Skyway Technologies, which is developing navigation services for autonomous aircraft, is to integrate Eve Air Mobility’s urban air traffic management (UATM) software with its planned vertiport operation services. Under a letter of intent signed on October 12, the companies say they will work together to provide urban air mobility solutions to support eVTOL operators as part of Eve’s goal of delivering a UATM platform that could be used by all new eVTOL aircraft, including the four-passenger model it is working to bring to market in 2026.
U.S.-based Skyways is applying its hybrid artificial intelligence technology for tasks such as airspace deconfliction resolution, autonomous aircraft separation, and airspace compliance. It is already providing these services for drone operators from its own air traffic management center and is now making plans to support the large numbers of vertiports that are expected to be used by eVTOL aircraft.
“The partnership with Skyway will help drive market awareness for Eve as a software supplier to providers of service for UAM and help ourselves and others understand how to improve and advance UAM operations,” said Eve’s co-CEO Andre Stein. “We will study the use of Eve’s UATM software solutions for Skyway’s operations and develop an operational model for use in certain missions and regions.”
According to Skyway CEO Clifford Cruz, having a fully integrated UATM and vertiport services platform will provide reassurance to operators wanting to operate large fleets of eVTOL aircraft for services such as air taxi flights. “This enables airline investments into this sector the ability to close the loop when it comes to operating these aircraft at digitally driven vertiports being developed,” he stated.
Last month, Eve and its partner Blade Air Mobility conducted a two-week operational trial using helicopters to simulate how eVTOL aircraft will use vertiports and other landing sites in the Chicago area. Last year it conducted similar work in Rio de Janeiro as part of a wider effort to develop concepts of operations for eVTOL aircraft.
