Volocopter, a pioneering urban air mobility (UAM) company, and SITA, a global leader in IT solutions for the air transport industry, joined forces to collaborate on digital infrastructure for vertiports.
In this partnership, SITA has been selected as Volocopter's preferred digital and IT systems partner for vertiports, and it has solidified its commitment by becoming an investor in Volocopter's Series E funding round.
With the rising investments in UAM, infrastructure expansion has become the critical need of the hour. To tap into the UAM infrastructure market, industry leaders and startups are devising innovative solutions.
According to the BIS Research report, the global UAM infrastructure market was valued at $81.7 million in 2023, and it is expected to reach $623.6 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 20.29% within the forecast period 2023-2033.
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Here’s the Story:
The emergence of urban air mobility (UAM) presents an innovative and sustainable solution for the aviation industry, offering various transportation options to cities worldwide. The collaboration between Volocopter and SITA would present a conducive environment for the development of the highly demanded UAM digital infrastructure.
In 2020, Volocopter successfully developed the VoloCity electric air taxi, which would operate along routes in heavily congested megacities. This air taxi would provide passengers with stable, quiet, and safe flights. These electric air taxis require suitable infrastructure, for which vertiports or designated boarding points are fewer in number.
The growing number of vertiports around the world has the potential to shape future aviation industry standards and give a boost to the UAM market.
Moreover, SITA, leveraging its expertise in air transport, is positioned to play a crucial role in the nascent UAM industry. It aims to contribute significantly to this partnership by offering a comprehensive portfolio of IT solutions for various aspects of airport management and operations, passenger services, flight and aircraft operations, baggage processing, and border management.
Christian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer at Volocopter, said in a press release, “Volocopter consistently takes a holistic ecosystem approach. Working in concert with our partners, we are setting up commercial operations. This involves establishing the requisite infrastructure, maintenance, flight operations, IT, and customer services. SITA is a leading IT provider for airports and airlines, and we believe there is no better partner to make our seamless travel experience possible.”
Moreover, Volocopter's approach to UAM revolves around its integrated ecosystem, where all partners are connected through their digital operating system called VoloIQ. This cloud-based system is currently undergoing certification by relevant aviation authorities and aims to provide a seamless end-to-end passenger air transportation experience.
Sergio Colella, SITA’s President for Europe, said in a press release, “Volocopter is in pole position to make electric air taxis a reality, benefiting from its first-mover advantage. At SITA, we will play a key role in delivering this new digital UAM world and defining a seamless, smarter approach to air travel in a city environment. Together we will turn the theory into practice as early as 2024, when we expect the first commercial eVTOLs to take flight.”
Conclusion
Addressing the shortage of urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure is crucial for the successful implementation of aerial transportation systems in urban areas.
To tackle this challenge, governments and industry stakeholders need to collaborate and invest in the development of vertiports, landing pads, and charging infrastructure.
Strategic planning, regulatory frameworks, and public-private partnerships are expected to play vital roles in expanding UAM infrastructure, enabling safe and efficient operations, and fostering the growth of this transformative mode of transportation.
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