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Advanced Air Mobility

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)[1][2][3] is an air transport system.

According to the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, Advanced Air Mobility is an air transportation system that transports individuals and property between points using aircraft, such as remotely piloted, autonomous, or vertical take-off and landing aircraft. This includes those powered by electric or hybrid-electric propulsion in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.[4]

AAM seeks to integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and sustainable aircraft, like electric Vertical take-off and Landing (eVTOLs) into the sovereign airspace of nations throughout the world. This requires the development of the physical infrastructure of vertiports as well as the evolution of the digital infrastructure of a highly automated framework of operations, i.e. UAS Traffic Management (UTM).[5]

Volocopter eVTOL aircraft

AAM is an overarching term that combines both Urban Air Mobility (UAM), which involves transporting persons and cargo above the traffic within a city, and Regional Air Mobility (RAM) which is focused more on connecting suburbs, villages, and small towns in the countryside as well as islands or communities separated by mountainous regions and rivers.[6][7][8] While UAM has attracted the majority of attention and investment,[9] the initial rollout of AAM operations will likely start in more remote, rural settings to minimize collateral damage in the event of a mishap. AAM includes and expands upon the principles of UAM into applications beyond the urban environment:[10]

  • Intra-city airborne transportation
  • Inter-city airborne transportation
  • Cargo delivery
  • Public services
  • Private / Recreational vehicles

In February 2020, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report[3] that expanded the scope of the developing UAM concept beyond midtown Manhattan use cases.[11] Since March 2020, UAM has been considered a key element of the broader concept known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), as defined by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).[12] Just four months later, in July 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) formally adopted the umbrella term 'Advanced Air Mobility.'[10]

According to a May 2021 market valuation by Morgan Stanley, AAM is projected to be worth $1 trillion US dollars by 2040 and up to $9 trillion a decade later.[13] However, the consulting firm Drone Industry Insights, which primarily focuses on the commercial drone market, offers a more conservative forecast of $20.8 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 22.1%.[6]

History

[edit]

Aside from the term's origin, it is not easy to pinpoint exactly when or where the spirit of Advanced Air Mobility first developed. A video depiction of a passenger-carrying eVTOL concept aircraft dubbed Puffin was shared online by NASA on November 11, 2009.[14] Several early eVTOL working prototypes garnered investment from Google co-founder Larry Page.[15] In the Fall of 2016, Uber launched the project Elevate to explore offering on-demand air transportation.[16] Three years later, "Uber Copter" services began in New York City using traditional helicopters.[17] Later, a grassroots protest called Stop the Chop demanded that non-essential helicopter flights cease because they caused excessive noise pollution and air pollution.[18]

NASA acoustic testing concluded that AAM eVTOLs are "vastly quieter than helicopters".[19] McKinsey aerospace expert Kersten Heineke noted that electric aircraft are "completely emission-free".[20] The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown in 2020 hampered growth throughout the emerging aviation market globally.[21] During the pandemic, there was a substantial increase in the number and value of investments that companies in the eVTOL and drone delivery markets received.[22]

AAM by country

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China

[edit]

In 2019, Chinese manufacturer EHang engaged in extensive passenger flight testing with autonomous eVTOLs.[23] The Civil Aviation Administration of China is currently reviewing the certification of their 'EH216-S' eVTOL aircraft model.[24] Certification is projected to be complete in January 2023 which will likely make the 'EH216-S' the first unmanned, passenger-carrying eVTOL to operate in the world.[25] As of December 19, 2022, EHang has earned an AAM Reality Index score of 8.1 making it the second most prepared eVTOL manufacturer.[26]

Chinese DJI Mavic Pro small UAS aka 'drone' flying overhead

Germany

[edit]

European multinational corporation Airbus is collaborating with the University of Stuttgart and Diehl Aerospace to engage in research for their Air Mobility Initiative.[27] In 2022, ILA Berlin hosted discussions on the future of UAS regulations.[28] The Chinese subsidiary of Volkswagen announced plans to build AAM aircraft for wealthy customers in Beijing.[29] German eVTOL manufacturers, Volocopter and Lilium Jet, rank tied for 3rd and tied for 4th in the world for the AAM Reality Index, respectively.[26] Lilium plans to build the first American vertiport outside the City of Orlando, Florida.[30][31]

Spain

[edit]

The Spanish National Academy of Police in Avila celebrated a successful public maiden flight of the 'EH216-S' by Chinese manufacturer EHang in December 2022, making Spain the first nation in the European Union to operate an eVTOL for public safety.[32] Local UAV manufacturer Umiles Next tested its prototype 'Integrity3' and demonstrated competent collision-avoidance systems as part of a U-space initiative.[33] According to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), U-space includes "all the services required to ensure [UAVs] operate effectively, safely, and securely."[34] Spanish multinational corporation Ferrovial ranks tied 2nd in the world for AAM vertiport infrastructure readiness alongside Urban-Air Port in the UK and BETA in the US.[35]

South Korea

[edit]

Supernal, a division of Hyundai Motor Group ranks tied for 9th in the world for the AAM Reality Index.[26] American multinational corporation Honeywell has agreed to integrate its 'Anthem' avionics into the Supernal flight deck.[36] MintAir along with Jaunt Air Mobility, an American-Canadian subsidiary of AIRO Group, signed an eVTOL Letter of Intent to collaborate for the "safest air taxi configuration that is operationally efficient, quiet, and sustainable," according to MintAir CEO, Eugene Choi.[37]

Brazil

[edit]

FlyBIS Aviation, a Brazilian Advanced Air Mobility start-up based out of Caxias do Sul, has teamed up with Eve Air Mobility, a division of Embraer, to ensure that mass transportation options are a "more accessible and cleaner experience", according to Co-founder Gustavo Zanettini.[38] In 2021, Eve signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Portuguese multinational corporation EDP Group to share research for optimal charging techniques.[39] Eve Air Mobility ranks 7th in the world among eVTOL manufacturers, according to the December 2022 AAM Reality Index.[26]

Switzerland

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The mission of the UAM Association Switzerland is to "accelerate the transition by connecting stakeholders and informing the public."[40] Swiss Dufour Aerospace earned an AAM Reality Index score of 5.2 for its "Aero3" aircraft.[26]

Example of aerial mapping footage from a drone over the Swiss Alps:

Aerial footage over Switzerland

Australia

[edit]

In 2022, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) set out a roadmap for the safe integration of RPAs and eVTOL aircraft among commercial aviation and recreational aviation for the next decade.[41] Victoria Economic Development Minister Tim Pallas published his Advanced Air Mobility Industry Vision Statement with plans to engage with stakeholders in 2023. Infrastructure group, Skyportz, has been selected to build Australia's first vertiport in Melbourne.[42] March 2026 is expected to bring many spectators to Victoria for the Commonwealth Games, so the state government's work to foster a supportive AAM ecosystem is critical.[43]

France

[edit]

Groupe ADP is the world's leading AAM vertiport infrastructure company with 4 locations already underway in Paris.[35] The Paris Region Advanced Air Mobility Alliance is seeking to reduce the environmental impact of mass transportation until the community reaches carbon-free aviation.[44] French multinational corporation Thales Group has agreed to integrate its custom avionics solution into the Eve Air Mobility flight deck.[45] French start-up, Ascendance Flight Technologies, shows early promise ranking at 15th in the AAM Reality Index.[26]Airbus Helicopters is also developing a flying taxi, CityAirbus NextGen, to enter into service between 2026 and 2030. The 2024 Olympic Games will present an opportunity to showcase Volocopter eVTOL air taxi flights.[46]

Sweden

[edit]

Swedish start-up Heart Aerospace is pursuing the Regional Air Mobility market with its hybrid "ES-30" aircraft and earned a modest 5.1 score in the AAM Reality Index.[26] United Airlines is both a customer and investor of Heart Aerospace, as well as Eve Air Mobility and Archer Aviation.[47]

Japan

[edit]

In Fall 2021, Honda announced its plans to enter the hybrid eVTOL market[48] and shortly thereafter Toyota decided to switch support from a local Japanese start-up to the American venture-backed company, Joby Aviation.[49] The following year, SkyDrive secured a strategic partnership with Volatus Infrastructure to develop AAM vertiports.[50] Japan and the MassDOT Aeronautics Division are the only non-European governmental bodies to commit to AAM principles as fellow UIC2 International City/Region Partners along with communities across 15 European nations.[51] In Summer 2022, Tokyo hosted the inaugural International Advanced Air Mobility Expo and according to the President of Rolls-Royce Japan, Susumu Kaminaga, AAM provides "some really interesting opportunities for passengers to travel more freely."[52] Soon Japan will host the World Expo 2025 in Osaka and plans to orchestrate nearly 30,000 eVTOL air taxi flights to accommodate the incredible influx of international tourists.[43]

Canada

[edit]

Canadian simulation technology company CAE Inc. and Volocopter forged a strategic partnership to produce the world's first AAM pilot training curriculum.[53] In just a few years Canada will jointly host the World Cup 2026 with tens of thousands of football hooligans descending upon stadiums in Vancouver and Toronto so having AAM solutions in place beforehand is ideal.[43]

United Arab Emirates

[edit]

Construction will begin in Dubai in 2023 by Canadian vertiport infrastructure group,VPorts, for an Advanced Air Mobility Integrator Center.[54] The first of its kind, the 'Integrator Center' will facilitate testing for new eVTOL aircraft.[55]

United Kingdom

[edit]

Vertical Aerospace is the top British eVTOL manufacturer with an AAM Reality Index score of 7.2, tied for the 8th position globally.[26] Virgin Atlantic along with Cranfield University and other partners from industry and academia, have created the Advanced Mobility Ecosystem Consortium and earned a £9.5m grant by the UK's Future Flight Challenge.[56] According to the World Economic Forum, the world's first operational vertiport opened in April 2022 in Coventry called Air-One.[57]

United States

[edit]

Before the end of 2020, Joby Aviation acquired the rights to project Elevate[58] and in August 2021, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange.[59] In 2022, Joby set a new eVTOL speed record,[60] had a prototype crash in rural California,[61] achieved an FAA Part 135 air service certification,[62] and signed Delta Air Lines as both investor and strategic partner.[63] As of 2024, Joby is tied with Beta Technologies and Volocopter with an industry leading AAM Reality Index score of 8.0,[64] followed by Archer Aviation (ARI 7.9), Wisk Aero (ARI 7.4), Pipistrel (ARI 7.2) to round out the top ten best eVTOL manufacturers in the world for likelihood to reach operational service.[26] The FAA plans to outline its path to fully operational air taxis before Summer 2023.[65]

The City of Los Angeles (LA) hopes to be a model for other communities moving forward with the publication of a report, Integrating Advanced Air Mobility: A Primer for Cities, with lessons learned from the recent past and careful considerations for the near future.[66] LA will host the 2028 Olympic Games and global expectations will be at its highest to provide safe, quick, affordable, and sustainable transportation and comprehensive Advanced Air Mobility public services to residents and visitors alike.[43]

The 117th Congress debated Bill 516, Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.[67]

In November 2023, Volocopter and Joby Aviation tested their respective eVTOLs in New York City, from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport.

Stakeholders

[edit]

This section lists relevant companies by targeted market segment within the Advanced Air Mobility aviation ecosystem.

Intra-city airborne transportation

[edit]

Note: For an in-depth look at various VTOL aircraft power sources, propulsion, and flight controls, See Urban Air Mobility.

Inter-city airborne transportation

[edit]

Note: While Urban and Suburban Air Mobility utilize eVTOL aircraft within a greater metropolitan area, Rural and Regional Air Mobility utilize electric Short Take Off and Landing eSTOL aircraft because they are better suited for longer duration flights between cities and remote destinations.

Cargo delivery

[edit]

Public services

[edit]
  • Fire Fighting[70] ex. Scalable Traffic management for Emergency Response Operations (STEReO)[71]
  • Search & Rescue ex. FEMA and Homeland Security[72]
  • Air Ambulance[73] ex. Airborne Motor Works[74]
  • Power Line Inspection ex. Xcel Energy[75]
  • Vaccine Delivery ex. the Indian subsidiary of Honeywell led a successful trial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Safety Testing ex. Native American Choctaw Nation BEYOND Program[76]

Private / Recreational vehicles

[edit]

Note: 'Last mile' Passenger Air Vehicles aka Personal Air Vehicles (PAVs) is a long-term goal of AAM intended to offer even greater convenience than the modern private car. PAVs will be highly automated and simple to operate, unlike flying general aviation today, which requires extensive training time and money to earn a pilot's license and an ongoing investment to maintain currency.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Advanced Air Mobility Institute. https://aaminstitute.org/mission
  2. ^ Gipson, Lillian (January 27, 2021). "Advanced Air Mobility Mission Overview". NASA.
  3. ^ a b “Advancing Aerial Mobility: A National Blueprint” National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 2020.
  4. ^ "Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act". congress.gov. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  5. ^ Gipson, Lillian (31 August 2018). "UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Project". NASA. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Alvarado, Ed (2023-02-03). "The Vision of Advanced Air Mobility: eVTOLs, Drone Delivery, Vertipots and UTM". Drone Industry Insights.
  7. ^ “Urban Air Mobility and Advanced Air Mobility”. Federal Aviation Administration. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  8. ^ “Regional Air Mobility: Leveraging our National investments to energize the American Travel Experience”. NASA. April 2021.
  9. ^ "Urban Air Mobility" (PDF). NASA. November 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Urban Air Mobility and Advanced Air Mobility". Federal Aviation Administration. United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  11. ^ Banke, Jim (23 March 2020). “One Word Change Expands NASA's Visions for Future Airspace Mobility” NASA. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. ^ Hill, Brian (2 December 2020). “UAM Vision Concept of Operations (ConOps) UAM Maturity Level (UML) 4”. NASA Technical Reports Server. NASA. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  13. ^ eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility TAM Update: A Slow Take-Off, But Sky's the Limit Morgan Stanley Research. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023
  14. ^ NASA Puffin Low Noise, Electric VTOL Personal Air Vehicle. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Larry Page is quietly amassing a 'flying car' empire". The Verge. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Fast-Forwarding to a Future of On-Demand Urban Air Transportation". Uber Elevate (27 October 2016). Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  17. ^ Vora, Shivani (2019-06-05). "Uber Copter to Offer Flights From Lower Manhattan to J.F.K." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Home". Stop The Chop NY NJ.
  19. ^ "NASA acoustic testing puts real numbers on Joby's eVTOL noise signature". New Atlas. May 11, 2022.
  20. ^ The future of air mobility: Electric aircraft and flying taxis McKinsey&Company. November 2021
  21. ^ "Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2035)". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). 13 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Drone News 2021: Lessons for 2022 | Drone Industry Insights". 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  23. ^ Hader, Manfred (7 January 2020). “EHang implements its vision of UAM by setting up a test center in Guangzhou” Roland Berger. They were retrieved on 28 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Advanced Air Mobility Industry Expanding Rapidly In China | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com.
  25. ^ "EHang Climbs To No. 2 On AAM Reality Index | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i Index, Advanced Air Mobility Reality. "Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index December 2022 Release". Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index.
  27. ^ Rogers, David (May 5, 2022). "Airbus led advanced air mobility initiative in Germany".
  28. ^ "dvanced Air Mobility. A New Era of Transportation". ILA Berlin.
  29. ^ Alcock, Charles (July 27, 2022). "VW Becomes Latest Carmaker To Enter Advanced Air Mobility Market with eVTOL Aircraft Plans". FutureFlight.
  30. ^ Mark, Rob (December 8, 2020). "Lilium's Electric Air Taxi Will Build First US Vertiport in Orlando".
  31. ^ "Electric jet aims for Lake Nona as the nation's 1st 'vertiport' for flying taxi service". Orlando Sentinel.
  32. ^ "EHang AAV Begins Trial Operations for Spanish National Police". December 16, 2022.
  33. ^ Welsh, Jonathan (November 3, 2022). "Umiles Next Begins Flight-Testing eVTOL Air Taxi's Autonomous Systems".
  34. ^ Butterworth-Hayes, Philip; Butterworth-Hayes, Philip (October 22, 2022). "EASA provides new overview of U-space services and concept".
  35. ^ a b "Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index".
  36. ^ "Honeywell to supply Hyundai's Supernal with Anthem avionics". 18 October 2022.
  37. ^ "MintAir and Jaunt Air Mobility Form Strategic Partnership and Sign eVTOL Letter of Intent for South Korean Advanced Air Mobility Market" (Press release). 29 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Eve Partners with Brazil's FlyBIS to Develop AAM in South America". 12 December 2022.
  39. ^ "BNamericas - Develop your Latin America business".
  40. ^ "UAMAS – Urban Air Mobility Association Switzerland".
  41. ^ "The RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap" (PDF). Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
  42. ^ "Victoria Seeks Advanced Air Mobility Leadership Role in Australia".
  43. ^ a b c d "Flying Taxis: Beyond Paris, Onwards to L.A (Part 4) - eVTOL Insights". 12 July 2022.
  44. ^ "Paris Region Advanced Air Mobility Alliance".
  45. ^ "Embraer's Eve Air Mobility Partners with Thales". 21 April 2022.
  46. ^ "Quiet eVTOL Flights Will be the Benchmark for Olympic Gold at Paris 2024 Games".
  47. ^ "United adds Eve Mobility as AAM partner in multimillion-dollar deal". 8 September 2022.
  48. ^ "Honda announces plans for hybrid eVTOL aircraft". www.compositesworld.com. 6 October 2021.
  49. ^ "Air mobility startup highlights Toyota's venture strategy". 30 September 2021.
  50. ^ "SkyDrive, Volatus Partner on Vertiport Infrastructure | Aviation Week Network".
  51. ^ "MassDOT Aeronautics Division joins UIC2 and supports the UIC2 Manifesto on the Multilevel Governance of the Urban Sky | Smart Cities Marketplace".
  52. ^ "Japan's Advanced Air Mobility future".
  53. ^ "CAE Develops AAM Mixed-reality Trainer".
  54. ^ "Dubai Advanced Air Mobility 'Integrator Center' Will Support eVTOL Aircraft Operations in the UAE".
  55. ^ "Dubai to house world's first advanced air mobility integrator centre for flying cars".
  56. ^ "Advanced air mobility ecosystem launched in the UK - Aerospace Manufacturing". 18 July 2022.
  57. ^ "The world's first airport for flying cars and drones has just landed". 28 April 2022.
  58. ^ Brian Garrett-Glaser (December 8, 2020). "It's official: Joby Aviation acquires Uber Elevate, including $75 million in new funding". eVTOL.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  59. ^ Bogaisky, Jeremy. "Electric Air Taxi Maker Joby Goes Public, Offering Investors Sky-High Potential—And Risk". Forbes. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  60. ^ Blain, Loz (2022-01-24). "Joby S4 hits 205 mph, flying further and faster than any eVTOL to date". New Atlas. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  61. ^ Thom Patterson (February 17, 2022). "Joby Aviation eVTOL Test Aircraft Goes Down During Flight". Flying magazine.
  62. ^ O'Connor, Kate (26 May 2022). "Joby Receives Part 135 Certificate". AVweb.
  63. ^ "Delta, Joby Aviation Partner to Launch Home-to-Airport eVTOL Shuttle". 11 October 2022.
  64. ^ "Four-Way Tie in AAM Reality Index as Volocopter Slides from First | Aviation Week Network".
  65. ^ FAA Plans to lay out its plans for air taxi operations by May 2023 (30 November 2022). EVTOL Insights
  66. ^ "Publications". Urban Movement Labs.
  67. ^ "S.516 - Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act". congress.gov.[permanent dead link]
  68. ^ "Wake Forest Baptist Health, iQ Healthtech™ Labs Launch Drone Delivery Service with UPS Flight Forward".
  69. ^ "Amazon reveals the new design for Prime Air's delivery drone". 11 November 2022.
  70. ^ "White House summit". Federal Aviation Administration.
  71. ^ "At California Blazes, NASA Team Observes How Drones Fight Wildfire". 9 October 2021.
  72. ^ "Snapshot: First Responders Assess Drones for Search and Rescue Missions | Homeland Security".
  73. ^ "Advanced Air Mobility for Healthcare". 22 February 2022.
  74. ^ "Autonomous Air Ambulance". Airborne Motor Works.
  75. ^ "Xcel Energy uses drones to inspect power lines in eight states". 21 August 2019.
  76. ^ "Home". Advanced Technology Initiatives Program.
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