Underutilised Skies And Properties Help Us Fly

Low-Altitude Air Mobility Is A Force Multiplier For Growth

Thank you for reading and for all the support that’s been offered. If you missed my excellent conversation with Bradley Tusk on his podcast Firewall, please listen and share in your networks - it’s very much appreciated. Enjoy this week’s newsletter. jonathan@sky.trade

Transportation is constantly evolving. Each step forward yields new opportunities that fundamentally change the relationship that humankind has with distance and travel. - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

A New Dawn In Aviation?

Following a 98-0 bipartisan vote by the U.S. Senate, Michael G. Whitaker was approved to lead the FAA.

Whitaker also has previous FAA experience: from 2013–14, he served as the deputy administrator, where he led the agency’s efforts to modernize the US National Airspace System (NAS). He is most recently the chief operating officer of Supernal, Hyundai’s advanced air mobility (AAM) company. Supernal is in essence and flying car company and one which has been rapidly developing its hardware.

Whitaker is a well-respected aviation policy leader, with more than 30 years of experience. Before his positions at Supernal and the FAA, he worked for several airlines. He has over three decades of aviation experience, including serving as group CEO at India-based travel conglomerate InterGlobe Enterprises, senior vice president at United Airlines and assistant general counsel of international and regulatory affairs at Trans World Airlines.

He has a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and is a private pilot who serves on the Flight Safety Foundation’s board.

Following his nomination, Whitaker was endorsed by a broad group within the aviation community, including, airlines, unions, and general aviation associations. His Senate confirmation hearing was swift and lacked controversy, so some respite!

As a colleague who is a keen researcher in aviation markets and Urban Air Mobility put it, “Whitaker is a net positive” for those of us who are interested in promoting low-altitude urban air mobility.

(aopa)

---

Low-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Corridors

Low-altitude air corridors support point-to-point operations. For example, drone movements between a mall and their customers along the designated and legal routes to prevent trespass in private airspace. In terms of electronic Verticle Take off and Landing vehicles (eVTOL), this would be from a local vertiport to an airport.

Solutions and technologies in this area include UAM Corridors. - NASA