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Urban Air Mobility - Hype or Hope?

When the whole world seems to be falling apart due to the actions taken by global political leaders faced with COVID-19 threats, what hopes are there for the near-term future to be more safe and sustainable? The new 'normal’ of the aerospace industry is indeed terrifying with thousands on furlough and laid-off. If there are any changes ahead, what are they and which directions are they coming from?


Arguably, those looking at the future of flight, in particular, Urban Air Mobility (or 'the flying taxis'), are feeling positive that the current difficulties will turn out to be opportunities for electric-powered aircraft set to carry people around one day. Are you?


 




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A vision of sustainable London served by an electrical vertical take-off and landing aircraft


We would welcome your comments regarding the topic of Urban Air Mobility and electrical vertical take-off and landing aircraft here as well as in our Q&A session at the end of the UAM - Hype or Hope webinar next week; please see the link below: https://bit.ly/2BjlpRh


Parents
  • COVID.  I think the ever-changing parameters of COVID 19 has caught all off guard, maybe with the exception of New Zealand.  Flying has always had risks associated with the transmission of viruses between people; sitting in a tube at close proximity with other people from 2 to 12+ hours is not the healthiest of environments.  However, the direction for safe and sustainable carriage of passengers and flight has been provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and I think this was correct for them to provide guidance to the members states.



    Furlough.  As one of those who has been affected by the partial collapse of the aviation industry.  I have high hopes it will pick-up again in the long term and that is not wishful thinking.  The industry has always had ups and downs and the current situation is most probably the worst coupled with the lack of confidence with Boeing 737 Max aircraft issues.  Over the years reliability, maintainability and safety of our aircraft has greatly improved and this caused a downward trend in employment.  However, the growth of the airline industry helped absorb some of the workforce.  But this growth did have a downside: pollution and this is where you come in.



    Electric Air Vehicles.  Electric flight has really taken off, excuse the pun, and we have seen evidence of passenger flights occurring; albeit on short flights, but it is happening.  The use of Vertical Take Off platforms is also not new, many companies are using them to deliver goods, so having a flying taxi is the next step forward and it should be pursued.  Helicopters have grown in popularity.  Why; because you do not require a runway; some second hand helicopters cost less than a middle of the range saloon car and the time it saves in travel is phenomenal.  But the downside is that they are expensive to run depending on whether you have a combustion engine or a jet engine.  I see an urban vehicle being the first step.


Reply
  • COVID.  I think the ever-changing parameters of COVID 19 has caught all off guard, maybe with the exception of New Zealand.  Flying has always had risks associated with the transmission of viruses between people; sitting in a tube at close proximity with other people from 2 to 12+ hours is not the healthiest of environments.  However, the direction for safe and sustainable carriage of passengers and flight has been provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and I think this was correct for them to provide guidance to the members states.



    Furlough.  As one of those who has been affected by the partial collapse of the aviation industry.  I have high hopes it will pick-up again in the long term and that is not wishful thinking.  The industry has always had ups and downs and the current situation is most probably the worst coupled with the lack of confidence with Boeing 737 Max aircraft issues.  Over the years reliability, maintainability and safety of our aircraft has greatly improved and this caused a downward trend in employment.  However, the growth of the airline industry helped absorb some of the workforce.  But this growth did have a downside: pollution and this is where you come in.



    Electric Air Vehicles.  Electric flight has really taken off, excuse the pun, and we have seen evidence of passenger flights occurring; albeit on short flights, but it is happening.  The use of Vertical Take Off platforms is also not new, many companies are using them to deliver goods, so having a flying taxi is the next step forward and it should be pursued.  Helicopters have grown in popularity.  Why; because you do not require a runway; some second hand helicopters cost less than a middle of the range saloon car and the time it saves in travel is phenomenal.  But the downside is that they are expensive to run depending on whether you have a combustion engine or a jet engine.  I see an urban vehicle being the first step.


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