The Future of Advanced Air Mobility

Mark Huber

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LCI May Bundle eVTOL Aircraft and Infrastructure in Advanced Air Mobility Leases

The leasing group has already made commitments to add 165 eVTOL aircraft to its portfolio through agreements with Beta Technologies and Elroy Air.
Leasing group LCI feels that combining leases for eVTOL along with batteries, charging stations and other supporting infrastructure may make early use cases more viable. The company's chief commercial officer Nigel Leishman explained to AIN how it is preparing to support the new advanced air mobility sector.
Beta Technologies' Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft

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Helijet to Add Beta's eVTOL Aircraft to Pacific Northwest Fleet

The single pilot aircraft will operate under IFR flight rules with a range of up to 250 nautical miles.
Vancouver-based rotorcraft operator Helijet agreed to buy up to eight of the five-passenger Alia eVTOL aircraft, with plans to operate these in southwestern British Columbia and the wider Pacific Northwest region from 2026. The Canadian province's carbon tax has created a strong incentive for aircraft operators to consider switching to electric propulsion.
Vancouver-based Helijet plans to operate Beta's Alia eVTOL aircraft

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Market Gives Cool Reaction to Surf Air Mobility's NYSE Listing

The commuter flight operator aims to decarbonize its fleet by introducing hybrid-electric and all-electric aircraft including converted Cessna Caravans.
Some emerging advanced air mobility companies continue to face significant financial headwinds as witnessed by the decidedly cool market reaction to Surf Air Mobility’s direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange late on July 27. Ahead of the initial public offering, Surf Air merged with Southern Airways Express, which operates a fleet of turbine-powered Cessna Caravans mainly under FAA Essential Air Service contracts. Working with partners including MagniX and AeroTec, the company intends to convert existing aircraft to use electric propulsion systems.
Surf Air Mobility Cessna Grand Caravan

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Bell APT Autonomous Cargo Drone Crashes in Texas

A Bell APT 70 UAV cargo drone crashed last week in Texas.
One of Bell’s Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) experimental cargo drones crashed March 14 in a field near Mineral Wells, Texas, in what is being categorized as a “loss of control” accident by the FAA. 
A Bell Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) cargo drone is pictured in flight

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5G Implementation Debacle Poses Important Lessons For Advanced Air Mobility Flight Operations

The head of aeronautics standards organization RTCA says the aviation industry can no longer operate in isolation from other sectors such as high-tech communications.
As the advanced air mobility sector works on plans for digital flight operations and air traffic management, it should learn lessons from the chaotic implementation of 5G C-band communications, says the aeronautics standards organization RTCA. The new communications technology has caused interference with aircraft avionics systems, resulting in disruption to commercial flights.
Advanced Air Mobility will use digital air traffic management systems.

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Volatus Lays Plans for eVTOL Vertiport in Pennsylvania

The company wants to build the facility at Bellefonte Airport, which is close to Penn State University's campus.
According to Volatus Infrastructure, Penn State University sports fans could be among the first passengers to use eVTOL aircraft via a new vertiport at Bellefonte Airport in Pennsylvania. The company says the facility could also be used for flights to other destinations on the U.S. East coast.
Volatus Infrastructure has published plans for a vertiport in Pennsylvania to be used by eVTOL aircraft.

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Electric Aircraft Charging Expert Calls For Standardized Approach

Electro is urging eVTOL aircraft developers not plan carefully for recharging batteries, cautioning that the approach already in use for cars won't work in the aviation sector.
Australian company Electro is focusing intently on what it will take to make the process for recharging electric aircraft viable. According to its chief technology officer Josh Portlock, the infrastructure and processes will need to be standardized to ensure a rapid throughput of vehicles at vertiports.
Australian company Electro is addressing technical challenges involved in recharging electric aircraft.

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Bell Brings Autonomous Cargo UAV To Air Medical Show

Bell pursues the medical market for its Autonomous Pod Transport cargo drone.
Bell has brought its Autonomous Pod Transport eVTOL this week to the 2022 Air Medical Transport Conference in Tampa, Florida. The company has been flying the aircraft for several years and aims for a production version that will deliver 100 pounds, 100 miles, at 100 knots per hour.
Bell Autonomous Pod Transport drone

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Xwing Says Cargo Operations Are the Fast-track to Autonomous Commercial Flights, But Passenger Acceptance Is a Long Way Off

The company has acquired three cargo delivery operators as it seeks to demonstrate that its technology can support flights without a pilot on board that could make services far more cost-efficient.
Innovators like Xwing are focusing on air freight services to gain regulators' approval for flights controlled by ground-based operators rather than pilots on board. Earl Lawrence, the FAA's former executive director of aircraft certification and now Xwing's chief compliance and quality officer, told the recent Electric Aircraft Symposium that passengers are a long way from being ready to accept autonomous operations.
Xwing wants to convert existing cargo aircraft to be operated with no pilot on board.