UrbanV, a vertiport operator, and Volocopter, an eVTOL manufacturer, have extended their collaboration to facilitate the launch of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations in Spain, in conjunction with one of the largest airport management firms.
It’s always captivating to witness the evolution of a prospective electric air taxi from its initial conceptualization, but the realization of real-world operations entails much more than just the aircraft itself.
Establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for future commercial air taxi services demands collaborative efforts encompassing infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, air traffic management, and seamless airport integration.
The pilot initiative aimed at establishing such an ecosystem in Spain is anticipated to span several years.
The initial phase, set to unfold over two years, will delve into aspects like identifying potential vertiport locations, assessing infrastructure needs, and enhancing intermodal connectivity. Subsequently, the second phase will center on utilizing Aena facilities for future flight testing.
Aena plays a pivotal role in this UAM endeavor, which essentially constitutes a pilot study laying the groundwork for potential UAM operations in Spain in the foreseeable future.
This collaborative endeavor brings together partners from various European nations, with Aena based in Spain, UrbanV hailing from Italy, and Volocopter originating from Germany.
UrbanV and Volocopter have previously collaborated on a similar UAM initiative in Italy. UrbanV, an eVTOL infrastructure firm, was established by Aeroporti di Roma, SAVE Group, Aeroporto di Bologna, and Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur with the primary objective of constructing Europe’s inaugural official vertiport near Rome.
Over time, UrbanV has forged partnerships with industry entities such as Enel X Way, Enel’s electric mobility subsidiary, and ITA Airways.
Meanwhile, Volocopter stands out as a leading developer in the burgeoning electric air taxi sector. The Velocity, a two-passenger air taxi equipped with 18 rotors and nine rechargeable batteries, boasts a comfortable cabin.
The aircraft’s prototype, the Volocopter 2X, conducted its maiden test flight at the Italian vertiport in 2022 and subsequently made pioneering eVTOL flights in Florida and New York. Notably, the flight in Florida in November 2023 marked the state’s first eVTOL flight and the inaugural eVTOL operation at a major international airport in the US.
UrbanV also lends support to forthcoming Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations for the electric air taxi crafted by Airbus. The CityAirbus NextGen features a four-seat configuration and asserts to maintain noise levels equivalent to that of a standard vacuum cleaner.
As Paris and Rome surge towards the AAM finish line in Europe, poised to inaugurate commercial air taxi services within one or two years, Spain, through this new venture, advances further along the path to embracing electric air mobility.