Is Asia Pacific the focal point of the urban air transportation revolution

Aerospace and Defense Review | Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Asia-Pacific is emerging as a key testbed and market for the new segment of urban air mobility, with developers eyeing governments and customers in the region as likely early adopters of electric vertical take-off and landing technology

FREMONT, CA: Despite developers seeing governments and customers in the region as possible early adopters of electric vertical take-off and landing technology, Asia-Pacific is developing as a crucial testbed and market for the new segment of urban air transportation. Part of the reason is that the region has some of the world's most congested cities. According to a 2020 assessment by management consulting firm Roland Berger, by 2050, more than 160,000 small, remotely piloted passenger aircraft will be in service in congested urban areas all over the world. It is predicted that by then, 70 percent of humanity might live in these metropolitan areas, up from 50 percent today, with population growth outpacing ground transportation capacity by more than a third.

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UAM, like many other booming, technology-driven industries, appears to be ready for consolidation. More than 100 eVTOL concepts are in various phases of development. They include Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer-owned or funded companies, as well as a slew of independent start-ups. Several prototypes have been test flown, in urban areas, but none have been allowed for trial operations, let alone for carrying passengers. However, numerous companies in various countries across Asia-Pacific may be first in line to provide UAM air taxi services.

EHang is nearing type certification for its EH216 UAM platform in China, and the two-seat eVTOL aircraft has taken flight over 20,000 times in ten additional countries where it is seeking approval, including Japan and Indonesia.

The Guangzhou-based company has created a scheme – the 100 Air Mobility Routes Initiative – to develop a template for an air mobility operating system, including route planning, flight operations, safety management, regulatory compliance, and sales and marketing functions, as part of its effort to commercialize the 19nm (35km)-range EH216. EHang is also developing a digital platform that will be accessible to a large number of people. According to the report, around  50 players are involved in the endeavor, including potential operators such as Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, and roads business Shenzhen Expressway. So far, almost 3,000 flights have taken off, including in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhaoqing.

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