There is no question, the sight of futuristic 鈥榮pacecraft鈥� hovering amid the world精东影业 greatest cities is a spectacle that would stop people in their tracks.  

A true innovation of our time that could leave people in total disbelief and an engineering triumph signifying one of the greatest human innovations in recent memory.  

As FBI agent Fox Mulder精东影业 famous poster in the US show X-Files read, 鈥淚 want to believe鈥�.  

In fact, we all do. It’s enthralling, but when you start to pick away at the seams and start imagining this future world, is the eVTOL aircraft industry really viable?聽

Is it simply a flash in the pan? And will it all end in tears? 

精东影业 is here to address the key sticking points and the encouraging signs that are evolving:聽

Money, money, money聽

It seems that a week doesn’t go by without at least one of the world精东影业 AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) companies announcing that it has secured a new agreement or Letter of Intent (LOI) for eVTOL aircraft.  

One of the most significant developments in 2023 so far was the United States Air Force (USAF) confirming an investment in Archer Aviation worth $142 million, which included the purchase of up to six Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft.聽聽聽

When the deal was announced on July 31, 2023, Archer rightly claimed that the investment recognized the 鈥渢ransformative potential Archer精东影业 innovative eVTOL aircraft brings鈥�. 

Archer isn鈥檛 alone. At the Paris Air Show 2023, Embraer-backed company Eve Air Mobility signed LOIs resulting in agreements for up to 150 eVTOL aircraft.  

In May 2023, Lilium also announced that the company has signed agreements with two private jet firms to supply futuristic aircraft.  

Even the infrastructure planning necessary to operate eVTOLs is moving forward apace through industry partnerships.  

In 2023, Eve and Blade Air Mobility strengthened their longstanding partnership to transform air travel in Europe.  

The two companies confirmed that, starting in France, they will lay the foundation to integrate Eve精东影业 eVTOL or electric vertical aircraft (EVA) into Blade精东影业 European route network. 

In the US, United Airlines has also announced plans to launch an eVTOL aircraft route in the San Francisco Bay Area.  

So, it is clear that investment and confidence in the industry stands rock solid, with no evidence that the main sector players are getting cold feet.聽聽

Steps towards certification聽

Some of the leading eVTOL companies appear to be making extremely positive strides towards certification, and ultimately commercial operations.聽

In June 2023, German eVTOL developer Lilium announced that its aircraft has received the (FAA) G-1 Certification Basis necessary for type certificate validation.聽聽

This follows the certification basis Lilium was granted by its primary airworthiness authority, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), back in 2020.  

British eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace is another highly sought-after contender to be among the first to be certified.  

In March 2023, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted the first-ever eVTOL Design Organization Approval (DOA) to Vertical Aerospace, which means that the company can continue to progress with the certification process. 

In July 2023, Californian-based Joby Aviation announced that it had submitted all of its Certification Plans to the FAA, marking further progress toward completing the third of five stages required to certify its aircraft for commercial use. 

For the third stage of the FAA type certification process (Certification Plans), Joby needs to specify the tests, analyses and design reports the company intends to perform to demonstrate compliance with each safety regulation that applies to the company精东影业 aircraft, as defined in the second stage (Means of Compliance). 

Despite the obvious steps forward, Michael Barnard of Clear Technica believes that the eVTOL companies are nowhere near being fully certified and perhaps never will be. 

鈥淩otorcraft certification is $100 million per ton of empty aircraft for conventional rotorcraft. For every novelty, multiply by two. Novel airframe, novel drive train, novel control system, novel autonomy in some cases, novel flight patterns. None of the firms are sufficiently capitalized to get through any reasonable certification process to carry passengers, and their business cases in many instances have no certification costs,鈥� Barnard said.聽聽

We need to talk about pilots

In June 2023, the FAA published a comprehensive proposal for training and certifying pilots of eVTOL aircraft.  

The advice was welcomed by the industry for providing some clarity and introducing 鈥渁 clear pathway for pilots to earn powered-lift ratings specific to each type of aircraft they fly鈥�. 

However, there are still fundamental questions around how the eVTOL industry will recruit pilots and how they can compete with the pay that airlines offer.  

Today, pilots are already in high demand with airlines across the globe competing to entice new recruits over to their carrier. 

It精东影业 estimated that around a quarter of a million more fixed-wing pilots will be needed for the civilian space by 2030. 

At this point it is still impossible to envisage what the future eVTOL industry will look like, and without that insight it’s exceedingly difficult to predict how many pilots will be needed.  

If we imagine that, in the next ten years, the airlines and the eVTOL aircraft companies successfully begin providing shuttle services between airports and busy downtowns for passengers, the pilots of these first aircraft will no doubt be paid extremely well. 

But how do we scale the industry up from this small service and continue to pay lucrative salaries when only the richest can afford to travel in an eVTOL? The model does not appear to be sustainable. 

Aviation is renowned for its enduring determination, but finding the necessary pilots and training them could become a major headache in the future.聽聽

Super batteries not yet included聽

German aircraft manufacturer Volocopter is aiming for certification during the second quarter of 2024, so that it can carry the first commercial passengers at the Paris Olympics that year.聽聽

Volocopter精东影业 VoloCity aircraft looks similar to operating helicopters and travels in the same way, as opposed to most eVTOL aircraft that adopt a vertical takeoff followed by transition into a forward flight mode.  

“Everything is ready and set to go for the middle of next year,” Christian Bauer, the German company’s chief financial officer, told the BBC in August 2023. 

In the same article the BBC精东影业 Technology of Business editor, Ben Morris, argued that the batteries used in eVTOL aircraft remain a key hurdle.  

Currently the batteries are very heavy and expensive, which will immediately curtail the distance the aircraft can travel and keep costs at an unsustainable level.  

鈥淲hat is hindering us right now is the battery technology, which all the peers are right now working on. We will be starting with more premium prices at around a helicopter segment pricing. And then we will gradually go down, with a big step, when we have a four-or-five-seater model in place,” Bauer said.聽聽

If it ain鈥檛 broke, don鈥檛 fix it?聽

Sceptics of the eVTOL industry will point to helicopters and ask why AAM aircraft are even needed.聽

Of course, a major selling point of eVTOLs is that they are quieter and will be able to navigate areas that are out of bounds for gas-guzzling choppers.  

eVTOL advocates will also argue that they are better for the environment, because they are electrically powered.  

However, helicopters have been successfully modified into electric powered aircraft in recent tests, so why not put industry efforts into developing this area and save a few dollars at the same time? 

Also, the helicopter industry already gives an invaluable insight into how high the demand for eVTOL aircraft might be.  

Michael Barnard explained: 鈥淭here is no market. I lived in S茫o Paulo for a year last decade. It has the most private rotorcraft of any city in the world. In 2012, it was the peak of 30 years of Brazilian economic progress, which meant an absurd number of billionaires and decamillionaires with heliports on their corporate rooftops and palatial walled estates on the outskirts of the 28-million-person city.鈥� 

鈥淭he traffic was horrendous and express hijackings of people in cars were an epidemic. The total number of rotorcraft was 750. There were no on-demand Uber-esque services. In fact, Uber failed in that market with an on-demand helicopter service. There were no scheduled helicopter services. There was a great subway, though.鈥澛�

Another toy for the wealthy

Airlines represent some of the heaviest investors in eVTOL aircraft. United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Japan Airlines, SAUDIA and Azul are just a handful of the carriers that have already reached agreements for eVTOL aircraft.聽聽

Clearly the people at the top of these airlines are not na茂ve, and they believe there are profits to be generated through this revolutionary new technology.  

However, it is hard to see how eVTOL aircraft will be anything more than a luxury perk for the airline精东影业 most wealthy customers. If that精东影业 the case, is it commercially viable? 

It also begs the question of whether the public will even accept the eVTOL industry. Feelings against the private jet sector have never been so hostile, not only due to its questionable green credentials, but also because of the wealth and flamboyance it symbolizes. 

This all underlines the question of how companies operating eVTOL aircraft will make money if there are not enough people to fly in them. 

Michael Barnard argues that the financial projections for the eVTOL aircraft industry are unrealistic.  

鈥淏usiness models are nonsense. Conventional rotorcraft require 4-5 hours of maintenance per hour of flight time, and eVTOL aircraft aren鈥檛 particularly simpler. They鈥檒l require a lot of maintenance. Despite that, business cases are pretending 4,000 hours of flight time a year [will be possible], instead of the 1,000 rotorcraft are very lucky to see. Projected revenues assume vastly higher-paying flights than will exist.鈥� Barnard said.聽聽

Airbus reluctance?

Airbus is a giant of the aviation world. In April 2023, Balkiz Sarihan, the CEO and head of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), revealed more details on when the manufacturer plans to have its CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL ready for customers.聽聽

Speaking at Revolution.Aero in Dublin, Sarihan told an audience of AAM insiders that the all-electric aircraft would go to market in the 鈥渟econd half of the decade鈥�.   

However, the Airbus executive was keen to stress that the company was 鈥渘ot in a rush at all on this one鈥� and has little interest in becoming the first eVTOL available.  

You鈥檇 be hard pressed to find a company that has its finger on the pulse of contemporary aviation more than Airbus, so perhaps this 鈥榗asual鈥� approach reveals that executives are biding their time and waiting to see how the industry develops.  

This conservative approach could imply that Airbus is still not yet convinced that the eVTOL sector will become what many people hope.聽

The ones to watch聽

Wisk Aero, owned by Boeing, may already be asking the right questions and providing the answers as to how a future eVTOL industry could be sustainable.聽

The company recently performed the first-ever public demonstration of a fully autonomous eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft. 

Wisk Aero has focused on a fully autonomous aircraft, rather than one that is piloted, under the belief that the future of the industry will be based around self-flying vehicles.  

Speaking with media at Paris Air Show in June 2023, Wisk精东影业 CEO, Brian Yutko, stated that autonomy remains the goal and that he expects Wisk to achieve it and receive certification before the end of this decade.   

Autonomous eVTOL aircraft might well be where the industry finds its sweet spot. Without the need for hundreds of pilots, the costs fall and training issues become nonexistent.  

Travelling by eVTOL aircraft could then become accessible to more people.  

Small electric planes are also a working project that may provide the answer to finding a cheap but environmentally-friendly transport model. 

When battery technology evolves, eVTOL developers hope that use of aircraft will stretch further and begin to link cities. 

However, this could be served far more effectively by fleets of small electric planes that are just as carbon considerate and rely on the converting of existing certified planes.  

Hydroaircraft maker Jekta is already working with the Indian government to connect regions for the local population, transporting services and goods using a 19-seater sea plane.  

The Indian government was attracted to the minimal investment required to open hydro bases, with no need to build runways or vertiports. 

Secondly, there is minimum impact on the environment, because the water is already there. All that精东影业 needed is the installation of a pontoon and ramp, and hey presto: there精东影业 your base. 

鈥淚n India there is only one operator serving three of the 94 routes using a Twin Otter and what they realized is the local population cannot pay $200, 拢300 or $400 to travel on our flight. But when the seaplane is electrified, suddenly there is a possibility to sell those tickets at $30 or $40,鈥� George Alafinov told 精东影业. 

It may not be the case that Europe and America精东影业 skies are suddenly full of electric seaplanes, but what Jekta shows is that the true aviation revolution may not be in the place everyone is looking.  

From Armstrong to Whittle: 9 of the most influential figures in aviation history

• Aircraft
• Aviation

byIan Molyneaux

August 5, 2023

The historic event was witnessed by mesmerized crowds who had gathered at the at the in Oshkosh, United States (US), on July 25, 2023.聽聽

The display was performed by Wisk精东影业 Generation 5 aircraft, although the eVTOL developer is working certification for the Generation 6 air taxi.  

鈥淐ongratulations to our entire team for the incredible effort that went into making this happen! More details to come,鈥� Wisk Aero wrote on Twitter.聽

Wisk Aero has focused on a fully autonomous aircraft, rather than one that is piloted, under the belief that the future of the industry will be based around self-driving vehicles.  

Speaking with media at Paris Air Show in June 2023, Wisk精东影业 CEO, Brian Yutko, stated that autonomy remains the goal and that he expects Wisk to achieve it and get certified before the end of this decade.   

鈥淭here is no Plan B,鈥� stated Yutko confidently.   

In a video taken of the demonstration the Wisk air taxi can be seen flying forward and rotating while hovering in the air.  

On May 31, 2023, it was announced that the Californian startup would become a fully owned subsidiary of Boeing.   

Boeing had previously been one of two shareholders, the other being AAM startup Kittyhawk.   

Wisk Aero was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk Corporation, which was started by Google co-founder Larry Page.  

In 2022 Boeing invested almost half a billion dollars into the self-flying electric air taxi developer. 

Wisk精东影业 aircraft is a fixed-wing platform, powered by 12 independent rotors (six on each wing). It can fly at altitudes of between 1500 and 5000 feet, traveling at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour (160km/h) with a range of about 25 miles (40 km).聽聽聽

鈥淭here is no plan B鈥� Wisk confirms autonomy plans at Paris Air Show

• Aviation Technology and Innovation
• Paris Air Show

byMiquel Ros

June 25, 2023

Wisk was present at the Paris Air Show with its own chalet and exhibition space adjacent Boeing精东影业 (the American aerospace giant having confirmed the full absorption of the eVTOL developer just a few weeks earlier). 

There, Wisk精东影业 CEO, Brian Yutko, held a media briefing and Q&A session that helped clarify some of the key elements and future milestones of this project. 

It was also possible to contemplate a full-scale mockup of the aircraft. Its most distinctive element was, in fact, not a feature but the absence of it. When you get close to the cabin, you can see there is no traditional cockpit or instruments panel, just seating space for the four passengers. 

This is because Wisk精东影业 eVTOL does away with the pilot, the aircraft is being designed to be fully autonomous (although it can be controlled as well via a remote link with an operator on the ground). 

Speaking with media present at the event, Yutko stated that autonomy remains the goal and that he expects Wisk to achieve it and get certified before the end of this decade. 

In this regard it highlighted how the aircraft has been designed primarily with safety in mind: there is plenty of redundancy built in and the aircraft is expected to be able to land always land safely. 

Autonomy adds an additional, and non-trivial, layer of complexity, but Yutko explained how, compared to 鈥渢raditional鈥� aircraft, some things are simpler. For example, the testing prototype that has been used to test propulsion transition (from vertical take-off and landing to horizontal flight) has only a dozen moving parts. 

But autonomy is not the only area in which Wisk has taken an approach that differentiates it from its competitors. In what looks like something straight out of Apple精东影业 playbook, Wisk is聽aiming to do quite a lot in-house and vertically integrate as much as possible of its supply chain.聽

The recent integration with Boeing may also give Wisk an edge in some areas. The eVTOL developer, for example, will benefit from access to the aerospace giant resources and to certain technologies, such as composite materials. Boeing, in turn, will benefit from more direct access to Wisk精东影业 know how in autonomy-control software, which can be of use in other Boeing aircraft programs, particularly in areas such as safety. 

eVTOL developer Wisk Aero becomes fully owned Boeing subsidiary

• Aircraft
• Sustainability

byIan Molyneaux

1 minute read

Another interesting aspect of Wisk精东影业 approach is that, at least in the early stages, the Boeing-owned developer aims to get its own AOC and operate the aircraft it produces. 

This may be a way to kick-start the roll out of autonomous flight and prove the feasibility of the concept, before other operators jump onboard. Dan Dalton, VP of Global Partnerships at Wisk and also present at the event, did not rule out selling aircraft to other operators later on, but the plan is for Wisk to be the launch operator of its own aircraft. 

In any case, what transpired from this media briefing is that Wisk is fully committed to developing autonomous flight technology and there is no backup plan in case autonomy proves too hard a nut to crack within a reasonable time-frame. 

鈥淭here is no Plan B鈥� stated Yutko confidently. 

Wisk CEO, Bryan Yutko, made the announcement while attending a Boeing media event in the United States (US) on May 31, 2023.  

Yutko, who previously worked for Boeing as the chief engineer for Sustainability and Future Mobility, did not go into specifics of the agreement terms.  

On June 1, 2023, the Wisk Aero website had already been updated with the ownership developments.  

鈥淚n 2023, Wisk became a fully owned subsidiary of . While we operate separately, this relationship allows us to tap into Boeing精东影业 development, testing, and certification expertise, and more,鈥� the website stated.聽

Boeing had previously been one of two shareholders, the other being Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) startup Kittyhawk. 

Wisk Aero was founded in 2019 as a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk Corporation, which was started by Google co-founder Larry Page. 

In 2022 Boeing invested almost half a billion dollars into the self-flying electric air taxi developer. 

In a statement on January 24, 2022, Wisk confirmed that it has secured $450 million from Boeing.    

According to Wisk its latest Generation 6 aircraft is the 鈥渨orld精东影业 first all-electric, autonomous, four-seat eVTOL  air taxi designed for passenger transport鈥�.   

Wisk精东影业 aircraft is a fixed-wing platform, powered by 12 independent rotors (six on each wing). It can fly at altitudes of between 1500 and 5000 feet, traveling at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour (160km/h) with a range of about 25 miles (40 km).聽聽

Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines join forces to launch self-flying taxis in Japan

• Aircraft

byEmilia Stankeviciute

May 10, 2023

The companies are prepared to lay the groundwork for air taxis nationwide if the launch of self-flying eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) is successful.  

The partnership was announced on May 9, 2023, and will additionally include Japan Airlines’ engineering division, JAL Engineering (JALEC), to establish the appropriate maintenance and operation work for Wisk精东影业 sixth-generation electric aircraft.  

鈥淲isk and Japan Airlines share a commitment to safe, accessible transportation and to ensuring that our services provide long-term benefit to the communities that we serve鈥�, Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk said. 鈥淲e look forward to working together to bring autonomous everyday flight to Japan and to further advancing Advanced Air Mobility in the broader APAC region.鈥澛�

Wisk精东影业 air taxi is expected to have a maximum operating altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 feet (760 – 1,220 meters) with a range of 90 miles (144 kilometers) and a cruise speed of 120 knots (222 kilometers per hour). As certain parts of Japan are affected by heavy road traffic, air taxis can serve as a quick transportation solution. Ryo Tamura, CEO of JALEC, views this partnership as 鈥渢he first step towards the development of safe air mobility in Japan.鈥� 

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the companies aims to establish a framework for research that demonstrates the aircraft’s capabilities in Japanese airspace and the launches of fleet operations. Additionally, it will support the type certification approval of the vehicle in Japan, ensuring its future operation in the region. 

Japan Airlines had previously anticipated launching flying cars by 2025 alongside an agreement with aircraft leasing company Avolon signed in October 2021. However, no official statement or update has been made regarding the commercial launch of this eVTOL self-flying taxi in Japan since then.聽

Avolon signs deal with JAL for electric air taxis in Japan 鈥�

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byVictoria Bryan

October 20, 2021

There has been much speculation in recent years over whether Boeing will build a new midmarket jet to compete with the largest variant of the Airbus A320 family, the A321XLR. Such an aircraft would also serve as a replacement for Boeing 757 and 767 jets.  

Earlier in 2022, Boeing indicated there were some studies going on for such an aircraft.   

Boeing testing waters for A321XLR competitor once again?

• Aircraft

byVyte Klisauskaite

February 3, 2021

However, chief executive Dave Calhoun appeared to pour cold water on the plans during an investor day held on November 2, 2022, ruling out any development until after 2030.  

According to various reports of the event, he said a new commercial airliner would be dependent on new technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.  

Unless efficiency improvements of at least 20% can be made, 鈥渢here won鈥檛 be an airplane鈥�, Calhoun said, according to .  

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l even get to the drawing board this decade,鈥� he was further cited as saying.  

Boeing精东影业 most modern narrowbody commercial jet, the 737 MAX, is a much upgraded version of an airframe which first flew in the 1960s, rather than an entirely new design.  

Creating a new commercial aircraft from scratch requires much investment and time and is fraught with risk. Programs typically encounter delays and can cause financial distress for their manufacturer, as seen recently with Bombardier精东影业 development of the CSeries.  

After losses mounted, the Canadian manufacturer sold the program for a symbolic amount of 1 Canadian dollar to Airbus. The narrowbody plane is now known as the A220 and sales have increased under Airbus精东影业 ownership, while Bombardier has returned to its focus on business jets.  

Would a new Boeing airliner have pilots? 

Much debate is ongoing in the aviation industry about whether passenger planes will be flown by one or even zero pilots in the future.  

It精东影业 a particular conundrum for those companies developing urban air mobility aircraft, better known as flying taxis. Getting the new vehicles certified with a pilot on board will likely be easier but that makes the operation much more expensive, given they are mostly designed to carry only a few passengers.  

Flying taxis? Maybe for cargo, not people, says head of major leasing company

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byVictoria Bryan

October 4, 2022

Calhoun also said at the investor day that the manufacturer精东影业 next commercial aircraft may fly autonomously, though likely not from the start.  

Boeing is one of the major investors in Wisk, a start-up that is developing a self-flying air taxi. Unlike rivals in the space, Wisk is focusing on autonomous operations, with plans for humans to monitor its vehicles from the ground.  

Not pilots, but 鈥渟upervisors鈥�: Boeing and Wisk set out flying taxi roadmap

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byVictoria Bryan

September 21, 2022

The sixth-generation electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft carries four passengers and their baggage and can fly at an altitude of 2500-4000 feet above the ground. It features 12 tilting propellers and can cruise at 120 knots.  

Wisk, which has carried out over 1600 test flights with its fleet, highlights that it wants its flying taxi to be for everyone, whether college students or business professionals. It has touted a price target of $3 per passenger, per mile. The company also says accessibility is key and that it is one of the few companies in the industry catering to such a wide demographic. 

鈥淕eneration 6 incorporates a number of accessibility features, from an entry and exit designed for individuals across the mobility spectrum, to user interfaces that seamlessly accommodate people living with hearing, vision, and other impairments.鈥� 

Interior of the Wisk eVTOL. Credit: Wisk Aero LLC

Unlike other flying taxi developers, Wisk is focusing solely on autonomous aircraft, which will be overseen by humans on the ground.  

Wisk says its Generation 6 represents the 鈥渇irst-ever candidate for type certification by the FAA of an autonomous eVTOL鈥�. 

Not pilots, but 鈥渟upervisors鈥�: Boeing and Wisk set out flying taxi roadmap

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byVictoria Bryan

September 21, 2022

鈥淭his approach is core to the company精东影业 overall strategy and is most importantly a critical element in bringing one of the safest systems to market in aviation. It is also the key to unlocking the scale and the full potential for the broader AAM industry.鈥�    

Along with investment from Boeing, Wisk is also backed by Kitty Hawk, which has shut down its own flying taxi operations.   

Developing a network of autonomous electric aircraft will require new infrastructure and people working on the ground to ensure the uncrewed aircraft are flying safely, the two companies said in a joint paper on September 20, 2022. The plans also see a shift in the role of pilots to become 鈥渕ulti-vehicle supervisors鈥� working in operations centers on the ground. 

鈥淎ir travel will become much more personal, accessible, and frequent as we normalize a new form of transportation in the skies,鈥� Boeing and Wisk write in their Concept of Operations (ConOps) for uncrewed passenger-carrying urban air mobility (UAM) operations.  

The concept paper said it 鈥渟pecifically addresses a critical element to safely scaling up the tempo of UAM flight operations – enhanced automation and shift in how we define the role of pilots鈥�.  

The concept paper was developed with United States airspace in mind, but Boeing and Wisk said it could be used as a blueprint for global UAM operations.  

Wisk is aiming to be the first company to bring an all-electric, self-flying air taxi to market in the U.S. The Boeing joint venture showed off the fifth generation of its self-flying all-electric aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow 2022 in July and said the next generation would be ready in the fall.   

Wisk to unveil next generation of its self-flying air taxi in late fall

• 精东影业 at Farnborough 2022

by精东影业 Team

July 25, 2022

Who精东影业 flying the aircraft? 

Among the many challenges for developers of electric taxis are integrating them into existing airspace and ensuring safe flight over the built-up areas where they are seeking to ease congestion on the ground.  

鈥淭he important work we鈥檙e sharing today provides a stepping stone in the advancement of UAM in the U.S. and the world,鈥� said Wisk CEO Gary Gysin in a . 

Boeing and Wisk said vertiports will need to be created – places where flying taxis can take-off and land, load and unload passengers and receive services.  

While Wisk is planning for its aircraft to be fully automated, rather than remotely piloted, humans will still be needed, albeit on the ground. The new technology could even help ease pilot shortages, the paper predicts.  

鈥淎 novel and unique workforce will be required for UAM and the broader AAM industry,鈥� the concept states. 鈥淣ew career paths will combine traditional aviation with autonomy and electric propulsion which have the potential to alleviate anticipated pilot shortages.鈥� 

Boeing and Wisk said they recommend setting up 鈥渇leet operation centers鈥�, where 鈥渕ulti-vehicle supervisors鈥� will fulfill the legal role of pilot-in-command. The supervisor will monitor flights, implement air traffic control instructions to keep aircraft a safe distance from each other, and ensure flights are safely operated. 

Helicopters as trial runs 

鈥淲e鈥檙e working to enable a future of aerospace that is safe, sustainable and at scale. Uncrewed operations will be fundamental to realizing that vision, and we have to exceed the current safety standards for the air transportation system,鈥� said Brian Yutko, Boeing Vice President and Chief Engineer of Sustainability & Future Mobility. 

The two recognize that in the first stage for integrating UAMs, pilots will be onboard, and heliports will be used. While initially pilots will communicate with ATC, in the future communications will be automated and vertiports will replace heliports. 

Boeing and Wisk aren鈥檛 the only ones working to show how flying taxis can be safely used in busy urban areas. Rival Eve, spun off from Embraer, has been using helicopters in downtown Chicago to gain a better understanding of how flying taxis will work for commuters in real life operations 

Eve wants to mimic flying taxi journeys in Chicago using helicopters

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byVictoria Bryan

August 24, 2022

The company, which is backed by Boeing, is hoping to be one of the first to get an autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) certified by US authorities, although admits it will be a challenge.   

Wisk精东影业 eVTOL has six hover fans on each wing for the vertical takeoff and landing, while an additional propeller at the rear is used for cruise flight.  

鈥淲e’ve been flying it completely autonomously since 2017,鈥� explained aircraft technician Susan Hopkins to 精东影业 at the Farnborough Airshow. The bright yellow testbed aircraft has done over 400 flights, she said. 

鈥淚n late autumn, we’re coming out with the sixth generation of our aircraft,鈥� Hopkins revealed. 鈥淚t will be substantially bigger – it will have four seats and space for baggage.鈥� 

Credit: 精东影业 Team

Once through the flight test phase, Wisk will be pushing for certification with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  

Unlike other eVTOL companies, which are starting with piloted systems, Wisk has not set a definite time frame for certification.  

鈥淲e can get ourselves through our testing, and have a timeline in mind for that. But then we have no idea how long this is going to take with the FAA,鈥� Hopkins said.  

David Boulter, acting associate administrator for Aviation Safety at the FAA, said during a panel at the Airshow that the FAA wanted to take its time to get regulation right on eVTOLs.  

Farnborough 2022: Public acceptance and integration key for flying taxis

• 精东影业 at Farnborough 2022

byRichard Holme

September 27, 2022

鈥淲e’re the first people that are flying autonomously. And we’re the first that are going to go through the process with the FAA to get it certified. You want them to do their due diligence on this,鈥� Hopkins said. 

She said that with the industry being so small and in its infancy, if something goes wrong it has the potential to affect everyone. 鈥淲e all are responsible for shaping and creating our market and doing a good job. People don’t forget in a hurry. So we need to know that we can safely transport people.鈥� 

The future of urban transport? Flying taxi makers head for Farnborough Airshow

• 精东影业 at Farnborough 2022

byVictoria Bryan

July 18, 2022

These are set to be some of the issues debated at the Farnborough Airshow this year, while some manufacturers will show off their new aircraft over what is expected to be a swelteringly hot few days in the United Kingdom. 精东影业 takes a look at what we can expect from the airshow in this area and the recent European proposals on operating air taxis in cities.  

There are many companies working on advanced air mobility (AAM), popularly dubbed flying taxis. More formally, AAM refers to an air transport system with new aircraft designs that aims to move people and cargo between places, particularly in city environments. 

Much of the focus is on electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which promises not only a new form of transport but a more sustainable way of flying. Companies involved in developing eVTOLs include Joby Aviation, Archer, Velocopter, Lilium, Vertical Aerospace, Eve, Wisk and Supernal.  

Among the recent big developments in the industry was the publication on June 30, 2022 by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of the world精东影业 first rules for the operation of air taxis in cities.  

The proposed regulatory framework, which is open for consultation until September 30, 2022, covers airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing and rules of the air.  

EASA said manufacturers had indicated they would be ready for certification of VTOL aircraft in the next few years.  

鈥淭he publication reinforces the leadership EASA is showing in this area of innovation,鈥� EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky commented. 鈥淎t the same time, we have done our best to address general societal concerns and the expectations of EU citizens with respect to safety, security, privacy, environment and noise.鈥� 

Pilots and air corridors 

Vertical Aerospace VX4: Credit Avolon

One of the interesting points in the EASA proposals is around pilot licensing. EASA said it is proposing that holders of commercial pilot licenses for aeroplanes or helicopters (CPL) will be issued with a VTOL aircraft type rating, once they have completed training on the relevant aircraft.  

鈥淐PL(A) or CPL(H) holders who wish to continue their career as VTOL-capable aircraft pilots will not need to obtain a separate pilot licence for manned VTOL-capable aircraft; they will be able to add a VTOL-capable aircraft type rating to their existing licence,鈥� EASA states in the proposal.  

It means that only pilots who already hold licenses for conventional aircraft will be allowed to operate VTOL-capable aircraft, with no option for someone to train would-be pilots with no flying experience at all from scratch only for VTOL operations. 鈥淗owever, in any case, only experienced pilots shall fly VTOL-capable aircraft during the initial phase of their operation,鈥� EASA said.  

The agency said its current proposals only cover piloted VTOL systems, and that autonomous flying concepts would be covered by separate proposals when relevant.    

When it comes to integrating such aircraft into airspace above urban areas, EASA said transporting people and/or cargo by VTOL-capable aircraft requires a 鈥渓evel of safety that is at least as high as that applicable to operations with conventional aeroplanes or helicopters.鈥� 

EASA expects that the first type of operations for VTOLs would be following predefined routes or corridors, to maintain sufficient height above congested areas or cities, help avoid other traffic and avoid flying over sensitive areas. If safety, environmental, security, and privacy concerns can be successfully demonstrated and validated during the development of these aircraft, then EASA said it would consider removing the predefined corridors 

鈥淭he possibility to avoid flying over 鈥榮ensible鈥� places and the assurance of deconflicting paths thanks to predefined routes would help gain greater public acceptance. However, the system of predefined routes might impose limitations to some types of operations,鈥� EASA notes.  

The EASA proposals are sure to be discussed in various panels and conferences at the show. For example, 精东影业 Editor-in-Chief Richard Stephenson will be joining a panel on the future of AAM with representatives from Supernal, part of Hyundai Motor Group, and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Stay tuned to 精东影业 for further coverage.  

精东影业 Chairman and Editor in Chief, Richard Stephenson said: 鈥淎AM has huge potential to change the way we travel in cities. There are clearly numerous challenges to overcome, with public acceptance being a key issue going forward. I鈥檓 confident that all of the challenges will be managed, and I hope to see an electric flying taxi saving me from the London Underground on a hot summer day within the next decade! I鈥檓 looking forward to debating the challenges at Europe精东影业 largest airshow next week.鈥� 

Which eVTOL concepts will be on display in Farnborough? 

Want to see our self-flying, all-electric, eVTOL in person? You鈥檙e in luck as we鈥檙e heading to ! Be sure to stop by the Chalet next week to see the future of and meet our team.

鈥� Wisk (@WiskAero)

Wisk, which is backed by Boeing, will be bringing one of its all-electric, self-flying air taxis to its chalet at the airshow.  

Wisk said that the display was part of its efforts to engage with the community around acceptance of the technology. 鈥淲e strongly believe that community engagement and public feedback are a critical piece to the development and future success of our industry,鈥� Becky Tanner, CMO at Wisk commented in a press release.  

Vertical Aerospace will display a full-scale model of its VX4, a four passenger, one pilot aircraft that is projected to have speeds up to 200mph and a range of over 100 miles. 

Supernal, which was set up in November 2021, promises to 鈥渦nveil a look into the future eVTOL passenger experience鈥�. It also expects to announce new partnerships and details on how it plans to utilize Hyundai精东影业 automotive expertise in developing its eVTOL.  

Brazilian planemaker Embraer will be displaying a cabin mock-up of the Eve eVTOL for the first time.  

We are excited to be exhibiting in 3 weeks! Come and meet the team and find out more about what is takes to build radically better ways of moving. (Hall 1, Stand 1111) We look forward to seeing you there!

鈥� Lilium (@Lilium)

Lilium will also be exhibiting at the show, bringing scale models of the jet精东影业 interior and exterior. The company achieved a major milestone in May, when its Phoenix 2 technology demonstrator achieved main wing transition, making it the first ever full-size electric jet aircraft to transition from hover to wing-borne flight. 

The Farnborough Airshow runs from July 18-22, 2022. Over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 80,000 people are expected to attend the event, which alternates with the Paris Airshow.  

What can we expect at the Farnborough Airshow 2022?

• 精东影业 at Farnborough 2022

byVyte Klisauskaite

July 13, 2022