Category: Regulations

McKinsey’s Take on Aerial Mobility Pilots: A Niche Talent Pool in Need of Development

08 June 2020 || 5 min read

Consulting Firm McKinsey & Co published their analysis on the transition from piloted to pilotless aerial mobility aircraft on June 2nd, outlining a proposed four phase progression from the current status quo of completely piloted aircraft to completely autonomous aerial mobility operations. The analysis, compiled by Uri Pelli and Partner Robin Riedel, asserted that the development will mature through these...

McKinsey’s Take on Aerial Mobility Pilots: A Niche Talent Pool in Need of Development

08 June 2020 || 5 min read

No automation or human assistance (current capabilities, where computer systems may assist human pilots by reducing workload and providing safety protections)
partial and conditional automation, in which pilots provide some control from the ground but onboard automation systems control the majority of activities
high automation with remote supervised vehicles (one supervisor on the ground monitoring multiple aircraft)
full automation

It was noted that, while these stages appear discrete, they could overlap, or even blend together, as additional developments occur and the integration of piloted/augmented piloted operations of aerial mobility aircraft is more fully developed.

Additionally, the article paired these four development stages with four major headwinds: the challenges of obtaining the pilot population, training them, and then implementing them at scale, with the knowledge that in a certain number of years, by design, they’ll be rendered obsolete.

The first challenge was the sheer cost of pilots. Given realistic assumptions of operating cost for UAM aircraft, adding a pilot could almost double the cost of any given flight.

Secondly, training and pilot sourcing are difficult. The aviation industry was in a massive pilot shortage prior to COVID-19, and McKinsey’s estimates state that once the eventually return to commercial air traffic operations has reached steady state, “suggests the [aerial mobility] industry could require about 60,000 pilots by 2028, roughly 17 percent of the total number of commercial pilots in 2018”. Almost 20% of the pilot workforce, on top of the existing talent pool, is a very large increase in demand across any industry. However, pilots are also an opportunity to leverage experience gained in providing a comfortable atmosphere for commercial air travel; they would serve as ambassadors for the aerial mobility industry through their interactions with customers. In fact, McKinsey’s article leads directly into the hurdle of a completely new customer experience – one that pilots have the ability to help curate to both reassure passengers and allow them to enjoy the convenience and benefits of commercialized aerial mobility transportation.

Last, and the most commonly cited hurdle, is the aircraft design paradigm. While provisions for manual operation and piloting of aerial mobility vehicles will be required for earlier models, at what cost is either retrofitting these aircraft when pilots are no longer required, or operating them with a spare pilots seat, worth when compared to clean sheet designs and integrations that never intended for a pilot to be in the loop? The challenging reality of certification for UAM aircraft at present means that designs must include pilot provisions now, and likely in the future those provisions may be partially deactivated and the pilot’s seat “converted” to a passenger seat to realize the benefit of another revenue generating station onboard. But then, what to do with pilots? The value proposition moving forward is equally as important for pilots in search of a long lasting career. Transitions to remote operations, or fixed wing aircraft piloting, might need to be flowed out to demonstrate the long term benefits of a career that may only involve 10 years of piloting UAM aircraft, per se.

Why it’s important: Due to the autonomous intent of the aerial mobility industry, the interim flight operations solution (pilots required) can be overlooked easily. McKinsey has identified a few of the key challenges for sourcing the talent required to bridge this gap in public acceptance and certification (the technology gap is virtually non-existent for flight path guidance at present). Additionally, once the talent pool of pilots is obtained, there are secondary benefits to having knowledgeable and professional pilots who may be able to serve as ambassadors to aerial mobility.

Source // McKinsey & Co. Article

Dufour adds Karsten Fischer to Senior Advisory Team

01 June 2020 || 3 min read

Dufour Aerospace announced on Monday that Karsten Fischer will join their Senior Advisory Team. Fischer is stated to join as an advisor for certification, configuration control, process and quality management, according to Dufour’s press release. Karsten brings over 20 years of experience from within the aerospace industry, and has previously worked on the “conception, implementation, and operatino of European Part 21...

Dufour adds Karsten Fischer to Senior Advisory Team

01 June 2020 || 3 min read

Karsten studied aircraft engineering, at which point he applied his studies to his work at Pilatus Aircraft, Ltd in the Structural Engineering Research and Development Department. He worked on PC-12 loads, fatigue, and project management, and eventually transitioned into the Head of Configuration management for the aircraft. He was the first member of the Office of Airworthiness team to implement the Pilatus initial JAA JAR 21 DOA in 1999.

He currently serves as Co-Founder and Partner of ddpConcepts GmbH, a consultancy firm that offers products, tools, consulting, support training and auditing services focused on EASA Part 21 Design and Production Organizations. As a DO, his expertise spans type-certification process and changes by the TC-holder, as well as STC and ETSO approvals.

Dufour’s addition of Karsten to their senior advisory team adds a respectable complement of experience, primarily from the certification front. Dufour’s announcement of Karsten joining their team is timely, considering EASA’s release of their proposed eVTOL certification standards. Karsten will undoubtedly be working with Dufour and staying close to the EASA standards as Dufour continues work on their eVTOL prototypes and readies them for initial flight testing.

Why it’s important: More and more aerial mobility companies are reaching the flight testing phase as they complete their design concepts and move forward with real production and test. Looking forward, the next larger hurdle for many of these companies to overcome will be that of certification – and as such the addition of experienced aerospace talent within the certification realm will prove invaluable in deploying aerial mobility aircraft that are technologically advanced and poised to make an impact – but that aren’t yet certified. Expect future announcements of other aerial mobility companies bolstering their team with advisors and members that are well versed in the certification sphere.

Source // DuFour Aerospace Press Release

Enabling a Safe, Secure and Inclusive Sky with Aerial Mobility

02 February 2020 || 4 min read

Public and regulatory preparedness for aerial mobility are two of the top priorities for seamlessly integrating the rapidly developing technology in to the current global infrastructure. Following the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao shared some thoughts about how the United States—specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation— is...

Enabling a Safe, Secure and Inclusive Sky with Aerial Mobility

02 February 2020 || 4 min read

“First, as with every other mode of transportation, safety is our Number One priority. UAM aircraft, and the infrastructure that supports these novel operations, will require a level of safety commensurate with the complexity of any operation that engages in passenger carriage for hire. So the commercial availability of UAM technology in the United States will depend upon companies developing robust, reliable, and technically capable designs that have been shown to be compliant with the applicable airworthiness and safety regulations.

“As you know, Urban Air Mobility vehicles are not helicopters or scaled-up drones. They are complex systems involving infrastructure, new systems and new aircraft. A segregated approach to airspace integration may work for initial, low-volume operations resembling existing helicopter corridors in large urban areas. But a long-term solution that accommodates hundreds- if not thousands- of these air vehicles operating simultaneously over urban landscapes is a complex challenge. It will involve advanced concepts in Air Traffic Management Systems and Trajectory Based Operations, to name a few.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao

“The Department’s FAA will be working with state and local governments and stakeholders over the next two years to define the requirements for these unique types of operations. Let me note that, consistent with this Administration’s approach to new technologies, the FAA has shifted from prescriptive rules to performance-based regulations. This approach will ensure that, as UAM technology and operations evolve, federal regulations will strengthen safety but be agile enough to grow with the technology. The Department will continue to work with industry stakeholders to identify the challenges, gaps, and opportunities associated with UAM.

“Let me add one more thought to this discussion. To be fully deployed, UAM technology must first win the public’s trust and acceptance. UAM systems will be flying directly over– and landing near– neighborhoods and workplaces. So it is imperative that the public’s legitimate concerns about safety, security, noise and privacy be addressed. I challenge the UAM industry to step up, and educate communities about the benefits of this new technology and win their trust. It is critical to ensuring that UAM technology reaches its full potential.”

Why it’s important: These vehicles have the potential to create new mobility options for millions and change how people travel to and around cities, as well as to and from rural areas. This potential has stimulated billions of dollars of investment in UAM technology, as well as first-of-its-kind roundtable discussions with urban air mobility leaders and advocates, as took place at CES 2020.

Source // U.S. Department of Transportation

EASA Drafting Certification Plans for eVTOL Prototypes in Europe

26 January 2020 || 3 min read

Next month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will outline the certification process for eVTOL OEM’s to receive type certifications for their prototypes under the new Special Conditions VTOL rules. This proposal will outline the critical regulations and rules eVTOL manufacturers must adhere to in achieving type certificates. It is expected as the technology advances towards commercialization that newer...

EASA's headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

EASA Drafting Certification Plans for eVTOL Prototypes in Europe

26 January 2020 || 3 min read

This proposal will outline the critical regulations and rules eVTOL manufacturers must adhere to in achieving type certificates. It is expected as the technology advances towards commercialization that newer regulations will emerge sometime later this year, likely mid-November. For now, these basic regulations will likely follow the framework of existing air transport rules.

EASA’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

David Solar, head of VTOL certifications for EASA has stated that aerial mobility manufacturers are eager to receive the proposal sooner rather than later as to limit design re-work that may be necessary to achieve a type rating in EASA’s jurisdiction. However, Solar warns, “The first crash of an eVTOL aircraft could kill the business, so it’s important that we learn but do not close the door to progress.”

“The plan is that over the next couple of years, or more, we will see if we are aligned with what the applicants eVTOL manufacturers are doing,” Solar said. “At some point, it may result in a new CS regulation, or a change in the regulatory framework, it is hard to predict exactly when this will be completed because the industry is going through a lot of prototypes now with many final designs still on the drawing board.”

Along with the design requirements, EASA will publish rules and regulations surrounding the operation of eVTOL aircraft. In the context of urban air mobility operations, Solar said he expects individual cities to also establish the terms under which they are willing to accept operations.

Why it matters: EASA is the second largest regulatory body in the global aerospace industry aside from the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Achieving a type rating in Europe will unlock a key market for players in the aerial mobility space and will likely influence the decisions of other regulatory bodies. This process is already well underway as at least 6 prototypes are progressing well in attaining their type certification in the United States. Furthermore, the aerial mobility industry has begun commenting on the FAA’s Remote ID plans for identifying Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility

24 January 2020 || 4 min read

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

FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility

24 January 2020 || 4 min read

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

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

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

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

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

Source // C-SPAN

U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Proposed Rule on Remote ID for Drones

29 December 2019 || 4 min read

The FAA has laid the groundwork for expanded UAS operation beyond line-of-sight The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a proposed rule that would continue the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly called drones, into the nation’s airspace by requiring them to be identifiable remotely. “Remote ID technologies will enhance safety and security by...

U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Proposed Rule on Remote ID for Drones

29 December 2019 || 4 min read

The FAA has laid the groundwork for expanded UAS operation beyond line-of-sight

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a proposed rule that would continue the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly called drones, into the nation’s airspace by requiring them to be identifiable remotely.

“Remote ID technologies will enhance safety and security by allowing the FAA, law enforcement, and Federal security agencies to identify drones flying in their jurisdiction,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

Wing (left), AirMap (center), and UASidekick (right) remote ID applications visualize 6 unique drone operations across multiple USS. Image courtesy of Wing.

The FAA will seek input on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Remote Identification (Remote ID) of UAS that today was placed on display at the Federal Register. In the coming days, it will be accompanied by a 60-day comment period to receive public feedback and help the FAA develop a final rule to enhance safety in the skies over the U.S.

“As a pilot, my eye is always on safety first,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “Safety is a joint responsibility between government, pilots, the drone community, the general public and many others who make our nation so creative and innovative.”

Drones are a fast-growing segment of the entire transportation sector – nearly 1.5 million drones and 160,000 remote pilots are registered with the FAA. Equipping drones with remote identification technologies would build on previous steps taken by the FAA and the UAS industry to safely integrate operations, including the small UAS rule, which covers drones weighing less than 55 pounds, and the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), which automates the application and approval process for most UAS operators to obtain airspace authorizations.

AirMap applauds @FAANews’ recent release of its proposed Remote ID rule and looks forward to providing feedback. Comprehensive Remote ID regulations will spur our industry forward. To read our full statement, click here: https://t.co/LVnFG5ECYq

— AirMap (@AirMapIO) December 26, 2019

These efforts lay the foundation for more complex operations, such as those beyond visual line of sight at low altitudes, as the FAA and the drone industry move toward a traffic management ecosystem for UAS flights separate from, but complementary to, the air traffic management system.

The proposed Remote ID rule would apply to all drones that are required to register with the FAA (recreational drones weighing under 0.55 pounds are not required to register), as well as to persons operating foreign civil UAS in the U.S.

Why it matters: While the initial motivation motivation for Remote ID is for drones, aerial mobility stakeholders will see value in the technology. This development will lead to expanded UAS operation beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS). Remote ID promises to advance the UAS industry with improved safety, accountability, and transparency of its stake holders.

Source // FAA

Hanwha Systems Gains Approval for $25 Million Investment in Overair

17 December 2019 || 4 min read

Hanwha Systems will officially enter the urban aerial mobility market as of Dec. 8th, as the CFIUS has approved Hanwha’s $25 million USD investment in Overair Hanwha earlier announced their intentions to invest a 30% stake in Overair, formerly known as K4 Aeronautics. Recently, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved the $25 million USD investment...

Hanwha Systems Gains Approval for $25 Million Investment in Overair

17 December 2019 || 4 min read

Hanwha Systems will officially enter the urban aerial mobility market as of Dec. 8th, as the CFIUS has approved Hanwha’s $25 million USD investment in Overair

Hanwha earlier announced their intentions to invest a 30% stake in Overair, formerly known as K4 Aeronautics. Recently, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved the $25 million USD investment into the promising air taxi company. With the approval secured, Overair, now overseen by Hanwha Systems, will go ahead with the development of its passenger eVTOL, the Butterfly.

Hanwha System’s investment is centered around the development of the Butterfly

The Butterfly is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) optimized for urban aerial mobility services. The aircraft was conceptualized with noise reduction and efficiency in mind; the Butterfly is currently able to fly 100 kilometers at 240 km/hr (60 miles at 150 mph) or faster with five people — four passengers and one pilot — on board.

Overair and Hanwha intend to develop the Butterfly for civilian transportation systems with the aim of receiving a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Hanwha Systems is also looking to expand its investment in Overair with the intention of spreading into the South Korean personal air vehicle (PAV) sector, which is gaining traction with the Korean Ministries of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, Trade, Industry, and Energy.

Earlier this year, Hanwha Systems announced their intentions to invest in Overair, then known as K4 Aeronautics.

Overair was spun off from the eVTOL technology company Karem Aircraft and is one of the named partners of the Uber Elevate air taxi project. Abe Karem, an aviation expert with experience in designing 14 flying machines was founder of Karem Aircraft and is now co-founder and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Overair.

Why it’s important: With the approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment, one of the largest technology conglomerates in the East Asian region has taken the first step to entering the urban aerial mobility sector. With a strong initial investment in Overair, a partner to Uber Elevate, Hanwha Systems looks to corner the air taxi and PAV market internationally and domestically, and now is making their presence known in the rapidly growing new industry.

Source // Business Korea

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Volocopter to Receive EASA’s Design Organisation Approval

11 December 2019 || 5 min read

Volocopter is the first eVTOL startup on record to receive DOA from EASA. German electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Volocopter has been working closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) through a series of audits to prove the safety of its manufacturing process. This week, EASA awarded Volocopter with Design Organisation Approval (DOA), confirming the safe...

Volocopter to Receive EASA’s Design Organisation Approval

11 December 2019 || 5 min read

Volocopter is the first eVTOL startup on record to receive DOA from EASA.

German electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Volocopter has been working closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) through a series of audits to prove the safety of its manufacturing process. This week, EASA awarded Volocopter with Design Organisation Approval (DOA), confirming the safe and controlled performance of the company’s processes. “Receiving this seal of approval from EASA is testament to our rigorously professional processes, world class team, and devotion to safety here at Volocopter,” says Jan-Hendrik Boelens, CTO and Head of Design Organization of Volocopter.

Volocopter receives Design Organisation Approval by EASA, left to right: Florian Reuter, CEO Volocopter; Jan-Hendrik Boelens, CTO Volocopter; Rachel Daeschel, Certification Director EASA; Patrick Ky, Executive Director EASA. Credit // Volocopter

As an approved Design Organisation, Volocopter has gained a competitive edge in development speed, while maintaining a guarantee of the highest safety standards. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has been designing and testing various models of its prototype eVTOLs in Bruchsal, Germany and successfully completed its first urban manned flight over Singapore’s Marina Bay in October of this year.

Sharing strong synergies with the existing Volocopter platform, the VoloDrone presents an unmanned, fully electric utility drone, capable of carrying heavy payloads. The VoloDrone has been designed and engineered to serve challenging missions across diverse industries, adding the third dimension to sustainable transport. Technical Specifications available in the TransportUP eVTOL Aircraft Hangar.

EASA is the European Union’s aviation authority and regulator, ensuring the highest level of safety protection. The regulator awards DOA to companies they have thoroughly audited with regards to their organisation, processes, resources, and staff expertise. Key aspects the agency checks before giving their seal of approval are clearly defined throughout certain processes that also need to be lived in everyday work, safety awareness, and the organisation. The audits ultimately serve to assess and decide whether a company can bring a safe aircraft to market.

By awarding a DOA, EASA entrusts a growing range of responsibilities to Volocopter as per a set of rules and processes. The key effect of having a DOA is that EASA exercises surveillance to the organization as a whole, and the involvement can be reduced to fewer steps on the way to the final commercial certification. Consequently, product development can be conducted at a faster pace by the approved organization. These privileges accompanying DOA can eventually include elements such as issuing approvals of changes or even issuing a permit to fly for its test aircraft allowing to conduct engineering and certification flight test of Volocopter’s commercial air taxi. “Design Organisation Approval is a crucial step towards receiving commercial certification and brings air taxis ever closer!” says Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter.

The Volocopter 2X soars over Singapore’s Marina Bay.

Earlier this year EASA also finalized and published the Special Condition VTOL, the world’s first certification baseline specifically created for air taxis, under which Volocopter is in process to get its aircraft certified. The announcement answered some of the questions surrounding the required level of certification and safety in the development process for VTOLs, especially ones intended for usage in urban air mobility.

Why it’s important: Receiving EASA DOA thus proves to be a strong competitive advantage for Volocopter within the global context, and may contribute to the company widening the gap in the race to certify the world’s first commercially applicable urban air taxi. In conjunction with EASA’s “Special Condition,” the issuance of DOA to Volocopter clarifies expectations and sets a precedent to follow as other eVTOL manufacturers submit for similar certifications.

Source // Volocopter

Urban Air Mobility at Amsterdam Drone Week 2019

08 December 2019 || 5 min read

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

Urban Air Mobility at Amsterdam Drone Week 2019

08 December 2019 || 5 min read

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources // dronelife; Amsterdam Drone Week

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Airbus Wayfinder Uses AI for Certifiable Autonomous Systems

01 December 2019 || 4 min read

Airbus further invests in aerial mobility with the development of eVTOL autonomous systems. A³ by Airbus is the Silicon Valley R&D outpost of Airbus, where Project Wayfinder is currently under development. The company hopes to implement artificial intelligence as a means of advancing the capabilities and applications of autonomous systems for aerial mobility. According to Airbus, “Project Wayfinder is building...

Airbus Wayfinder Uses AI for Certifiable Autonomous Systems

01 December 2019 || 4 min read

Airbus further invests in aerial mobility with the development of eVTOL autonomous systems.

A³ by Airbus is the Silicon Valley R&D outpost of Airbus, where Project Wayfinder is currently under development. The company hopes to implement artificial intelligence as a means of advancing the capabilities and applications of autonomous systems for aerial mobility.

According to Airbus, “Project Wayfinder is building scalable, certifiable autonomy systems to power self-piloted aircraft applications throughout Airbus, from small urban air vehicles to large commercial airplanes. Our team of experts is driving the maturation of machine learning and other core technologies for autonomous flight; we are creating a reference architecture that includes hardware, software, and a data-driven development process to allow aircraft to perceive and react to their environment.”

A few of the technologies we may expect to see from Wayfinder include detect-and-avoid, landing zone recognition, and other autonomous systems.

The Airbus Vahana Alpha Two tilt-wing eVTOL at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton, Oregon. Photo // Airbus

Through its beginnings as part of the Airbus Vahana eVTOL project, Wayfinder’s potential for applications throughout aerospace quickly became clear. The success of the project encouraged Airbus to make Project Wayfinder its own entity within A³, which now will develop intelligent technology for all types of aircraft.

The Vahana prototype was on display this summer at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) currently mandates “at least two adequately rested, fully qualified, and well-trained pilots,” which currently blocks implementation of autonomous system into commercial operations. While still prohibited for commercial use, autonomous piloting systems are often tested in small-scale autonomous air vehicles such as Airbus’ Vahana, and will eventually make their debut into commercial aviation with collaboration from regulators.

Why it’s important: The development of the Wayfinder technology sets the stage for the future of smart technologies for flight. Other technologies, such as Garmin’s Autoland avionics system, which automates communication between ATC and pilots, are currently under development and certification as well. Together, these kinds of systems will eventually form the air traffic management and flight systems for urban aircraft.

Source // Avionics International

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Community Air Mobility Initiative Launches to Support Integration of UAM

10 November 2019 || 4 min read

CAMI seeks to garner public support of urban air mobility as the technology and regulations progress. The Seattle-based Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI) has announced its launch with the support of its founding members, including aircraft manufacturers Bell and Joby Aviation, as well as non-profit organizations such as the NBAA. “New technologies and new aircraft promise to make flight accessible and...

Community Air Mobility Initiative Launches to Support Integration of UAM

10 November 2019 || 4 min read

CAMI seeks to garner public support of urban air mobility as the technology and regulations progress.

The Seattle-based Community Air Mobility Initiative (CAMI) has announced its launch with the support of its founding members, including aircraft manufacturers Bell and Joby Aviation, as well as non-profit organizations such as the NBAA. “New technologies and new aircraft promise to make flight accessible and practical on a daily basis for more people than ever before,” said CAMI co-executive director Anna Dietrich. “With that promise comes the responsibility to integrate those aircraft into our communities safely, responsibly, and equitably. We created CAMI as the industry’s commitment to our neighbors and the decision-makers who support them to work to ensure that happens.”

CAMI’s mission is to support the responsible integration of urban air mobility (UAM) into communities through education, communication, and advocacy. The non-profit, led by industry experts and professionals in aviation, transportation, and public policy, hopes to influence and educate communities and decision makers at the state and local level. CAMI recognizes that to be successful, urban air mobility must be safe, quiet, and a desired component of our communities. As such, it will lead the joint effort and collaboration of multiple stakeholders in the industry to overcome challenges including traffic congestion, environmental impacts and noise, to name a few.

“As the aviation industry continues to mature the technologies needed to bring electric aircraft into communities, it became clear that the most important need was to bridge the work of the industry with the local communities where this technology will be implemented,” said Yolanka Wulff, co-Executive Director. Wulff is the second co-executive director of CAMI, and brings a law background, as well as a focus on sustainable aviation, standards development, and public affairs. “CAMI understands the importance of working with all of the stakeholders to develop urban air mobility that integrates with existing and future urban and regional transportation systems.”

A Humphrey and Partners depiction of a concept integration of aerial mobility in an urban setting. Photo // Uber

Why it’s important: CAMI is poised to be an influential organization in the developmental years of aerial mobility. Initial support has been garnered across various areas of the transportation and aviation industries, including aircraft manufacturers and suppliers, operators, industry associations, state and local agencies, ecosystem members, academia, and nonprofits. In addition to external support, CAMI has attracted top experts with the experience and mindset essential to the development of feasible and widely accepted aerial mobility solutions.

For more information about CAMI, or to learn about joining the mission, visit www.communityairmobility.org or email contact@communityairmobility.org.

Source // CAMI Press Release

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FAA Approves UPS as Drone Airline for Commercial Deliveries

10 October 2019 || 4 min read

UPS now operates the first official drone airline with a full Part-135 FAA certification. UPS, which operates 564 owned and leased traditional airplanes, has long been in the business of delivering parcels as well as heavy cargo, and now plans to use drone technologies to expand its scope. The company plans to announce strategic partnerships with drone makers, designers of...

FAA Approves UPS as Drone Airline for Commercial Deliveries

10 October 2019 || 4 min read

UPS now operates the first official drone airline with a full Part-135 FAA certification.

Photograph: UPS

UPS, which operates 564 owned and leased traditional airplanes, has long been in the business of delivering parcels as well as heavy cargo, and now plans to use drone technologies to expand its scope. The company plans to announce strategic partnerships with drone makers, designers of traffic-management systems, and customers such as retailers. As a certified airline operator, UPS prioritizes and specializes in logistics. Thus, it will continue to rely on the technologies of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to enable its vision, just as companies such as Boeing have supplied UPS with commercial jets for years.

Photograph: UPS

Prior to this month’s Part-135 certification acquisition, UPS has been conducting drone deliveries at a large hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. The operations have been ongoing since March of this year, and are in collaboration with drone technology company Matternet. As explained in a recent press release, “the company will initially expand its drone delivery service further to support hospital campuses around the country, and to provide solutions for customers beyond those in the healthcare industry. UPS Flight Forward plans in the future to transport a variety of items for customers in many industries, and regularly fly drones beyond the operators’ visual line of sight (BVLOS).” In fact, the company has already completed its first flight BVLOS – immediately after acquiring the certification – by performing a revenue delivery at WakeMed’s hospital campus in Raleigh, N.C.

UPS has beaten out competitors, such as Amazon’s Prime Air and Alphabet’s Wing, as the first to receive a full Part-135 certification. This will allow the operator to begin revenue flights of its commercial drone service throughout the entire United States. Wing recently received a similar certification, but with limited scope – the company is currently permitted to operate only in Christiansburg, VA, and with only one pilot, under a ‘Single pilot air carrier certificate’.

Why it’s important: As stated by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao in an FAA release on Tuesday, “this is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North Carolina and building on the success of the national UAS Integration Pilot Program to maintain American leadership in unmanned aviation.” The certification paves a way for future drone airlines to stand up commercial operations, without being restricted to line-of-sight or daytime flights.

Source // UPS Pressroom

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Airbus and EASA Sign MOC on Development of VTOL Aircraft

07 October 2019 || 4 min read

Airbus and EASA will cooperate in developing the next generation of VTOL platforms European multinational aerospace company Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation intended to bring cooperation for a joint effort to develop the next generation of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms and the associated regulatory structures. The agreement will focus...

Airbus and EASA Sign MOC on Development of VTOL Aircraft

07 October 2019 || 4 min read

Airbus and EASA will cooperate in developing the next generation of VTOL platforms

European multinational aerospace company Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation intended to bring cooperation for a joint effort to develop the next generation of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms and the associated regulatory structures. The agreement will focus on vital areas of development, such as thermal/electric hybridization of propulsion systems, high-speed flight, certification of piloting assistance systems, and condition-based maintenance.

The CityAirbus

According to Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even: “Innovation that benefits customers is at the heart of Airbus Helicopters strategy and we are committed to working hand-in-hand with authorities around our innovation projects with the same professional approach, experience and spirit that have driven our legacy products.”

Both the EASA and Airbus are already currently working on several means to define and regulate the current developing aerial mobility sector. Notably, the EASA recently released a “Special Condition” pertaining to the certification of eVTOL aircraft in July 2019, and have looked into the certification for VTOL platforms as well. Airbus has been heavily invested in the aerial mobility industry, simultaneously working on several projects intended to explore the viability and commercial applications in the sector.

Airbus’ A³ Vahana VTOL Project

“Partnerships with industry are part of our strategy to ensure that innovation in the aviation market happens safely,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “The learnings we derive from cutting edge technologies play a significant role in helping us to prepare our certification methodologies for these new advancements. The cooperation on innovation with Airbus Helicopters represents an important contribution to this strategy.”

The Airbus Vahana II demonstrator

Why it’s important: Cooperation between one of the largest aerospace companies and the EASA could indicate that development and commercialization of the aerial mobility could progress at a faster pace. While commercialization of aerial mobility has already been projected to happen within the next decade, several companies still face regulatory issues in getting their vehicles certified and getting the right infrastructure in place. Airbus intends to take the lead by cooperating with the main authority that will oversee aerial mobility in Europe.

Source // Aerospace Technology

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White House to Support eVTOL in R&D Priorities Memo

19 September 2019 || 4 min read

The White House indicated it may be interested in the research and development of eVTOL aircraft. In a nine-page executive memo, the document discusses future development budget priorities for the US government beyond FY2021. The document covers a variety of R&D topics ranging from advanced communications, autonomy, and infrastructure resilience, among others. This quote was taken from the memo and...

White House to Support eVTOL in R&D Priorities Memo

19 September 2019 || 4 min read

The White House indicated it may be interested in the research and development of eVTOL aircraft.

In a nine-page executive memo, the document discusses future development budget priorities for the US government beyond FY2021. The document covers a variety of R&D topics ranging from advanced communications, autonomy, and infrastructure resilience, among others.

Joseph Van Valen, White House Fellow for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

This quote was taken from the memo and shows a clear priority for eVTOL.

“Departments and agencies should support the development and deployment of advanced communications networks by prioritizing R&D consistent with the National Spectrum R&D Strategy. They should prioritize R&D to lower barriers to the deployment of surface, air, and marine autonomous vehicles with a focus on developing operating standards, integration approaches, traffic management systems, and defense/security operations. Departments and agencies should prioritize R&D that enables electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing and civil supersonic aircraft, including for type certification, the creation of over-land supersonic flight noise standards, and low-sonic-boom aircraft research.”

Fiscal Year 2021 Administration Research and Development Budget Priorities

“The administration believes that unique and innovative eVTOL designs have the potential to revolutionize the future of transportation. We at OSTP look forward to working across the Federal government to develop an eVTOL regulatory framework that prioritizes safety and promotes innovation, ” said Joseph Van Valen, senior policy advisor for advanced transportation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Stakeholders in the aerial mobility space will be pleased to see support from the US government, yet it is unclear yet if these priorities will lead to greater R&D funding.

“As we move forward, government must ensure that that we continue to prioritize funding for these sort of technologies – especially as others such as Europe and China are investing significant sums to gain an advantage in these areas,” said David Silver of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).

Why it matters: One of the key barriers to the widespread acceptance of the aerial mobility industry will be cooperation with the US government, in particular, the FAA. With a clear prioritization from the executive branch, it brings to question if government support for the industry will match.

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Farnborough’s Global Urban Air Summit Discusses Aerial Mobility Operations

10 September 2019 || 4 min read

Global regulators and industry professionals discuss UAM industry operations at GUAS 2019. According to Farnborough International, the Global Urban Air Summit (GUAS) of 2019 “marks the first time global regulators have come together with industry to determine how urban air mobility will operate.” Discussions encompassed a variety of themes, such as the safety of urban aircraft, both from a perspective...

Farnborough’s Global Urban Air Summit Discusses Aerial Mobility Operations

10 September 2019 || 4 min read

Global regulators and industry professionals discuss UAM industry operations at GUAS 2019.

According to Farnborough International, the Global Urban Air Summit (GUAS) of 2019 “marks the first time global regulators have come together with industry to determine how urban air mobility will operate.” Discussions encompassed a variety of themes, such as the safety of urban aircraft, both from a perspective of regulating repeatable manufacturing processes and one of gaining public acceptance. Of course, autonomy also made its way into the conversation, as it pertains to flight path planning and accountability.

Headlining the opening day of the conference was an insightful discussion with Tim Johnson, Policy Director for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, and Jay Merkle, Executive Director of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for the US Federal Aviation Administration. The two were also joined by Mildred Troegeler, Director of Global Aerospace Integration for Boeing NeXt, and François Sillion, Uber’s Director of Advanced Technologies Research. This collaboration of regulators and future operators facilitated a productive session that must become a recurring theme if the industry is to progress toward a commercially viable and mature state.

Uber’s Sillion says that he has gleaned substantial insight on how the UAM industry will operate since the launch of Uber Copter in NYC in July of 2019. The program transports passengers to and from popular destinations around the Manhattan area, such as JFK, for a price comparable to an Uber car during rush hour, and at a fraction of the time. Uber Copter rivals BLADE, who launched a service that includes flights to and from all NYC airports starting in May of 2019. Sillion also appeared at the two-day conference to discuss the company’s search for additional airframer partners as it continues to prepare for commercialization via the Uber Air platform (read more here).

The major takeaways from the discussion married concerns from the perspectives of the regulators and operators, as well as of the general public. It is integral to the success of the aerial mobility industry that all societal impacts are mitigated, of which noise was the most emphasized. CAA’s Head of Aerospace Jon Round explained that it is only once vehicles are in operation that the technology will be accepted, and not before. However, a prerequisite to commercial operation is sufficient design and testing iterations in order to minimize noise and hone air traffic management technologies.

Why it’s important: The progress of the aerial mobility industry hinges on continuous meetings of this nature, where productive conversation can be had regarding the largest obstacles ahead. Farnborough International was pleased to see the impact of the inaugural Global Urban Air Summit, and plans to continue with the event going forward.

Source // Farnborough International

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