Lyte and KookieJar Lay Plans For Cargo Delivery Vertiports
Ground infrastructure specialist KookieJar is partnering with eVTOL aircraft developer Lyte Aviation to explore how modular vertiports could support cargo deliveries. In addition to its planned 40-passenger, hybrid-electric LA-44 SkyBus vehicle, Lyte is developing a freighter version called the LA-44C SkyTruck that would have a payload of 4.5 tons (9,900 pounds).
Sweden-based KookieJar is working on a blueprint for scalable vertiports that could be affordably and flexibly installed across networks. The production process has been pioneered by its partner Stilfold applying what it calls “industrial origami” to use robotic arms to fold flat sheet metal over curves to form strong and sustainable structures with minimal parts.
In early 2024, KookieJar expects to announce the location of its operational vertiport. Along with sister company A2M, which is an air traffic management specialist, it has conducted trials involving drone deliveries to and from yachts moored off the coast of Monaco. Its agreement with Lyte could involve the joint development of vertiport networks for Lyte's customers.
According to Lyte founder and CEO Freshta Farzam, modular vertiports will be critical to the commercial success of high-capacity aircraft like the SkyTruck, which the company expects to cut delivery times by around two-thirds compared with truck transportation. It is aiming to have its tandem-tiltwing aircraft, which will have a range of up to 620 miles, type certified and ready to enter commercial service in 2030. Its projected payload is significantly higher than other VTOL aircraft currently in development.
“This will change entire industries, including food and pharmaceuticals,” Farzam commented. “Imagine reducing cargo delivery times from nine hours on the road via truck to three hours via SkyTruck in the air. Additionally, our customers require scalable and modular vertiports, [that are] easy and quick to implement.”
Personal eVTOL Developer Air Vev Steps Up Its Role In Agility Prime Program
Personal eVTOL developer Air Vev says it has begun the next stage in its participation in the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime research and development program that it joined in 2022. The company has now completed the third phase of work with the Air Force’s Afwerx unit and is establishing a larger presence in the U.S. to continue flight testing of its two-seat Air One vehicle that has a payload of 550 pounds and a range of up to 100 miles.
The next round of flight testing in the U.S. will provide Afwerx with data for its assessment of eVTOL aircraft that could be suitable for Air Force logistics missions meeting its area of interest (AOI) 2 requirements for having the capacity to carry one or two people more than 10 miles at a speed of at least 45 mph. The Air One is also being developed for civilian customers.
The company has been incorporated in the U.S. for some time as Air Vev Inc., with a headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, and it maintains some research and development activities in Israel, where it was founded. It is looking to move its U.S. base to a new location that will be used for flight testing and other business operations.
Israel-based Air is now incorporated in the U.S. as Air Vev Inc., with a headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. It started forward flight testing the aircraft in December 2022, after achieving full hover flight in the summer of that year. The company has previously said it intends to start making deliveries in 2024, having already collected 800 deposit payments against the intended $150,000 purchase price.
“It’s thrilling Afwerx understands the unique promise of Air One, which is capable of ranges and speeds that far exceed AOI-2 requirements,” said Air CEO and co-founder Rani Plaut. “We are confident in our ability to deliver the freedom of flight to everyday consumers, especially with the support of such a prestigious program as Agility Prime.”
Wisk Aero Updates Urban Air Mobility Concept of Operations
Wisk Aero this week published an updated version of the concept of operations (ConOps) for urban air mobility to take account of industry and government feedback received in the development of the FAA’s latest UAM ConOps v.2.0 document and the agency’s Innovate 28 policies. The new ConOps lays out an approach to transitioning from crewed to uncrewed eVTOL aircraft operations and provides a template for autonomous passengers-carrying flights, such as those envisaged for the four-seat vehicle it is now developing.
“This ConOps defines our vision for autonomous advanced air mobility operations and the addition of uncrewed aircraft into the current aviation ecosystem,” said Wisk CEO Brian Yutko. “It outlines our approach to the aircraft, ground-based supervisors, infrastructure, airspace integration, and more, and provides a template for safe, everyday, autonomous flight.”
The document was jointly prepared with Wisk’s parent Boeing, along with experts from sister companies Aurora Flight Sciences, Skygrid and other partners.
Crisalion Mobility and Bluenest Collaborate Over Vertiport Development
eVTOL aircraft developer Crisalion Mobility has announced a partnership with transport infrastructure specialist Bluenest by Globavia to make plans for vertiports in Europe and Latin America. Under a memorandum of understanding announced this week, the two Spain-based companies plan to conduct joint demonstration tests and assess how eVTOL vehicles can be integrated with vertiports.
Areas of focus for the partnership include combining so-called smart mobility options in and around vertiports, as well as ensuring safety and operational efficiency during takeoffs and landings. The partners will also assess possible route networks for the five-passenger Integrity vehicle Crisalion is developing for third-party operators.
In addition to designing vertiports, Bluenest by Globavia is also working on so-called logistics lockers. It intends to build and operate these facilities.
