Urban-Air Port (UAP), the vertiport developer behind the Air One vertiport in Coventry, and GKN Aerospace are collaborating to explore smart infrastructure for Urban Air Mobility (UAM), specifically for large, high capacity eVTOL passenger shuttle operations.
According to the press release announcing the collaboration “GKN Aerospace, the leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier has recently completed the initial feasibility studies for the Skybus research project. The research project has explored the potential for a six-rotor, 30-person eVTOL concept to help decarbonise and decongest urban landscapes. The studies have identified significant opportunities for air ‘buses’ to operate alongside air taxis in future air mobility transport, primarily for intracity and airport shuttle services with the potential to unlock access to more remote areas, such as islands and mountainous regions.
“Integration into urban environments with intermodal transport connectivity is key to the success of Skybus larger-scale passenger transportation and is enabled by Air One’s uniquely compact footprint and patented technologies.
“The cost and feasibility of implementing such a system will be highly dependent on the land take of the vertiport and therefore a new eVTOL network introduced into a congested city must consider space efficiency as a priority. UAP’s Air One model (one of UAP’s suite of infrastructure solutions) is modular by design, scalable and ultra-compact and affords a low CAPEX and OPEX infrastructure that can be tailored to serve larger eVTOLs such as Skybus, whilst continuing to be vehicle agnostic. This enhanced Air One model includes multiple hangars, multi-level take-off and landing zones and flexible stands uniquely incorporating a Multiple Apron Ramp System (MARS) for eVTOLs. These are just some of Air One’s new design features that will enable Skybus and other eVTOLs to co-exist and successfully operate in a dense urban environment. UAP’s technology and modular systems were envisioned for an evolving regulatory environment and the new design responds to and informs recent EASA guidelines whilst delivering and building on the core DNA of UAP.”
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(Image: Urban-Air Port)