTOL and cargo drone traffic.
Altaport’s offering from their most recent press release is “a robust, interoperable vertiport operating and communications system” which will be crucial to manage a high amount of interactions between vertiports and operators, as outlined in NASA’s July 2021 report titled “Vertiport Automation Software Architecture and Requirements.”
Altaport’s platform both reflects and builds upon the system outlined in NASA’s VAS whitepaper. “We’ve spent more than a decade building and launching operations that are highly reflective of what future AAM operations will look like, giving us unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that such operations present,” said Cozzens. “The Altaport team has combined the learnings from those experiences with the technical standards established by the industry to date to build the leading vertiport automation platform. When the first eVTOLs begin commercial operations, Altaport will be prepared to serve landing locations around the world.”
Altaport’s platform is currently used at numerous major heliports throughout Brazil, playing an important role in the development of tomorrow’s AAM landing network. This early deployment should allow Altaport to fine tune their platform prior to usage at an even larger scale.
Why it’s important: Altaport’s platform provides a third party solution to ground operations management at future vertiports, as well as existing airports and heliports. Altaport’s value proposition would certainly streamline vertiport operations, but it’s unclear to what degree competitors in the industry (both OEM’s and vertiport infrastructure specialists) will tune their IP development focus toward. Altaport could eventually be jockeying for market share amongst a mixed bag of vertically and horizontally integrated vertiport operations management solutions. For now, Altaport has a near first-mover advantage as a third party service.
Learn more about Altaport at altaport.com
Skyportz to Close Fundraising Round following $18M Federal Grant
Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has just announced release of $18M in grants under the first round of the New and Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships. “The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program will ensure our aviation sector remains at the forefront of innovation as it continues to develop and grow, particularly with renewed focus on achieving...

Skyportz to Close Fundraising Round following $18M Federal Grant

Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has just announced release of $18M in grants under the first round of the New and Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships.
“The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program will ensure our aviation sector remains at the forefront of innovation as it continues to develop and grow, particularly with renewed focus on achieving net zero carbon emissions”, said Minister Catherine King.
Skyportz is the only vertiport infrastructure company in Australia. They have been working for 4 years to encourage the development of Advanced Air Mobility policy at all levels of Government, particularly in the space of essential vertiport infrastructure.
“We are really pleased about this announcement as it is putting resources into drones and air taxi developments that will one day need our network of vertiports to fulfil their potential”, said Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of Skyportz.
Skyportz has over 400 potential sites owned by property partners wanting to get a first mover advantage in this emerging industry.
Skyportz is set to close its second seed fundraising round on November 10th to develop its first prototype vertiport. With over 180 new investors this will bring the total equity shareholder number to over 600 investors who are excited about the prospects of this new industry.
“The key to this industry is breaking the nexus between aviation and existing airports. We need to develop a network of new vertiport sites if the industry is to reach its potential and Skyportz is readying the landscape to partner with infrastructure investors”, said Newton-Brown.
Why it’s important: This Grant makes it clear that there is strong policy support for Advanced Air Mobility in Australia at a Federal Government level and backs in the recent roadmap released by air regulator CASA to develop the drone and air taxi market in Australia. Read more details on The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Strategic Regulatory Roadmap here.
Source // Skyportz press release
Related:
Joby and Skyports Partner to Deliver Living Lab for Urban Air Mobility
Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure announced they are developing a Living Lab passenger terminal that will enable the two companies to test a variety of technologies and procedures that will help define how passengers experience vertical flight in the future. “Our all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is set to revolutionize the way we travel in and around cities. Joby...

Joby and Skyports Partner to Deliver Living Lab for Urban Air Mobility

Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure announced they are developing a Living Lab passenger terminal that will enable the two companies to test a variety of technologies and procedures that will help define how passengers experience vertical flight in the future.
“Our all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is set to revolutionize the way we travel in and around cities. Joby riders will skip the traffic, flying directly to their destination at up to 200 mph,” said Eric Allison, Head of Product at Joby.
“But to realize the vision of everyday flight, we need to deliver a seamless and more rapid experience on the ground. The Living Lab will allow us to rethink the terminal experience, keeping our customers front and center throughout their entire journey,” he added.
Duncan Walker, CEO at Skyports, said “We expect the Living Lab to be instrumental in our efforts to engage regulators, government officials, and the public to demonstrate the benefits of electric vertical take-off and landing operations and promote acceptance of this new form of mobility.
“Our aim is to develop vertiport infrastructure that delivers a ‘zero-wait’ check-in experience for customers, and we’re delighted to be working with Joby, one of the leading companies in this sector, to prepare for that future,” he added.
The Living Lab was unveiled in advance of Joby’s Field Trip event, during which the company will open its doors to a range of partners and investors to see behind the scenes of its pilot production facility, where the company’s first production prototype is currently being built. Over the next 18 months, the Living Lab will be showcased at locations throughout the US, giving industry and the public the opportunity to experience the future of aviation.
Earlier this year, Skyports announced a UK government funded project to develop a vertiport at a London General Aviation aerodrome and the company’s European vertiport testbed will launch in November this year at the Pontoise – Cormeilles aerodrome, Paris, with an extensive program of live flight operations.
Why it’s important: In conjunction with the development of eVTOL vehicles. Innovation in the passenger experience and infrastructure sectors is equally important to revolutionize the way we travel. Joby’s partnership with Living Lab is a strong step forward towards developing mockups and realizing the vision for vertiports which will serve eVTOL aircraft and passengers for years to come.
Joby Aviation Looks to Conduct eVTOL Flights Over San Francisco Bay
Joby Aviation is looking to conduct a series of high profile air taxi flights over San Francisco Bay, according to a set of documents that were filed with the FCC. These potential flights would feature Joby’s S4, the company’s second-gen pre-production prototype eVTOL air taxi, and would be the first to be conducted in an urban environment for the public...

Joby Aviation Looks to Conduct eVTOL Flights Over San Francisco Bay

Joby Aviation is looking to conduct a series of high profile air taxi flights over San Francisco Bay, according to a set of documents that were filed with the FCC. These potential flights would feature Joby’s S4, the company’s second-gen pre-production prototype eVTOL air taxi, and would be the first to be conducted in an urban environment for the public to witness. The S4 would be tested in two primary locations: One between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, and the other just south of the Bay Bridge, near Alameda.
According to Oliver Walker-Jones, Joby’s head of marketing, communications and brand, “We’re currently in the early stages of exploring the potential to perform a limited number of flights. We have no confirmed plans yet and securing permission to do so requires us to work with a range of local and federal authorities. That said, this is all very exciting.”
The documents explain that the purpose of these tests is the evaluation of radio equipment that is used for remote control of the aircraft, which will be essential for Joby’s efforts in obtaining FAA flight certification. The tests would be performed through remote piloting from the ground, and the S4 would not hold any passengers for this set of flights. The details regarding take-off and landing have not been released to the public yet, although Walker-Jones noted that it would be on dry land.

“Testing the radio is the goal of the demonstration flight in that area,” said Walker-Jones. “Of course, in the future we do see some positive benefits to the idea of demonstrating the technology in an urban environment so that people start to see and understand how it fits into where it may eventually operate.”
The S4, an all-electric, multi-propeller, five-seat VTOL aircraft, has a wingspan of nearly 40 feet, weighs up to 4,400 pounds, and has undergone flights up to 150 miles at 5,000 feet. When the document was filed, the S4 had completed 562 test flights and logged a flight time of around 27 hours (with an average flight duration of less than three minutes), and flown no faster than 80 mph or higher than 1,000 feet. According to Walker-Jones, Joby has gone far past those previous records, with the prototype recently reaching speeds of 200 mph, and completing 17 missions over 20 minutes in duration in January.

“We have recently flown several flights above 7,000 feet (1.3 miles) mean sea level,” said Walker-Jones. All of these flights took place in remote coastal areas and over private land around Santa Cruz, California. The 7,000-foot altitude record, if confirmed, would be much higher than air taxis are generally expected to operate for short intra- and inter-city flights.
Joby’s FCC application for the San Francisco tests is still pending.

Why it’s important: With Joby Aviation expecting to become a certified air carrier by the end of 2022, this set of flights would be the first full-scale air taxi flights in an American city. The tests would be likely to generate significant media coverage for the company, which went public last summer via a $1.1 billion SPAC deal.
Source // Tech Crunch
Eve and Falko to develop Global Operator Network with a potential order for 200 eVTOLs
Eve UAM, an Embraer subsidiary, and Falko Regional Aircraft Limited, a global leader in commercial regional aircraft leasing, have announced a Letter of Intent which contemplates a potential order for 200 of Eve’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and a commercial partnership to develop a global network of eVTOL operators in support of Urban Air Mobility missions. The...

Eve and Falko to develop Global Operator Network with a potential order for 200 eVTOLs

Eve UAM, an Embraer subsidiary, and Falko Regional Aircraft Limited, a global leader in commercial regional aircraft leasing, have announced a Letter of Intent which contemplates a potential order for 200 of Eve’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and a commercial partnership to develop a global network of eVTOL operators in support of Urban Air Mobility missions.
The partnership between Eve and Falko will begin by establishing a working group to collaborate with Falko’s existing operators to develop initial route networks where Eve’s aircraft can be deployed in early adopter markets. Additionally, Eve’s agnostic product portfolio of next-generation air traffic management software, service capabilities, and fleet operations services will also be introduced to create a safe, scalable network for each Falko lessee using Eve’s aircraft.
Falko has been closely cooperating with Embraer since 2014 and chose Eve as its Urban Air Mobility partner due to Embraer’s long record for certifying trusted aircraft for over 52 years.
Related: Eve to List on NYSE Through Business Combination with Zanite Acquisition Corp.
“I am thrilled to announce this huge development in our long-standing and successful relationship with Embraer. We are very excited by our strategic partnership with Eve which forms part of our drive to be at the forefront of the greening of the aviation sector. We firmly believe in the prospects of the eVTOL market and that Eve, with the support of Embraer’s experience in the manufacturing, certification, and support of aircraft, will be a market leader,” states Jeremy Barnes, CEO of Falko.
“Our partnership with Falko, a trusted aircraft leasing leader, cements our position in the global Urban Air Mobility marketplace and not only widens our potential operator base through Falko’s global customer footprint but increases our ability to provide full-stack solutions, through partnerships. We are proud to have Falko as a strategic partner in Eve as our two organizations collaborate to lead a new generation of sustainable innovation, in aviation,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve.
Why it’s important: The prospect of Eve providing up to 200 eVTOLs would be a substantial jumpstart for Embraer’s urban air mobility division. It would serve as a source of funding for further research and development of their vehicle as future improvements will be imminent while the nascent industry expands and evolves to fit consumer needs. On the other hand, Eve also has the benefit of calling upon funding from the larger Embraer corporation if needed to bolster certification and manufacturing efforts. This is in stark contrast to the vast number of UAM startup companies that must pursue investor contributions or public stock offerings to facilitate progress.
Source // Eve press release
Embraer Eve and Widerøe Zero Form Partnership for Study on eVTOL Operations in Scandinavia
Eve Urban Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, and Widerøe Zero, the air mobility business incubator division of the Norwegian airline, have agreed to form a partnership for the purpose of an eVTOL vehicle concept of operations study in Scandinavia. The study will use Eve’s zero-emission eVTOL vehicle which is currently in development, and will extend Widerøe’s customer relationship with Embraer...

Embraer Eve and Widerøe Zero Form Partnership for Study on eVTOL Operations in Scandinavia

Eve Urban Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, and Widerøe Zero, the air mobility business incubator division of the Norwegian airline, have agreed to form a partnership for the purpose of an eVTOL vehicle concept of operations study in Scandinavia. The study will use Eve’s zero-emission eVTOL vehicle which is currently in development, and will extend Widerøe’s customer relationship with Embraer several years after it became the first airline to start operating Embraer’s E-190-E2 in April 2018, in Bergen, Norway.
According to Andreas Kollbye Aks, CEO of Widerøe Zero, “Widerøe Zero is excited to work with Eve on the eVTOL concept. Although initially designed for Urban Air Mobility, we expect these highly flexible vehicles to be interesting in a variety of applications also in rural areas; from cargo to passenger transportation. Our partnership with Eve is part of our plan to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation in Norway. We are looking forward to the expanded partnership, unlocking new opportunities to improve regional connectivity”.
According to André Stein, president and CEO of Eve, “In order to contribute to the world target to eliminate greenhouse gas emission by 2050, the aerospace industry depends on disruptive innovation. With Urban Air Mobility, we have a unique opportunity to design a new and optimized mobility ecosystem: infrastructure, vehicle, operations and air traffic management systems. We are thrilled to work together with Widerøe Zero to develop UAM solutions in Scandinavia, with an entirely new, zero-emission, experience to travelers”.
Widerøe Zero, described as a “consultancy-cum-incubator”, is in charge of introducing zero-emissions aircraft operations to the Norwegian airline by 2026, and will additionally contribute to eVTOL market readiness in the region. Widerøe is one of several airlines that has submitted a letter of intent to purchase the 19-seater all-electric ES-19 regional turboprop being developed by Swedish aircraft maker Heart Aerospace.
Why it’s important: This partnership is the latest move in regional market opportunities for Eve, following a recent sale of 100 eVTOL aircraft to a Brazilian private jet operator and to an Asia-Pacific operator. Benefitting from a startup mindset and backed by Embraer’s more than 50-year history of aircraft manufacturing and certification expertise, Eve is looking to provide globally recognized aircraft and air traffic management software to create solutions that will help safely scale the UAM industry.
Source // Aviation Today
Related:
- Avantto orders 100 eVTOL aircraft from Embraer subsidiary Eve (October 2021)
- Ascent Partners with Embraer for 100 Eve eVTOLs (August 2021)
Overair, Inc. Announces Expansion of Southern California Headquarters
Overair, the eVTOL and advanced air mobility company, announced their expanded headquarters in Santa Ana, California. Featuring new spaces for industrial and manufacturing teams as well as a built out corporate front office, the expansion provides space for the company to execute on their program development plans to reach full FAA certification by 2025. With proximity to John Wayne/Orange County...

Overair, Inc. Announces Expansion of Southern California Headquarters

Overair, the eVTOL and advanced air mobility company, announced their expanded headquarters in Santa Ana, California. Featuring new spaces for industrial and manufacturing teams as well as a built out corporate front office, the expansion provides space for the company to execute on their program development plans to reach full FAA certification by 2025.
With proximity to John Wayne/Orange County Airport and top-notch residential communities, the new HQ features two buildings of 94,000 sq ft and 109,000 sq ft, respectively. “Building 1” will house the company’s corporate offices, shop lab, and cleanroom space for aircraft design, development and manufacturing, while “Building 2” will include space for aircraft integration and testing facilities.
“We’re excited to double our footprint and our commitment to Orange County and the city of Santa Ana. This new office space helps us promote a culture that allows everyone on the Overair team to achieve their personal goals and the company’s vision of making the world a smaller, cleaner place,” said Overair CEO Ben Tigner. “This expansion enables us to grow our talented team, add hundreds of jobs to our community and accelerate Butterfly’s introduction as the most robust and quietest electric vertical lift aircraft in its class.”
Building upon Southern California’s existing aerospace and technology hubs, the Overair campus will foster productivity and cultural unity across both corporate and engineering teams to achieve a full-scale Butterfly prototype by 2023, FAA certification by 2025, and commercial entry into service by 2026. Meanwhile, the company is looking to bring hundreds and eventually thousands of new, technology-focused jobs to Orange County. Overair plans to hire 1,000 employees over the next 3-5 years, including aerostructure and propulsion systems engineers looking to create green energy systems.
Why it’s important: The upgraded Santa Ana campus doubles Overair’s industrial and manufacturing floorspace and corporate offices, signaling next growth phase for the company. For Overair, the expansion also comes at an inflection point in the company’s growth, as their eVTOL vehicle Butterfly transitions from initial type design to preparation for commercialization and scaled production.
Vertical Aerospace & Heathrow Airport to collaborate on future of urban air mobility
Vertical Aerospace is gearing up to operate its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Heathrow Airport by mid-2020s in an effort to give more people easy access to UK’s hub airport, and reduce congestion and emissions on local roads. Chris Annetts, Chief Strategy Officer of Heathrow, said “We are delighted to be partnering with Vertical, a global champion...

Vertical Aerospace & Heathrow Airport to collaborate on future of urban air mobility

Vertical Aerospace is gearing up to operate its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Heathrow Airport by mid-2020s in an effort to give more people easy access to UK’s hub airport, and reduce congestion and emissions on local roads.
Chris Annetts, Chief Strategy Officer of Heathrow, said “We are delighted to be partnering with Vertical, a global champion in emissions-free aviation. This emerging technology has the potential to reduce congestion and pollution on local roads, while providing passengers with a best-in-class experience on the cutting edge of modern technology. We look forward to exploring the possibilities of zero-emissions flight together.”
At speeds of up to 200 mph, Vertical’s piloted eVTOL will be able to transport four passengers in near silence from Heathrow to the City of London in 12 minutes, with zero operating emissions and at a cost similar to a taxi. This new agreement comes as interest in the future of urban air mobility is growing, with major airlines already operating at Heathrow keen to see the technology develop. Virgin Atlantic has already announced a partnership for the UK launch of an eVTOL network with Vertical and conditional pre-order options for up to 150 VA-X4s.
Vertical’s top-tier global customers include American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow Group, Iberojet and Marubeni Corporation. Through these relationships, Vertical believes that it has the largest conditional pre-order book in the eVTOL industry, of up to 1,350 aircraft worth $5.4bn. Vertical’s eVTOL aims to be an industry leader in safety, being on track to be certified to the highest global standards and matching the safety performance of airline passenger jets.
Related: Vertical Aerospace to go Public with a $2.2b Merger
Meanwhile, Vertical has also made progress toward establishing electric flight infrastructure as well as securing investments to support certification and full production ramp up. Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure operator, will play a key role in Vertical’s service development as it has committed to building 25 vertiports across the UK. The vertiports are expected to be integrated with other modes of transport to offer efficient travel and increase connectivity to cities and nearby regions; the network is expected to allow Vertical’s piloted four passenger aircraft, the VA-X4, to operate from these sites for the proposed launch of its UK services with Virgin Atlantic.
In Vertical’s latest funding campaign, Mudrick Capital and Kouros SA contributed a total of $205 million that will be applied toward manufacturing a certified vehicle by the middle of the decade with the intention of operating it via the aforementioned vertiport sites. Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO and Founder of Vertical, said “We are delighted to welcome Mudrick Capital and Kouros as new partners to Vertical Aerospace. Their investments are more expert validation of our technology and approach to the exciting future of zero emissions flight. We look forward to working together in the years to come to bring Urban Air Mobility to cities all over the world.”
Why it’s important: The agreement between Heathrow and Vertical is a significant milestone for Britain’s zero-emissions aviation industry. Both parties will work closely to explore how this new technology can fit into existing operations at the airport, build understanding of the regulatory changes that would be required, maximize potential job opportunities and minimize any potential impacts on communities surrounding the airport.
Source // Vertical Aerospace press release
Several EU Airports Partner On Vertiport Development
Airports across Italy and France including the likes of Rome, Venice, Bologna, and Nice have announced the creation of Urban Blue. The joint venture is between airport operators and administrators in these regions and will oversee the construction and management of eVTOL vertiports. Urban Blue envisions their vertiports will transport airline customers on the final leg of their journey from...

Several EU Airports Partner On Vertiport Development

Airports across Italy and France including the likes of Rome, Venice, Bologna, and Nice have announced the creation of Urban Blue. The joint venture is between airport operators and administrators in these regions and will oversee the construction and management of eVTOL vertiports.
Urban Blue envisions their vertiports will transport airline customers on the final leg of their journey from their passenger jet to the city center. The scheme will be developed in partnership with Volocopter and is seeking additional partners.
In a statement released by Urban Blue, the company says it hopes to have airport eVTOL routes operated by Volocopter beginning in Summer 2024 in conjunction with the Summer Olympics hosted in Paris. EDF Invest, a major shareholder in Nice’s Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur, will financially back Urban Blue, and provide its bone fides as an established international player in the development of innovative and sustainable UAM.
“Urban Air Mobility represents a stimulating challenge, capable of mobilizing new resources and skills, and project ourselves into a future of innovative and sustainable mobility,” said Nazareno Ventola, CEO of Bologna Airport in a statement characteristic of those each Urban Blue partner issued. “Aeroporto di Bologna SpA wants to be the protagonist of this future, and the partnership that we are going to develop is an opportunity to be fully seized and exploited, in the interest of our shareholders and our stakeholders.”
Heading into 2022, Urban Blue will conduct technical and economic studies and begin master plans for its vertiports. The company will also begin researching various operational and management tactics for its fleet of Volocopter eVTOL crafts to ensure a smooth and efficient operation.
We are excited to share the news of our new partnership with our holding company, Atlantia, and @volocopter, the pioneer of #UrbanAirMobility, aimed at bringing electric air taxis to Rome.
Together, we will lay the foundation to bring #ElectricAirTaxis to Italy. pic.twitter.com/bGIi6BiuK5— Aeroporti di Roma (@AeroportidiRoma) October 22, 2021
Why it matters: Investment in aerial mobility infrastructure will continue to rise as manufacturers get closer and closer to commercial viability. With several options to choose from, Urban Blue has wisely partnered with fellow EU-based Volocopter to operate city–airport shuttles at key tourism destinations across France and Italy. This will offer the flying public an exciting new way travel about the cities and completely transform passenger flow.
Ascent Partners with Embraer for 100 Eve eVTOLs
Eve Urban Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, has agreed to provide 100 of its eVTOL platforms to aviation taxi platform Ascent, to be used in Melbourne, Manila, Singapore, and Tokyo as soon as 2026. According to Andre Stein, president and CEO of Eve, “Ascent is one of the greatest players of Urban Air Mobility in the Asia-Pacific and its strong...

Ascent Partners with Embraer for 100 Eve eVTOLs

Eve Urban Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, has agreed to provide 100 of its eVTOL platforms to aviation taxi platform Ascent, to be used in Melbourne, Manila, Singapore, and Tokyo as soon as 2026. According to Andre Stein, president and CEO of Eve, “Ascent is one of the greatest players of Urban Air Mobility in the Asia-Pacific and its strong presence in the region makes it an ideal partner for Eve’s operations.The region holds a massive demand for transportation disruption that can be filled with our low-emission aircraft. This is the right recipe for sustainable growth.”
The news follows an earlier agreement in June 2021, and Ascent hopes to utilize Eve’s zero-emission low noise eVTOL aircraft and possibly their Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM) system, both of which are currently being trialled in conjunction with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. According to Clem Newton-Brown, CEO of air taxi landing infrastructure startup Skyportz and chair of the Advanced Air Mobility working group of the Australian Association for Unmanned Systems, “This announcement is very exciting – Embraer is one of the frontrunners in developing an electric air taxi and we welcome this announcement and look forward to working with them to develop routes and destinations. We are working with a number of air taxi designers who will be utilising our sites. Without the landing sites this new form of transport would be very limited. We have been working with property, freight and logistics partners for some years and have a stable of sites ready to take to the next step.”
Eve and Ascent’s partnership will also aid in Eve’s development of UATM solutions.“The creation of the UAM ecosystem requires innovative solutions, which is also a fundamental pillar of Embraer’s growth strategy for the coming years, and EmbraerX was built to address these needs,” said Daniel Moczydlower, president and CEO of EmbraerX, of which Eve is its first spin-off. “Through this partnership, we are jointly embarking on the first steps toward Australia becoming one of the world’s first Urban Air Mobility markets.”
Why it’s important: The partnership between Eve and Ascent looks to vastly accelerate the development of UATM solutions and aerial mobility in general, creating the initial infrastructure and resources for an aerial mobility ecosystem in several metropolitan areas. With this agreement, both companies envision a successful initial integration, followed by an elevation of aerial mobility operations to scale.
Source // Australian Aviation
UAV Navigation Integrates DAA Software into its VECTOR Autopilot
UAV Navigation has inked a partnership with Iris Automation to integrate its Detect & Avoid ‘Casia’ software into Iris’s advanced autopilot solution ‘VECTOR’. With this combined set of capabilities, UAVs will have the opportunity to detect and avoid potential airborne targets autonomously. UAV Navigation specializes in the design of guidance, navigation and control solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) also known as Remotely...

UAV Navigation Integrates DAA Software into its VECTOR Autopilot

UAV Navigation has inked a partnership with Iris Automation to integrate its Detect & Avoid ‘Casia’ software into Iris’s advanced autopilot solution ‘VECTOR’. With this combined set of capabilities, UAVs will have the opportunity to detect and avoid potential airborne targets autonomously.
UAV Navigation specializes in the design of guidance, navigation and control solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones. UAV Navigation’s flight control solutions are used by a variety of top tier aerospace manufacturers including high-performance tactical unmanned planes, aerial targets, mini-UAVs and helicopters. The company’s autopilots carry out advanced functions, such as controlling multiple target drones at 700 km/h, executing a fully automatic net landing of a drone onto a moving vessel at sea, and even converting a twin prop manned aircraft or turbine helicopter into a drone.
“The pace of innovation around autonomous aerial vehicles is rapid as the industry recognizes the potential for creating value. Integrating Iris Automation’s Casia detect and avoid technology into our VECTOR autopilot is another important step in the safety of autonomous flights for commercial operations. Our customers can now automatically command the drone to perform appropriate avoidance maneuvers, resuming their original flightpath once completed,” said UAV Navigation Head of Commercial, Carlo Lazaro.
The integration comes as Iris Automation releases Casia Software v2.2. The release also includes improvements to performance, track fusion and flight data uploads. Casia Software is embedded in all Casia systems, and uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect and classify aircraft intruders, similar to human pilots.
James Howard, co-founder and VP of Technology and Innovation at Iris Automation, commented on the partnership, “Partnering with UAV Navigation brings together two significant breakthroughs in safe, autonomous flight. Integrating autopilot systems with true detect and avoid, inclusive of uncooperative aircraft, is critical to enabling commercial operations at scale. Given the wide deployment of UAV Navigation’s autopilot solution this is major progress in opening up the skies.”
Why it matters: Detect and avoid software is a critical step in developing safe autonomous autopilots for aerial mobility applications. With its successful implementation, eVTOL vehicles can operate in dense urban environments with the ability to safely navigate the airspace. Expect to see UAV Navigation, Iris Automation, and others come into the spotlight as autopilot technologies mature and find their way onto commercial platforms.
Source: UAV Navigation Press Release
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