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Inclusive Mobility in Airports: Self-Driving Mobility Chairs Change the Way Passengers Move through Airport Terminals WHILL #aviation #airports #innovation #technology #mobilityasaservice

Report: China Buys European Flying Car Tech I. Introduction European-developed flying car technology has been bought by a Chinese business. AirCar, powered by a BMW engine and normal fuel, flew 35 minutes between Slovakian airports in 2021 using runways. 2. Acquisition Details: Cangzhou-based Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company has exclusive rights to develop and operate AirCar aircraft in a region. The purchase includes AirCar automobile technology. Previous advances in China involve companies exploring flying transport system breakthroughs. Autoflight tested a passenger-carrying drone between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, reducing travel time. Chinese startup eHang acquired an electric flying taxi safety certificate in 2023. 4. Comparison with Other Technologies: Unlike VTOL passenger aircraft, AirCars need runways for takeoff and landing. By 2028, the UK government expects flying taxis in ordinary airspace. 5. Financial and Regulatory Aspects: AirCar's KleinVision didn't disclose the acquisition's finances. - AirCar's 2022 Slovak Transport Authority airworthiness certificate proved its viability. 6. Issues: Infrastructure, legislation, and public acceptance persist despite technical advances. Consultant Steve Wright says aviation challenges require global regulatory frameworks. - China's proactive adoption of new technologies may make it a flying car leader, like it was in electric vehicles. 8. Future Outlook: AirCar prototypes are exciting, but lineups and security checks may hinder deployment. 9. Conclusion: China's purchase of European flying car technology shows China's capacity to dominate future industries. 10. Conclusion: Flying transport systems work best when collaborated and standardised. This article explores how a Chinese company's AirCar acquisition may effect transportation. #aircraft #airtaxi #flyingcar #flying #china #european #europe #aircar #writingcrews #geopolitacal

The ground part of an aircraft journey. What route to take on ground, operationally and strategically? There is a room for improvement, from sustainability, safety and capacity point of view. Once having identified the current operational concept of ground movements is nearing its end, there are a few future options: 1. Moving Maps, essentially an inbuilt navigation screen in the cockpit of a plane. A decentralised solution. Is it reasonably expectable an airport demand all aircraft to be equipped with a solution as such? 2. Follow the Greens, lights being installed on the taxiways so that pilots can follow the lights to the gate. Centralised solution but imagine the work needed (let alone the costs) to install. 3. Automated guidance by follow-me vehicles, or moveable follow the greens. Centralised and able to be implemented step-by-step. This is what Usher AI is all about. Want to learn more? https://lnkd.in/eVDer6A #atm #atco #aproncontrol #sustainableaviation Marylin Bastin Mohamed ELLEJMI Pascal Hop Luc Laveyne Sophie de Vocht Robin Spierings

Most other vehicles in Melbourne’s exhibition hall have four wheels, but one has eight propellers, doors that open skywards, two seats for passengers, and no space for a pilot. The flying car #prototype, from #Chinese manufacturer XPeng, is one of the first to be shown in #Australia and hints at a transport future involving self-flying, #zeroemission #airtaxis. But the striking aircraft is not the only vehicle of its kind destined for Australia, with other companies announcing plans to seek approval to fly air taxis and develop places to land and launch, and test other uses for the flying machines. Aviation experts say the advances show Australia is on track to be among the first countries to deploy the futuristic aircraft, although regulations and safety checks may slow down the category’s mounting pace. XPeng’s X2 prototype, known as an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or #eVTOL, was a surprise inclusion at Melbourne’s Electric SUV Expo (which closes Sunday), organiser Ray Evans said. “When’s the last time you saw The Jetsons?” he said. “It’s just arrived again.” The aircraft, which will be distributed in Australia by TrueEV, features a carbon fibre body, eight battery-powered motors, a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour, and a flight time of 35 minutes. It’s also designed to fly autonomously, providing take-off and landing buttons for passengers to push. “It’s opening up a new (market) and there’s lots of suggestions it would be well placed here, particularly in agriculture, emergency services or just for rich people who want to enjoy flying,” Mr Evans said. XPeng is not the only company seeking to launch eVTOL aircraft in Australia. Last week, American firm Joby Aviation announced it had formally applied to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for its electric air taxi to be certified in Australia. Joby chief executive JoeBen Bevirt says the aircraft, which is designed to carry four passengers at speeds of up to 321km/h, is undergoing safety testing in the #US. “We’re incredibly excited about the potential for air taxis to offer more sustainable ways to travel around Australia’s global cities,” he said. “We’re pleased to be working with Australian authorities.” But aircraft type certification is a lengthy process, and a safety authority spokesman says rules for air taxis are still being developed in Australia. The authority issued a guide to vertiports – where aircraft could be launched, landed and recharged – in May and is planning to update its road map for the air taxi industry in the coming months. “No advanced air mobility electric take-off and landing aircraft have received regulatory approval in Australia at this stage, although several companies have signalled their intention to sell into this market,” the spokesman said. “eVTOLs will have to meet Australian safety and airworthiness standards and will likely operate under rules similar to those applying to helicopters in the first instance.

New #blog! Airport autonomous tow tractor adoption is ready for take off 🚀 From manufacturing floors to warehouses, autonomous technology is proving its worth across various operational landscapes. As the aviation industry takes the spotlight, the integration of driverless vehicles into airport ground operations is underway. Richard Reno, CEO of TractEasy, delves into the advancements, challenges, and future of driverless technology in aviation. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eWQGAvyM

New #blog! Airport autonomous tow tractor adoption is ready for take off 🚀 From manufacturing floors to warehouses, autonomous technology is proving its worth across various operational landscapes. As the aviation industry takes the spotlight, the integration of driverless vehicles into airport ground operations is underway. Richard Reno, CEO of TractEasy, delves into the advancements, challenges, and future of driverless technology in aviation. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eWQGAvyM

Greetings. ~ A Flying Race to bottom $$$, on pricing. ~ CHEAP #eVTOLs #VTOLs #AirTaxis #Flyingcars services..... #Boomtime in #Aviation. We would love to see #SkyBus and #AirShips with even cheaper pricing... Most of these services will initially be with #Pilots. And then after towards #autonomous, with growth by demand and expanding fleets from each #OEM and #serviceproviders we hope to see the per seat pricing falling further. Exciting times.... Flying start with the race to the bottom on pricing. It always #baffles and #amuses us when price comparisons are being done on "DYNAMIC" pricing. 🤔 One beautiful forecast in #AirTaxis we take from EACH of these innovative service providers, is their optimistic fleet numbers that would start with Tens of Hundreds and building up to Thousands or we hope to see Hundreds of Thousands of these. In addition, the #AutonomousIndustry like #AirTaxis, with #Robotaxis, many more players are forging into these services whilst each introducing Hundreds of Thousands of the #autnomousvehicles. All of these should also be solving our #TrafficCongestion and #TrafficChaos situation globally. ___________________ CityAir.taxi Taxi-Air.services #Vertiports #AAM #AdvancedAirMobility #pilots #CASA #FAA #ESA #ESAA #purpose #stewardownership Flying taxi boss reveals how much they expect an average ride to cost https://lnkd.in/g94vDM9q

German air taxi company Lilium reaches a pivotal moment with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency granting "Design Organization Approval." This license allows Lilium to design and manufacture its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, marking a crucial step toward commercializing the revolutionary Lilium Jet. The approval reflects Europe's commitment to advancing electric aviation activities and fostering innovation in the sector. Lilium's eVTOL vehicles, including the Lilium Jet, are designed for domestic intercity travel, using electric motors to power multiple small propellers for takeoff, landing, and cruise phases. The Lilium Jet aims to cover 300 kilometers on a single charge. Lilium, founded in 2015, plans to launch commercial flights by 2025, competing with established aerospace giants like Boeing and Airbus, as well as fellow German start-up Volocopter. As the air taxi industry progresses, Lilium's EU approval signals a step closer to realizing the vision of urban air mobility and transforming the future of transportation. #infinityCXC #lilium #airtaxi #urbanairmobility #innovation

𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Exciting news in the world of air taxis! Both Chinese and US companies are making significant strides toward pilotless flying taxis. In a groundbreaking move, China’s air travel regulator has accepted EHang’s application for a license, marking the first such certificate in the world. While there are still a few hurdles to clear before this technology becomes mainstream, Beijing is fully supporting the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector. On the other side of the globe, Boeing’s subsidiary Wisk has announced plans to have its own eVTOL taxis ready to accept fares by the end of the decade. Their latest prototype can carry four passengers along with their luggage. However, there are still some challenges to overcome, such as extending battery life to handle multiple trips on a single charge and ensuring the public and regulators are convinced of its safety. https://lnkd.in/gA8vQvaU

This looks pretty cool but there’s some interesting things buried in this simulation of their booking app which Joby recently previewed for the public. These screenshots raise some real questions about the airport shuttle service they hope to launch in the near future. Starting with the first screen, you can see where the passenger indicates they have 2 bags. This probably includes a smaller personal item and a larger carry-on an airline like Delta will allow. But from what I understand, Joby's S4 eVTOL doesn't have much room if any for larger pieces of luggage, and this could also exceed the weight limit for their aircraft with a full load of passengers. Which leads me to conclude the carry-ons will routinely be ferried to JFK by some other means than on the airport shuttle itself. That's not good considering many business travelers would never dream of being voluntarily separated from their stuff. But it's either this or you remove one passenger seat from the 4+1 configuration and go with a reduced payload, which is also not good. The first screen also presents several ride hail options for the first leg, each showing a different ETA at JFK. A close examination of these options suggests there will be three separate eVTOL flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport to JFK spaced only minutes apart, based on the collection of times shown. I'm thinking this exceptionally high tempo of operations is not really feasible for the time being, especially considering the heliport and airspace involved. The second screen confirms the notion this service will also include a very short third leg by ground transport at JFK, which could be needed to carry passengers that arrive on the airport shuttle to the terminal, depending on the location of the vertiport. Regardless, this is another mode switch that increases friction in the passenger experience. And arriving street side as opposed to air side at JFK means passengers will still have to go through the TSA security check at the airport. Screen three shows the route taken by Uber to the heliport. There’s not much to note here except for the fact the total cost of the trip includes not only the middle airborne leg but the first and last legs by Uber, striped across all passengers. This has to be tallied up for the passenger during the booking process and could get even more expensive with surge pricing. In the end, the operator may have to subsidize much of the cost, or the airline may have to bundle it in their ticket price to make it more palatable to a passenger. Finally, the fourth screen shows a streamlined boarding process for the airport shuttle that infers a less than rigorous security screening at the heliport. Surveys have shown passengers are concerned about traveling with unfamiliar faces who are not subjected to a healthy security check, which may cause some to forego the convenience of an air shuttle. It will be interesting to see if any of this changes going forward ;) #eVTOL #UAM