Eco-Aviation Foundation International

It's a bird...it's a plane...no, it's an air taxi and it's coming in to land soon, prompting cities across the United States to get ready for airborne urban travel. Nobody yet knows exactly what an air taxi even is, how it might look or who will get to use it, but cities know it's on the way and want to be ready for takeoff. None of the small, electric aircraft in development has yet won full U.S. regulatory approval, but the process is underway, with some companies vying to fly as early as next year. "This is coming sooner than a lot of people think," said Jacques Coulon, mobility innovation manager for the city of Orlando in Florida.

We take a look at how cyber and physical security might play out in the eVTOL landscape. As the advanced air mobility (AAM) era approaches, cybersecurity is critical — as important as making sure eVTOL aircraft themselves are safe to fly. The threat of cyber attack to aviation and other types of critical infrastructure can come from any source — domestic or foreign. There’s been significant recognition in the U.S. of the importance of cybersecurity since the 2021 cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest oil pipelines in the country. The hack (ransomware) was considered a national security threat, and “the federal administration was quick at reacting,” said Gaël Le Bris, vice president of aviation planning and senior technical principal at global engineering firm WSP. He also chairs the Transportation Research Board’s standing committee on aviation safety, security and emergency management.

From The Jetsons to Back to the Future to The Fifth Element, flying cars have always been the stuff of science fiction, but they might be soaring through Florida’s skies sooner than you think. The state has become a hotbed for flying car companies who view it as an appealing location for their emerging industry. We’re talking about eVTOLs, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. The nascent beginnings of an air taxi industry using eVTOLs (pronounced EE-vee-tolls) are starting to take shape on the drawing boards of Florida startups, and Florida’s airports are factoring them into their long-term plans. Before too long, small electric aircraft could be whisking passengers between airports and local destinations, zipping above earthbound traffic. Some eVTOL companies talk of getting off the ground as early as 2025, although the industry consensus seems to be that flying taxis for paying passengers are probably three or four years away, depending on who you ask. In any case, flights will begin once there’s a green light from the federal government, and the future market for eVTOLs in the U.S. could reach $17 billion a year by 2040, according to a Deloitte study of this evolving industry. Meanwhile, state and federal government regulators are starting to grapple with how all of this will actually work in the real world, and the eVTOL industry’s backers are well aware that they’re going to have to win the confidence of consumers on both safety and cost.

AFWERX will spotlight efforts to safely integrate Advanced Air Mobility into the national airspace system during the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International XPONENTIAL 2024 convention April 22-25, 2024, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force’s innovation arm, has worked with other federal agencies to address the technical, policy and regulatory challenges associated with fielding a new category of aircraft while also building the industrial base necessary to support it. “As the Department of Defense expedites the fielding of autonomous aircraft and systems, it is critical to focus on airspace modernization to scale...

AutoFlight has delivered its first Prosperity aircraft to a customer in Japan, marking the inaugural delivery of a civilian ton-class eVTOL aircraft. The five-seater Prosperity aircraft was handed over to the customer, a pioneering Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operator in Japan. The operator is currently developing plans for demonstration eVTOL flights at the 2025 Osaka World Expo, as well as a wider AAM rollout in Japan. In another recent milestone for the eVTOL innovator, AutoFlight’s CarryAll aircraft, the cargo variant of Prosperity, obtained Type Certification (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on 22 March 2024. This marks the world’s first eVTOL aircraft above one ton to have been awarded type certification…

Renowned post-modern Dutch architect and urban theorist Rem Koolhaas once said that “infrastructure is much more important than architecture.” When it comes to vertiports, his words ring true. Images abound of sparkly new vertiport designs, with passengers happily climbing aboard electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles from attractive and efficient facilities. But unless these vertiports have the necessary electrical and digital infrastructure, they are unlikely to fulfil the promise of the new urban air mobility (UAM) revolution. “A vertiport’s digital and electrical infrastructure will differ significantly from that of a small airport due to the unique characteristics of VTOL operations,” explained Amit Ganjoo, founder and CEO of Washington DC-based ANRA Technologies, which has developed a vertiport management system (VMS)...

Advanced Air Mobility is an emerging aviation concept that will use new types of aircraft and technology, such as electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically. Before new aircraft can be used, the FAA needs to certify the designs and regulate how they are operated. In the near term, the FAA plans to use a combination of existing requirements—like air traffic control procedures—and temporary rules to ensure safe operations…

The new issue is FREE to read online What’s inside: INFRASTRUCTURE: Charging requirements and how suppliers intend to meet them PLANNING: How to rule out risk at every stage of your vertiports project DRONES: A ground-breaking UK project that will pave the way for eVTOLs DESIGN: What eVTOL developers want – and need – from vertiports SECURITY: Keeping passengers safe without compromising the premium vertiport experience SUSTAINABILITY: How developers are innovating to deliver truly environmentally friendly infrastructure And much, much more …

Researchers from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University are conducting a systematic evaluation of the impact of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vehicles, such as air taxis and autonomous air delivery aircraft, on airport operations at Orlando International Airport. The project, which uses advanced simulation modeling, is a collaboration between the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which operates and manages Orlando International Airport; Embry‑Riddle’s College of Aviation; and the university’s Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems (CARS). The study will consider how to increase safety and air traffic flow efficiency with the integration of AAM aircraft into existing airport operations. “Through this research, Embry‑Riddle and GOAA aim to stay at the forefront of aviation innovation and to provide valuable insights for policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders regarding the future of aerial transportation,” said Dr. Victor Fraticelli Rivera and Dr. Robert Thomas, assistant professors of Aeronautical Science, in a joint statement. The collaboration with Embry‑Riddle, renowned for its aviation and aerospace higher education and research, is part of GOAA’s positioning as a leader in the adoption of AAM operations and as an AAM hub. “Our partnership with Embry‑Riddle symbolizes a commitment to solidify Florida as the leader in this emerging technology,” said Kevin J. Thibault, CEO of GOAA. “By using modeling software to explore how AAM vehicles may impact airport operations, along with learning more about how to integrate AAM into controlled airspace, we will be better prepared to begin testing for real-world scenarios.” The project will involve graduate students trained in the latest simulation modeling software and the technical support of CARS and its director of operations, Carlos Castro-Peña. Results of the project will be delivered to GOAA by the end of...

Only $410,000 for Ehang’s EH216-S pilotless passenger-carrying electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Telefónica Tech has announced an alliance with China’s Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Vehicles (eVTOL) company EHang which is launching its EH216-S model to the world on 1 April. The two companies are looking at what they dub the “low-altitude economy” and the vehicles would be used for the transport of passengers and cargo without a pilot on board in both Europe and Latin America.  Naturally, visitors to Mobile World Congress (MWC) can check out the partners. EHang has chosen Telefónica Tech’s connectivity capabilities (5G and private networks) to enhance the security and efficiency of this type of mobility in both regions, and to continue expanding and exporting its smart solutions with unmanned aerial vehicles.  Both companies intend to implement use cases in Europe and Latin America around air mobility and solutions in areas as diverse as passenger transport, logistics, health services, emergency response and smart cities management. The “low-altitude economy” will no doubt spawn a new “low-altitude insurance sector”.   Telefónica and EHang will also collaborate on drone light shows with swarms of drones to digitalise and increase the sustainability of large-scale shows and events. The two companies have set out to develop connectivity solutions based on 5G mobile networks for the safe and efficient integration of drones and eVTOL aircraft with digital unmanned air traffic management systems (UTM and U-Space). Both companies rely on Telefónica Tech’s TheThinX laboratory and EHang’s Urban Air Mobility Centre in Europe, located in Spain.  5G does the work  Telefónica Tech believes 5G mobile networks have the capacity to guarantee reliable communications, low latency and high data transmission capacity...

FLYING taxis will no longer be a faraway concept but a reality in a holiday hotspot much loved by Brits. A Californian company has signed a deal with Dubai which could see tourists ferried across the UAE city by flying taxi from next year. The luxury means of travel will involve paying passengers booking their desired trip through an app and waiting at "vertiports", similar to today's airports, for a propeller-powered taxi to pick them up. Each VTOL aircraft will be able to carry four passengers and one pilot. Travelling at speeds of up to 198 miles per hour, customers will enjoy a unique view of Dubai while making their way to their destinations. According to Joby Aviation, the US company behind the all-electric aircraft, a flight from Dubai Airport to the glitzy tree-shaped island of Palm Jumeirah will take just 10 minutes by air taxi. By car, the same journey would take 45 minutes. Joby has signed a deal with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to launch air taxi operations in the UAE by early 2026, with its first service in 2025. The agreement gives the company exclusive rights to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years. Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation JoeBen Bevirt said it was an honour to partner with Dubai's government to demonstrate the value of sustainable air travel to the world. He said: "We're looking forward to delivering an incredible experience for residents and visitors to Dubai as early as 2025 and we're excited to be laying the groundwork for the expansion of our service across the wider UAE." The unique aircraft takes...

An electric aircraft start-up company has announced it will begin the development of infrastructure at Santa Monica Municipal Airport Archer Aviation, an electric aircraft start-up company, has announced a partnership with Atlantic Aviation and together the two companies will begin the development of electric aircraft infrastructure at Atlantic’s existing assets, including Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO). San Jose-based Archer has been developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft since 2018 and Texas-based Atlantic is a leading fixed-base operator (FBO) network and aviation services provider. With their combined resources, they aim to establish an air taxi service that utilizes existing assets at specific locations. Early launch markets will focus on highly congested cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Miami. Atlantic and Archer anticipate launch of service across these initial locations in 2025 and subsequent expansion of services to other locations across Atlantic’s portfolio as availability of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft increases. “We’re building a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot plus a little bit of luggage and it’s 100% all-electric,” Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer at Archer Aviation says. “It can take off vertically, like a helicopter, but then it flies forward on a wing, just like a normal airplane. The reason that’s really important is that helicopters are very loud and they’re tremendously expensive. The aircraft we’re building, they’re 100 times quieter than helicopters,” he added. “They’re fully redundant, meaning there’s no part on the aircraft that if it were to fail would cause the flight to fail. And so that allows it to be much safer than a helicopter. And it’s very affordable. So a flight from Santa Monica to Malibu...

An agreement between Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Skyports and Joby gives the former exclusive rights to build and operate vertiports in Dubai, and the latter the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years. The partnership could see services start as early as next year, making Dubai the first place to host a commercial, city-wide electric air taxi service. Under the agreement with Dubai’s RTA, Joby will manufacture, certify and operate eVTOL air taxis in Dubai. Skyports will design, construct, own and operate the vertiports used by Joby’s eVTOLs across the Emirate, while RTA will oversee and regulate the air taxi service. Joby’s five-seat battery-electric eVTOL aircraft can carry four passengers at speeds of up to 200mph (320km/h), and has a range of 150 miles (240 km). The California, USA-based company started piloted flight tests in October 2023. Joby is one of the furthest forward eVTOL aircraft developers, with the company’s aircraft being certified in the USA under regulator FAA’s Part 21-17B. The first Joby eVTOL aircraft are being built in Marina, California, which is increasing production capacity from 4 to up to 50 aircraft a year. The firm is also building a larger factory in Dayton, Ohio capable of manufacturing up to 500 aircraft a year that is expected to open in 2025. Joby has established a company in Dubai and plans to recruit locally for its operational team. The company will also consider localization of other global business activities in Dubai and across the region. JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder, Joby Aviation said, “Today’s landmark agreement delivers on all three...

Join Museum of Flying and Eco-Aviation Foundation for an in-person presentation by Miles Rogers, SVP of Marketing for Archer Aviation. Rogers will share about the fascinating world of electric air taxis and urban aerial mobility. Discover how these innovative technologies are shaping the future of transportation and revolutionizing the way we move around cities. The Aviation Innovation Series is a monthly lecture series hosted by Museum of Flying offering opportunities for aviation professionals and businesses to provide insight into the development of sustainable aircraft systems and technology, including EVTOL, VTOL, hydrogen electric aircraft, and carbon-free flying. RSVP today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-the-future-of-electric-vertical-aircraft-and-urban-aerial-mobility-tickets-820418873937?aff=oddtdtcreator

This lays the foundation for both electric aerial vehicle makers to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul services. Two eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi companies have received federal authorization to perform selective maintenance activities on their flying vehicles. Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation both received Part 145 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which lays the foundation for both electric aerial vehicle (EAV) makers to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul services on the flying taxis once they are certified for commercial operations. Archer and Joby are among the major flying taxi firms globally. “This is a major vote of confidence from the FAA on Archer’s promise and potential for operating a full-scale urban air mobility service in cities across the country,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “As we continue to rapidly advance towards commercial operations, we will be working closely with the FAA and regulators around the world to ensure Archer’s aircraft are safe and ready to transform mobility, providing a sustainable, low noise and cost-competitive alternative to decongest our biggest cities.” Archer recently started construction of the first three of its flying taxi vehicles to be used for the federal approval process. The company is set to begin final assembly for the piloted EAVs, which are aimed at flight testing and subsequent uses in “for credit” flight testing with the FAA.Joby’s air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers and travel at speeds of up to 200 mph. There also are smaller EAVs being developed, such as those by Volocopter in Germany and EHang in China, both of which are designed to carry one or two people. In the case of EHang, the EAV is designed to fly pilotless.

Supernal has returned to the biggest consumer electronics show to unveil its latest pilot-plus-four concept, which will fly low altitude for up to 40 mile trips. The Hyundai business has drawn on automotive design. Hyundai Motor Group's Advanced Air Mobility business Supernal has unveiled S-A2, its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle product concept at CES 2024. The pilot-plus-four-passenger vehicle marks the latest milestone in Supernal's roadmap to commercialize safe, efficient and affordable everyday passenger air travel. S-A2 builds on the company's vision concept, S-A1, which it debuted at CES 2020, bringing together the innovative aerospace engineering and Hyundai Motor Group automotive aesthetic design to create a new mode of transportation to get people in urban areas from point A to point B faster. Supernal will achieve commercial aviation safety levels and enable affordable manufacturing of its vehicles as it prepares to enter the market in 2028. "From the beginning, Supernal has been on a mission to create the right product and the right market at the right time," says Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. "The unveiling of S-A2 demonstrates our unwavering commitment to deliver on that mission with a safe, efficient vehicle design that provides a clear path to market entry. By leveraging our talented 600-person team, the vast technical and business capabilities of Hyundai Motor Group and trusted aviation suppliers around the world, Supernal is ready to deliver a new era of flight." S-A2 is a V-tail aircraft designed to cruise 120 miles-per-hour at a 1,500-foot altitude to meet typical city operation needs of 25- to 40-mile trips, initially. It features a distributed electric propulsion architecture and has eight all-tilting rotors. At entry into service, Supernal's vehicle will operate as quietly as a dishwasher: 65 dB in vertical take-off and landing phases...

The AFWERX Agility Prime program, launched by the Air Force in April 2020, is partnering with the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) commercial industry to develop a new class of air mobility systems. The program aims to test and accelerate the development of eVTOL aircraft, which can move people and things around in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. One of the challenges of eVTOL aircraft is the battery management. To address this, the program recently received a demonstration of a mobile battery care station developed by Arctech Charge, a Utah-based company. The station, which was specifically designed to support eVTOL aircraft testing and operations, can provide fast and safe charging for up to 36 batteries at a time. The station’s battery charging bays are climate controlled and can offer two battery care profiles: one for extending battery life cycles and one for charging as quickly and safely as possible. Manti Gleason, the co-founder/CEO of Arctech Charge, said they focused on “mobility and safety” when developing the battery charging station, which is something the Agility Prime program managers insisted on with the project. “We can either prioritize faster battery turnover or focus on longevity for our battery fleet,” he said. “Our battery care profiles use dynamic charging to optimize the battery’s charge condition, ensuring that it meets mission operational needs while also extending its lifespan.” The station’s ability to provide optimal care for each battery will reduce the need for frequent battery replacements, which has the potential to save time and money for end users.

Korean auto giant focused on developing advanced air mobility with US unit Supernal. Flying cars have long been a fixture in science fiction movies. For Hyundai Motor Group, the vision of vehicles flying in the air is not just a whimsical idea anymore as the Korean auto giant appears determined to make them a reality in the near future. Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s US-based advanced air mobility company, is gearing up to showcase the life-size concept model of its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, at CES 2024 to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Jan. 9 to 12. The AAM firm will present its vision and strategies at the world’s largest tech exhibition. Supernal is also building a vertiport exhibition outside the convention venue to offer visitors a chance to experience what it is like to ride the urban air mobility. Rooted in the word heliport, the term vertiport refers to an area built for eVTOL’s takeoff and landing. Supernal will present its vision and strategy to establish the ecosystem for AAM at CES including the operation of the eVTOL and potential flight networks and reveal which roles Hyundai Motor Group will play in its future road map.

A Utah group wants a futuristic system of air taxis to serve Beehive State residents and visitors sooner than you might think. Before Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, Apollo 11′s lightweight shock-absorbing footpads made their mark in history. Now, the company that made those footpads is looking to take another big leap in the next frontier of air travel. Hexcel announced Thursday its partnership with Utah aerospace industry association 47G and dozens of Beehive State-based technology companies to construct “air taxis” — lightweight “vertical takeoff” vehicles that would fly residents and visitors across the Wasatch Front.

If the technology takes off, city officials will need to step into the world of aviation rules to ensure safety and limit environmental impact. A new report from the Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center outlines some of the steps that aviation agencies and urban planners will need to take to plan for ‘advanced air mobility’ such as air taxis and delivery craft. Writing in Smart Cities Dive, Dan Zukowski notes that “The Federal Aviation Administration published guidelines for the operation of air taxis in the nation’s airspace last year, expecting growth to accelerate beginning in 2028.” Air taxis are “electrically powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter” that supporters say could ease traffic congestion and offer a new, sustainable transportation mode. Many local governments shy away from aviation regulation, but if air taxis become safe and viable, city planners will need to pay close attention. “One area for collaboration is planning future development near vertiports. Aircraft will need approach and departure paths, and a tall building erected near a vertiport could affect flight operations.” Cities will need to update zoning ordinances to regulate where vertiports can be located, how the services would impact neighborhoods, flight times, and connections to existing transit and key destinations. “The report concludes that the public sector will need to understand public perceptions of advanced air mobility deployments, develop zoning provisions, evaluate demonstrations and early operations and prioritize stakeholder and community engagement.”

Two Joby pre-production EAVs have flown more than 1,500 flights over a distance totaling 33,000 miles. Flying taxi company Joby Aviation has completed flight tests with its pre-production electric aerial vehicle (EAV). The EAV maker now moves to flight testing with its production prototype flying vehicle as it prepares testing for credit by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Two Joby pre-production EAVs have flown more than 1,500 flights over a distance totaling 33,000 miles, with more than 100 flights with a pilot onboard. One of the pre-production vehicles conducted an exhibition flight from the Manhattan Downtown Heliport over the Hudson River in New York City late last year.

In an interview to ET Infra, Amit Dutta, Managing Director, Hunch Mobility, outlined that as and when eVTOL aircraft start services in the country, their operations will result in disruption in terms of bringing fares down, similar to what was observed in the telecom industry when entry of Reliance Infocomm led to fall in mobile tariffs.

About an hour’s drive from the company’s headquarters in Guangzhou, China, sits a test site for Ehang’s autonomous aerial vehicles. Perched on the tarmac during CNBC’s visit was the company’s fully autonomous, two-seater air taxi. “This is our EH216 model, and it is positioned for short-distance transportation or sightseeing in the city,” said Dong Wang, Ehang’s vice president of technical research and development. His interview with “CNBC Tech: The Edge” has been translated into English from Mandarin. In October 2023, Ehang announced the EH216-S AAV had secured a “type certificate” from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the country’s equivalent to the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States — a certification Wang said is a world first. “The operation is fully automated. Its scheduling system runs on the server, so its route is automatically loaded, and then it carries out a completely automated route flight.” The aircraft will cost $410,000 overseas, with a reduced price tag of 2.39 million yuan in China, equal to about $330,000.

Manufacturers Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Wisk Aero are among the firms using the agency’s Overflow technology. Whether you love them, hate them, or are in the process of building them, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis have a key hurdle to overcome: noise. Air taxi manufacturers are turning to NASA for assistance. According to the space agency, “several” eVTOL companies are deploying a NASA computer program to model their future operations and the noise they will produce. The program, called Overflow, was developed in the 1990s. But NASA tells FLYING it has made “significant improvements” to its code to improve its usefulness for the industry. The code is publicly available for download. Manufacturers developing technology related to NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Mission—which explores passenger transport, cargo delivery, public service, and other applications for eVTOL designs—are being granted an early look at how their propellers, wings, and other components may perform in action.

IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced that Joby Aviation, the leading manufacturer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial air taxi services, has selected the IFS Cloud for Aviation Maintenance solution for its pioneering eVTOL aircraft maintenance processes. Joby continues to lead the way on the development of eVTOL aircraft, launching production in June 2023 and recently completing a series of piloted test flights, including an exhibition flight in New York City. Joby’s all-electric aircraft has a maximum range of 100 miles and can carry a pilot and four passengers, giving it unparalleled flexibility to serve communities worldwide. Joby plans to start commercial operations in 2025, as it continues its progression from prototype to a fully operational fleet...

Costa Rica is set to lead Latin America in the adoption of electric air mobility, introducing a sustainable, efficient, and innovative mode of transportation for both passengers and cargo. This shift was highlighted through a demonstration flight in Guanacaste, signaling a move towards more eco-friendly transportation methods in the region. Bluenest by Globalvia, the innovation arm of the Globalvia Group, which specializes in transportation infrastructure management, has formed a partnership with Guanacaste Airport, operated by VINCI Airports, and Reserva Conchal, the hospitality division of FIFCO, to spearhead Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Latin America. This initiative reflects Costa Rica’s commitment to sustainable transport technologies, with a focus on electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), noted for their zero CO2 emissions and reduced noise levels...

Augusta Regional Airport and SRNL announced a new partnership and a plan was announced to offer air taxi services in Augusta in the next few years. During a press conference Thursday at the Georgia Cyber Center, the Augusta Regional Airport and the Savannah River National Lab announced a new partnership centered around emerging aerospace technologies. Once implemented, the two organizations will participate jointly in various research and resource initiatives, including funding opportunities for projects and joint utilization of facilities and airspace. "I commend the airport team for their forward-thinking partnership with the SRNL," said Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson. "They continue to move Augusta and the CSRA forward in our sustainability efforts, both on the roadways and now in our airways. We look forward to future innovations and sustainability benefits that will evolve through this partnership."...

Autonomous flying taxis carrying passengers are expected to be winging their way across the skies above the greater Houston area within the next several years, as the result of a partnership between advanced air mobility (AAM) company Wisk and the city of Sugar Land, Texas. Under their agreement, Wisk and Sugar Land will work jointly to identify and assess a location at the Sugar Land Regional Airport to develop a vertiport for Wisk’s autonomous air taxi operations. Preliminary plans call for Wisk to establish a base of operations for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft by the end of this decade...

Drone and air taxi operations are scaling up across the globe. A MITRE-developed predictive capability will help safeguard these vehicles from a key hazard—the effects of microscale turbulence and other wind conditions. Imagine hopping on an electric air taxi to travel across town or having your pharmacy purchase delivered by drone. Plans for that future are well underway. But to enable it, factors affecting the safety of these and other advanced air mobility (AAM) operations must be understood. Key among them is the effect of extremely localized—or microscale—weather. In other words, what low-lying weather conditions could be dangerous for AAM vehicles as they take off and land near or within urban areas? Could a strong gust of wind push a vehicle into the side of a building? Could a small eddy force an air taxi to the ground? MITRE research is shedding light on this critical issue. ILLUMINATING MICROWEATHER’S COMPLEXITIES In traditional aviation, turbulence and wind shear—or the sudden variation of wind velocity or direction—are often contributing causes of accidents. “The same dangers lurk in the AAM arena, but they can be harder to predict and assess than at higher altitudes, where traditional aircraft fly,” says Mike Robinson, who leads MITRE’s portfolio of microweather research for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)...

Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports) has signed an agreement to develop the UK’s first vertiport testbed at Bicester Motion, Oxfordshire, the 444-acre estate dedicated to pioneering mobility technology, past, present and future. The new vertiport, which will include a compact 160 sq m passenger terminal, will be a critical facility for testing ground infrastructure and flight operations and will play a significant role in enabling the next generation of electric, low noise aviation in the UK...