Excellent series of discussions and presentations by the Vertical Flight Society on the topic of Urban Air Mobility.
NYTimes: Cities Worldwide Are Reimagining Their Relationship With Cars
Cities Worldwide Are Reimagining Their Relationship With Cars https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/14/climate/car-ban-air-pollution.html
Press Release: “NEXA Advisors Landmark UAM Study”
I’m a big fan of where the energy and policy innovation is going here, BUT I’ve also observed for over 5 years that there are basic limits to how any mobility system can grow.
The axiom is basically this:
Trees do not grow from their leaves backwards.
Specifically, the kinds of new mobility connectors being toyed with (pun intended) will not achieve operational prominence or acceptance until they extend value from the current mobility networks.
This frustrates many to hear, I know, but history is filled with false starts for the reasons I suggest. We must bridge our technology solutions from what works today.
If rotorcraft is to become the 5th R (the first four being roads, rivers, railways, and runways), it will do so building from what exists and is productive.
Without question, we need to support the underlying technology development, but we must also support the underlying logistics, safety, and other infrastructure as this important technology matures.
It is not mature yet.
Why Property is the Missing Piece of the ‘Flying Car’ Puzzle
Skyportz is focused on providing a network of landing sites over the next five years so that when we have eVTOLs certified to fly commercially they will have somewhere to land.
Source: Why Property is the Missing Piece of the ‘Flying Car’ Puzzle
How NASA Ames Is Helping the FAA Brace for the Rise of Delivery Drones | The California Report | KQED News
[Comments: 1. “experts say” is never a good way to represent sources. 2. Noise has yet to be addressed. 3. After 737 MAX, the FAA is going to be MUCH more cautious. 4. The first UAM air connectors already exist and operate under current FAA regulations. Ed.]
Urban Air Mobility: Amsterdam Considers Drone Hub Corridor – DRONELIFE
[Planned corridors for noise, safety, traffic control, etc., are essential to success in UAM, just as having defined nodes in an area where such systems can land and takeoff. These routing networks and the land nodes are a key infrastructure system needing development in parallel with the air vehicle technology. ed.]
RAI Amsterdam, Johan Cruijff ArenA and the municipality of Amsterdam will jointly explore the added value and feasibility of a drone hub corridor.
Source: Urban Air Mobility: Amsterdam Considers Drone Hub Corridor – DRONELIFE
In addition to urban air mobility, why not rural air mobility? | TechCrunch
Let’s explore a new form of connectivity for rural communities.
Source: In addition to urban air mobility, why not rural air mobility? | TechCrunch
Not so fast…The answer is because the economics of all other modes of transportation overwhelm UAM, i.e., UAM is WAY MORE expensive, except when time or access matters, neither of which is a challenge in rural areas.
Global Urban Air Mobility Market Study 2019 with Analyses & Forecasts Through 2015-2027 – ResearchAndMarkets.com
The “Global Urban Air Mobility Market Analysis & Trends – Industry Forecast to 2027” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
Fast-Forwarding to a Future of On-Demand Urban Air Transportation – Medium
DHL Chooses Helimotion to Provide Air Delivery to Downtown Chicago from O’Hare Airport
Progress toward a new vision in regional and urban logistics.
