The air taxi industry is rapidly approaching the commercial testing phase. Over the next few years, as battery technology advances and initial prototypes improve, we will witness test flights taking place within cities. Notably, current test flight locations include routes from Seoul to Germany, Los Angeles, and Moses Lake, and these locations are making significant progress.
Volocopter Test Flights in Singapore
One standout achievement in this field is the Volocopter (pictured above), which successfully completed its first crewed flight using its 2X aircraft in November 2021. This milestone marked the first-ever crewed public test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in South Korea. The test flight occurred at Gimpo International Airport, covering a distance of approximately 3 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 50 meters and achieving maximum speeds of 45 km/h. Notably, Volocopter has been conducting test flights in Singapore since 2019.
Volocopter envisions a game-changing transportation solution that will alleviate traffic congestion by operating within designated routes in the lower airspace. Their plan is to offer point-to-point connections, significantly reducing travel times from major hubs like airports.
The timeline and trajectory
2014-2016 Initial Test and Development
2017-2020 Trials and Prototypes
2020-2025 Commercial Tests run in Cities
2025-2030 Commercialization of Air Taxi’s
2030-2035 Megacity Operations
2035-2045 Compete with costs of Ground Travel
What is UAM (Urban Air Mobility)?
The FAA has collaborated with NASA to establish a framework and guidelines for defining a conceptual blueprint including UAM operations and, operations within a corridor and the framework for considerations around the maturity of advanced air mobility. The definition according to NASA includes, a safe and efficient system for air passenger and cargo transport within an urban area, inclusive of small package delivery and other urban Unmanned Aerial Systems…
Eviation’s Alice, All Electric Commuter Plane
In September 2022, Eviation’s prototype of its electric plane called the Alice made its first flight. The Alice has a sleek T-tail design and dual 850 horsepower electric motors giving it a futuristic look. Seen soaring in the skies above rural Washington, the maiden flight was a momentous occasion for the company.
The Alice is a nine-seater aircraft with a length of around 57 feet and a wingspan of 62 feet. These dimensions put it in the ballpark of a Cessna Citation Excel or a Piaggio P.180 Avanti. “I like to say that we found the sweet spot for electric aviation with this aircraft: we have a nine-passenger plane,” Aviation CEO Gregory Davis told InsideEVs. “You can fly with a single pilot in North America, so it means that it is more cost-effective to operate than a ten-passenger plane where you need two pilots.” – Source: Andrew Lambrecht, Inside EV
Ecosystem
As the overarching ecosystem grows to expand and include everything from the construction of take off and departure points, vehicle manufacturing, regulation and infrastructure. A snapshot of this ecosystem will include:
- Governing organizations
- Battery Manufacturers
- Infrastructure Partners
- Strategy and Advisors
- Aviation Manufacturers
- Mobility Service Providers
- Technology Infrastructure
- Ground Services
Continue to watch the UAV and eVTOL industry, it is evolving quickly.
Credits, Sources and Resources
Volocopter Test Flight:
Future of Aviation Interview:
EY’s AM&M Perspective:
FAA UAM Concept of Operations:
Eviation’s Alice, Inside EV:
Volocopter Youtube Channel:
