FutureFlight

Critics of eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter commonly point to what they say are excessively limited applications for its all-electric VoloCity model, which, initially, will carry a pilot plus one passenger on short, largely urban, trips of up to 22 miles. Eventually, the company expects the multicopter to be approved for autonomous operations, freeing up a second revenue-generating seat, but, until battery technology takes a big leap forward, range will still be limited to short hops.

There are almost as many opinions about the potential size of the advanced air mobility market as there are eVTOL aircraft designs. They all seem to err on the bullish side and a new prognosis published by UK-based IDTechEx is no exception, with a headline projection that the market for air taxi applications alone will be worth $14.7 billion annually by 2041.

Two high fliers from the advanced air mobility sector have been named in the transportation segment of Fast Company magazine's rankings for The World's Most Innovative Companies. The top ten list for the transportation category of the annual rankings was topped by electric vehicle pioneer Tesla, with autonomous vehicle delivery service Waymo in the number four spot. In the sixth position was eVTOL aircraft developer Joby Aviation, which has just announced a $1.6 billion flotation.

Atlas Crest Investment Corp. has filed an S-4 registration form with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, spelling out details of its merger with eVTOL aircraft developer Archer Aviation. The March 8 filing came almost a month after Archer and the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) announced plans for a $1.1 billion share flotation.

Legislation seeking to boost the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) in the U.S. is progressing in the House of Representatives and the Senate, apparently propelled by bipartisan Congressional support from Democrats and Republicans. The bills, both bearing the title “Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act,” call on Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to establish an inter-agency group to coordinate efforts to develop an AAM ecosystem to support widespread eVTOL aircraft operations.

EHang is taking legal action against Wolfpack Research, which last week published a highly contentious report that dismissed the eVTOL aircraft developer as “a stock promotion destined to crash and burn.” The self-proclaimed activities research group, which largely takes short positions on equities, leveled multiple accusations against EHang, alleging that it has misrepresented several aspects of its business dealings.

EHang Sales Contract

EHang has strongly refuted claims by Wolfpack Research that the eVTOL aircraft developer is “a stock promotion destined to crash and burn.” In a statement issued late on February 16 in response to a report issued earlier in the day by the self-proclaimed “activist research firm” that largely focused on taking short positions on equities, the Chinese company said that the accusations made by Wolfpack were based on “numerous errors, unsubstantiated statements, and misinterpretation of information.”

After a relatively slow start in the first half of January, the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector has resumed its wild ride in recent weeks, with eVTOL aircraft developers jostling for attention and fresh funding. To some observers, talk of billion-dollar mergers points to a trend that could see a small group of leading contenders pulling away from the unwieldy field of wannabes.

An intriguing report issued this week from German airline group Lufthansa poses the question: Are air taxis ready for prime time? Given the company’s semi-detached perspective on a new transportation sector that stands to complement, and to some degree supplant, conventional air transportation, its assessment is refreshingly candid and analytical. It cannot be accused of being a vector for the intoxicating hype engulfing this sector.