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 defined as 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 both 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

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] A number of early eVTOL working prototypes garnered investment from Google co-founder Larry Page. [15] In Fall 2016, Uber launched 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

China

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 betting on the success of AAM as both a major customer and investor of Heart Aerospace, as well as Eve Air Mobility and Archer Aviation. [47]

Japan

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

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

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

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 key 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

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] 2022 was an eventful year for Joby with a new eVTOL speed record, [60] A prototype crash in rural California, [61] achieving a milestone FAA Part 135 air service certification, [62] and securing another major investor and strategic partner in Delta Air Lines. [63] 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

Due to the broad nature of the Advanced Air Mobility aviation ecosystem, it seems easiest to organize the key players by the market segment they will primarily support. However, there will undoubtedly be overlap in practice.

Intra-city airborne transportation

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

Inter-city airborne transportation

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

Public services.

  • 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

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

References

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