The advanced air mobility (AAM) sector appears to be facing financial and regulatory bottlenecks as multiple developers of eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft scramble to meet pledges made to backers that a return on investment can be expected with the launch of operations from 2025. In this context, 2023 could be a make-or-break year, which makes the next Revolution.Aero event, to be staged in Dublin on April 25-26, especially topical.
The agenda is packed with both independent expertise and multiple stakeholders with plenty of skin in the game, including senior leaders from front runners such as Vertical Aerospace, Eve Air Mobility, Supernal, Beta Technologies, Archer Aviation, and Elroy Air. Also on the stage will be other contenders eager to demonstrate that while they might not be first-to-market, they do offer alternatives. These companies include Odys Aviation, Textron-subsidiary Pipistrel, and Electro.Aero, as well as new-generation seaplane pioneers Regent and Jekta.
Beyond the new aircraft themselves, the Revolution.Aero sessions will include discussion around the anticipated AAM business models, including the plans of operators such as Bristow to replace or supplement helicopter services. Also on the agenda are new concepts for reduced-emissions regional airlines being advocated by companies such as Heart Aerospace, which is now working on a 30-seat hybrid-electric commuter. Other topics to be covered include new propulsion systems with contributions from hydrogen powertrain innovator ZeroAvia and electrical systems specialists BAE Systems, as well as the viability of autonomous flight with input from Honeywell.
Show Me the Advanced Air Mobility Money
Conference panelists assembled in the Irish capital will include aircraft leasing groups Avolon, Falko, Lobo, and LCI. The financial focus of Revolution.Aero also extends to sessions on shifting trends in early-stage investment and funding options for the aspiring manufacturers that do make it past type certification to the series production and delivery phases. Several start-ups will compete in the event’s traditional pitch session, with business plans being evaluated by Boeing and DiamondStream Partners.
The outlook for the AAM industry’s complex infrastructure requirements will be assessed in sessions focused on vertiports and air traffic management. Contributors in these portions of the program include leaders from ground infrastructure developers Skyports, Ferrovial, and Skyportz.
Flight training providers CAE, Avtrain, and Sigma Air Mobility will address the recurring question of how this new branch of air transportation will recruit and retrain enough pilots at a time when long-established airlines are struggling in this area. In this and all other aspects of AAM, conference organizers seem to be promising delegates a reality check with agenda items described with phrases and rhetorical questions such as“is it too early,” “has appetite [for investment] changed,” “future of flight realism,” “overcoming the hype,” and “a pragmatic approach.”
“Revolution.Aero is about bringing together innovators with capital and customers. It is definitely harder to find investors today than it was a year ago, but we are seeing continued interest from strategic investors and existing aviation leaders,” said Louisa Whyte, managing director, Revolution.Aero. “The last European edition of Revolution.Aero was hit by Covid in 2020 so we are really excited to be in Dublin, the aircraft finance capital of the world.”
