AutoFlight signs deal with EVFLY for 205 eVTOL aircraft: AutoFlight, the global eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) pioneer, today announced it has entered into a contract with EVFLY, on the heels of its record breaking 250km all-electric flight. The agreement demonstrates the company’s commitment to the Middle East region, which both parties believe could be a trailblazer for eVTOL services. The deal sees EVFLY initially purchase 205 Prosperity I and Prosperity Cargo Aircraft, with EVFLY operating the first 10 AutoFlight Cargo aircraft in the Middle East, in highly promising markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with subsequent deployments in Asia and Africa. AutoFlight’s president Omer Bay-Yohay commented: “This is a fantastic deal and illustrates just a few of the many geographies that will benefit from eVTOLs in both cargo and personal mobility. The team at EVFLY has a proven track record in successfully managing freight and cargo businesses and we’re delighted to be partnering with them in what could be one of the first commercial eVTOL operations in the world.” The partnership is underpinned by EVFLY’s comprehensive fleet management service which integrates the latest technology for eVTOL maintenance and operational efficiency. This will provide a unique solution for companies wishing to use eVTOL for commercial or private purposes. The agreement follows quickly from Autoflight’s globally recognised achievement of the world’s longest eVTOL flight in history with distance of 250KM / 155 miles on a single charge of the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries.
Inmarsat, Heron, partner on uncrewed aircraft in Singapore: Inmarsat has welcomed Singapore-based Heron AirBridge, a specialist in Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) in the Asia Pacific region, as the latest company to join its Velaris Partner Network, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Drones Asia. Working alongside regional regulators, the two companies will enable the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into Singapore’s commercial airspace by integrating Inmarsat Velaris, a highly reliable command and control (C2) datalink built for UAVs, with Heron’s AirBridge, a complete and flexible UTM system. Inmarsat will also supply Heron with its low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) Velaris satellite terminals for UAVs, delivering the secure datalink needed for Beyond Visible Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The collaboration will mark the first deployment of Velaris technology in Asia Pacific and trials will commence later this year. In tandem, Inmarsat and Heron will leverage the Velaris Partner Network, working with stakeholders across the aviation community to develop regulatory frameworks and technologies that will boost Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) numbers in Singapore’s airspace and provide a blueprint for successful integration that can be rolled out worldwide.
Skyports Drone Services wraps up proof of concept in Japan: Skyports Drone Services has successfully completed a drone delivery proof of concept (PoC) in partnership with Kaga City and Kanematsu Corporation. Kanematsu Corporation has partnered with Kaga City since 2021 for the promotion of regional revitalisation through the use of drones and aerial vehicles. Transporting simulated blood and other materials of up to 3kg between Kaga Medical Centre towards locations at Kaga Onsen Care Centre and Yamanaka Onsen Nukumori Clinic, the PoC flight paths mirrored actual high demand transport routes and sought to establish the time and cost savings that can be achieved with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. The closed-door milestone event was marked with a ceremony attended by Mr Riku Miyamoto, Mayor of Kaga City, and invited guests that include business leaders and key stakeholders from and beyond Kaga City. Following an in-depth planning phase that included consultations with and approvals from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), and significant on ground support and knowledge from Kaga City, the PoC flights were designed to assess the feasibility and impact of BVLOS drone deliveries in enhancing speed, connectivity and safety in the delivery of medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas in the region. The flights effectively demonstrated the ability of drone deliveries in reducing transport times by over 50 per cent as compared to movement via land transport. It also provided valuable insight towards developing frameworks for evaluating and selecting take-off and landing sites, as well as mapping optimum flight paths that account for both high level airspace users and ground elements. It also accounted for environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations with temperatures ranging between 2 and 9 degrees Celsius, as well as rain, snow and wind conditions. The PoC serves as an important stepping stone for the expansion and extension of drone delivery services in Japan. Drawing from Skyports Drone Services’ global portfolio of experience that includes cross-island deliveries for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, the company intends to similarly move towards scaling up the frequency, speed, payload capabilities and network of the service for on-demand medical deliveries in Japan.
ICAO issues call for AAM infrastructure and global harmonisation solutions: ICAO has issued a new request for information (RFI) to public and private-sector innovators in support of its upcoming 2023 DRONE ENABLE Symposium. The RFI is issued annually to elicit new concepts and solutions to advance next generation global standards for cutting-edge unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), UAS traffic management (UTM), and advanced air mobility (AAM), with a focus on infrastructure requirements for this year. “This year’s edition of DRONE ENABLE, focuses on the infrastructure solutions which will be needed to support these new types of aircraft and air services as they begin to be used for communities and economies all over the world,” stated ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano. “All DRONE ENABLE RFI responses will be evaluated by a group of international experts, and selected presenters will earn an important opportunity to contribute to shaping this incredible new future for powered flight,” commented ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. The deadline for the RFI submissions is 19 May 2023, with submitters being asked to focus on concepts and solutions addressing CNS (communication, navigation, surveillance) and spectrum requirements in low-level airspace. A further request seeks submissions identifying global interoperability and harmonisation priorities for advanced air mobility.
SITA, Volocopter partner on digital infrastructure for vertiports: Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), and SITA, the world’s leading IT provider to the air transport industry, have entered a partnership, with SITA selected as Volocopter’s preferred digital and IT systems partner for vertiports. Under the agreement, SITA has become the latest investor to join Volocopter’s Series E funding round, cementing the strategic vision espoused by this partnership. UAM will offer a new form of sustainable aviation, replete with multiple mobility options to cities worldwide. The company’s launch product, the VoloCity electric air taxi, will operate routes in congested megacities to offer future passengers stable, quiet, and safe flights. Flights can be hailed via designated boarding points (or “vertiports”). The partnership therefore has the potential to shape aviation industry standards. SITA will deploy its expertise in air transport for the emerging UAM industry, developing new operating standards and a digital-first passenger experience. SITA’s portfolio includes a wide range of IT solutions, including airport management and operations, passenger operations, flight and aircraft operations, baggage processing, and border management. Volocopter is known for its integrated UAM ecosystem approach. Its digital operating system, the VoloIQ, connects all partners, thus enabling a holistic service. The VoloIQ therefore enables a digital-first approach that will translate to end-to-end passenger air transportation experiences. This cloud-based system is in the process of being certified by the relevant aviation authorities.
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