As we catapult ourselves into New Year’s Eve 2024, let’s take a whimsical yet insightful peek at what might have unfolded in this groundbreaking year for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry.
The year kicked off with another OEM throwing its hat (or should we say, rotor?) into the ring. Hyundai Motor Group's SUPERNAL unveiled its S-A2 vehicle at CES2024 in a ceremony so well-executed, you'd think they were in show business - well, it fitted to Vegas, though! Their unveiling once again enlightened what became the predominate vehicle design, you gotta have a wing and tilting rotors and some aerodynamic shapes are just given by physics. (And yes, this is a fact - my time machine confirms, this part actually happened!)
The first half of 2024 was quieter than a library with all the major players burrowed away, focused on churning out their certification vehicles. They were busy bees, buzzing away from the public eye, despite the usual deal making and partnership announcements, swapping early 2020s glitz and glamour for some serious grindstone action. It was less about making a splash and more about making actual things that fly. (This part is actually something I am hoping for the industry and its supply chain, it has got to be the year of EXECUTION)
Then came the Farnborough Airshow, followed by the Paris Olympics, catapulting us back into the limelight. If you thought the Paris Airshow 2023 with its AAM-dedicated Hall 5 and Volocopter’s aerial ballet was a spectacle, Farnborough 2024 was like seeing a unicorn riding a hoverboard. It was a resounding message: AAM isn't just a fleeting trend; it's reshaping urban mobility.
But let’s talk Paris Olympics – oh boy! If you snagged a ride in one of the Volocopters, consider yourself a VIP in the AAM world. The queues were longer than the plot of a Tolstoy novel, and people were loving it, despite some routes seeming as necessary as a screen door on a submarine. Kudos to Mr. Macron for that bit of political magic that got uncertified aircraft up in the air. Who needs a wand when you have a presidential pen, right?
As the year waned, the big moment arrived: the first non-CAAC issued type certificates were granted. Volocopter got a thumbs up from EASA, and Joby Aviation as well as BETA Technologies (cTOL CX300) from the FAA, making them the prom kings of the AAM school dance.
Funding was already as scarce as hen's teeth when we entered the year. Hefty investments in vehicle designs, certification, and all that jazz had many players turning their pockets inside out. It's a no-brainer that the money river has more rapids to navigate, considering the Niagara Falls of cash Rivian is pouring into ramp-ups. 2025 might just be the year of ‘Mergers & Acquisitions: The Musical’, with British VERTICAL and German LILIUM eyeing their piggy banks nervously, and Airbus Group lurking in the wings, possibly ready to pounce.
Source: SMG Consulting
Infrastructure was catching up to the eVTOL extravaganza. With a handful of players at the starting blocks, ready to unleash their fleet of flying wonders, the spotlight turns to vertiports - the unsung heroes of the skyways.
Leading the charge, British Skyports dazzled us by unveiling the first certified vertiport, though it's playing coy with air cargo for now. But don't let that fool you – it's like the opening act of a rock concert, setting the stage for the main event. Passenger certification is on the horizon, and it's expected to land soon, turning these vertiports from exclusive backstage passes to VIP lounges for everyone.
The infrastructure narrative is like a thrilling race where the baton is passed from the eVTOLs to the vertiports. The aim? To transform our urban skies into bustling highways, woven with the threads of futuristic travel- the race to the skies is just getting started, and it promises to be a high-flying adventure.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) was the biggest overall trend of 2024, not so much yet in the AAM-Industry per-se as we enter into 2025, Gen-AI in AAM is like the secret sauce that's spicing up the entire industry. It's not just about flying from point A to B anymore. It's about how smartly, safely, and efficiently you can do it. Gen-AI isn't just about what happens in the cockpit. It's also turning the passenger experience into something straight out of a sci-fi novel. From personalized travel itineraries to real-time flight adjustments for the smoothest ride, AI is the ultimate concierge in the clouds.
So, as we bid adieu to 2024, let's raise our glasses (and our expectations) for what the next chapter in the AAM saga might bring. Will it be a smooth flight into commercialization, or are we in for some turbulence like a Kobe Bryant moment? More on that in our next edition! Buckle up, folks!
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