Adopting urban air mobility (UAM) could generate S$4.18 billion ($3.1 billion) in accumulative benefits to the Singapore economy by 2030, according to a new report published by eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter. The Singapore Roadmap proposes an initial network of four to six vertiports to support tourist flights over locations such as Marina Bay and Sentosa. Subsequent air taxi services using the German company’s all-electric two-seater VoloCity eVTOL aircraft, and the four-passenger VoloConnect model, would provide flights to Changi Airport and cross-border trips to Malaysia and Singapore.
The VoloCity, which could enter service around 2024, will fly to a range of 35 km (22 miles), while the VoloConnect would operate up to 100 km (63 miles). The company is also developing an autonomous cargo-carrying eVTOL called the VoloDrone.
Volocopter has identified Singapore as one of several likely earlier adopters of UAM. In October 2019, the company demonstrated its eVTOL technology demonstrator in Marina Bay, where its ground infrastructure partner Skyports erected a temporary vertiport.
The 32-page Roadmap document, which was published during this week's Singapore Airshow, also reported that 72 percent of local Singapore residents surveyed expressed a high degree of interest in flying in the VoloCity. Volocopter intends to launch commercial services with a pilot on-board, but eventually transition to autonomous operations.
Volocopter says it has been working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Transport and the Economic Development Board to prepare its plans to launch flights. It claims to be the only prospective eVTOL manufacturer so far to hold both the required design and production organization approvals.
Singapore serves as the location for Volocopter’s Asia-Pacific regional headquarters and the company also has established a joint venture with Chinese carmaker Geely. The company (German Pavilion C-L69) ) has publicly shown its technology demonstrator in South Korea and participates in Japan’s Osaka Roundtable UAM project.
“We believe the launch of UAM in Singapore will truly enhance the Lion City’s position as one of the most innovative cities in the world,” said Volocopter chief commercial officer Christian Bauer.