The Skies Unlimited Potential - Unlocking The Future of Transport
The evolution of our communities depends on the efficient use of three dimensions
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The internet has shown that the freedom to innovate on open platforms can lead to unforeseen economic transformations. The integration of commercial drones and air taxis into airspace presents a new way to innovate that will bring about revolutionary consequences and benefits which are comparable to the internet.
Live in the future, then build what's missing. - Paul Graham
The connecting line of economic growth is the movement of people in cities and countries, all enabled by the application of technology to their endeavours. Spreading ideas, knowledge and dreams. This is seen in everything we now take for granted, tomatoes in Italy, pepper in Spain and explorations out West driving innovation.
In order to get Urban Air Mobility (UAM) moving at scale not only do the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) need to expedite the stamping of the machines safety credentials but drones and air taxis need the owners of air space to allow transit through it.
In a piece written by Brent Skorup he commented on a recent case, “The Supreme Court recently stated that airspace takings are physical takings that must be compensated under the Fifth Amendment. The Court said in 2021 in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid,”
“Government-authorised invasions of property—whether by plane, boat, cable, or beachcomber—are physical takings requiring just compensation.”
This highlights that the authorisation of any current or future regulations claiming to grant drones access to low altitude airspace effectively sanctions an unconstitutional seizure of property, specifically the air rights belonging to landowners.
Infrastructure
The establishment of infrastructure to facilitate the growth of an UAM network presents notable cost benefits when compared to traditional heavy infrastructure such as roads, rail systems, bridges, and tunnels. Some of the options are vertiports, (eVTOL helipads)drone charging stations and packaging micro fulfilment hubs
In light of the escalating expenses associated with conventional infrastructure, badly managed projects, high costs and a high likelihood of overrun and overspend innovative strategies can provide cities across the globe with attractive alternatives.
The adjacent businesses that will spring up from these are connecting transportation, like autonomous ride sharing and grocery collection that will grow and develop our towns and cities. Imagine being able to connect to the transportation network without the congestion, the pollutants from cars or having to run the gambit while trying not to get crashed into by vehicles with poor records of safety. This decentralised model fits into our way of life, enables us to use our time wisely and boosts economic growth. A better transportation network should not be a dream, we should not be happy with the current state of things, we should demand that our air rights are used for positive urban planning.
Swiss Autonomous Cargo Drones
Dufour Aerospace a Swiss company has introduced the Aero2, a hybrid-electric autonomous cargo drone with a distinctive tilt-wing design that could potentially dominate the US cargo aircraft market.
The Aero2, designed as a heavy-duty cargo drone, has already made headlines with its entry into the American market. In late 2022, Spright, the drone division of Air Methods, purchased 40 units of the Aero2, with the option to acquire an additional 100. This is one of the largest civilian drone purchase ever made in the United States.
Dufour Aerospace secured nearly $3 million, the maximum grant available under the Suisse Accelerator program. The program, organised by Innosuisse, the Swiss Confederation's innovation agency, selected Dufour and 52 other companies for funding.
Dufour Aerospace boasts a team will develop the heavy-duty cargo drones to be capable of handling mountainous and rural settings while maintaining high-load and long-distance flight capabilities. Beyond cargo transportation is has versatility in search and rescue (SAR) missions, as it can be equipped with specialised cameras, infrared equipment, and perform surveillance operations across expansive areas.
The Aero2's design combines a conventional tail with a tilt-wing configuration featuring four propellers mounted on top of the wing. The advantages of this design include increased payload capacity and an extended range. Its vertical take-off and landing capability allows for conventional airplane-like landings in emergency situations.
The cargo drone is projected to cover approximately 250 miles with a maximum payload of 44 lb in its long-range configuration. The company claim that the Aero2 will transport cargo at five times the speed of a car while maintaining a comparable cost per KM. Furthermore, the drone's ability to access remote and challenging areas adds another layer of value. Commercial service for the Aero2 is expected to commence in 2025.
Air Taxis in Pakistan
Karachi-based aviation company, Sky Wings Aviation, is about to launch Pakistan's inaugural aerial ride-hailing service. The service, developed in collaboration with Wind Speed International, will connect multiple airports across the country, aiming to boost business and tourism.
Passengers can reserve rides using a dedicated web app, similar to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Careem. The initial fleet will consist of eight aircraft, expanding to include more in subsequent phases, enabling people to travel anywhere in Pakistan and tapping into the potential of under-utilised airports.
The service also offers the transportation of valuable cargo and is expected to be more cost-effective than chartered flights. Sky Wings Aviation envisions this venture as a blueprint for future similar services in the Middle East and neighbouring countries, and they are open to expanding investment in Pakistan's aviation sector, including potential investment from the Middle East.
Who Operates The Drones
Amazon's drone delivery progress has fallen considerably short. Amazon has acknowledged a shift in its 2023 objectives, attributing the change to regulatory obstacles imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA expanded Prime Air's authorisation for drone deliveries to include sites in California and Texas. However the FAA don’t own the air space to give, which is curious.
Several other companies' drone programs have gained traction, particularly those initiated outside the regulatory confines of the United States to show proof of concept. Wing, a subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet has a drone testing facility in Hollister, California. The company has successfully completed 330,000 deliveries. While a considerable portion of these deliveries served partners such as Walgreens in Virginia and Texas, Wing's primary operations are based in Australia, where it facilitates orders from DoorDash and the supermarket chain Coles, covering over 50 suburbs. Last year they claim over 1,000 daily deliveries within a specific location.
Walmart's drone deliveries in Arkansas, facilitated through a partnership with Zipline who introduced a model involving the use of a tether to lower a "droid" to the ground.
DroneUp, another Walmart partner, has successfully conducted over 110,000 deliveries across the United States. To streamline operations and prioritise consumer delivery over enterprise services like construction and real estate monitoring.
While Amazon's drone delivery program has encountered setbacks other companies like Wing and Zipline have demonstrated greater success in drone delivery implementation. FAA safety conditions and the permission of the air rights owners are the two key elements for the operators to get scale.
Skyscrapers and Urban Air Mobility
Skyscrapers have long been hailed as architectural marvels that optimise the use of urban spaces. Now communities face new challenges, the composition of cities is changing and we need to seek innovative solutions to the changes. Building new cities and communities and repurposing older ones. Urban Air Mobility (UAM) like drones and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are key to making the changes net positive for these areas.
Skyscrapers, by virtue of their heights, enable vertical expansion and efficient land utilisation in crowded urban environments. UAM presents a unique opportunity for vertical airspace utilisation. Drones and eVTOL aircraft can navigate the skies, effectively bypassing congestion on roads, and optimising urban airspace. By using UAM cities can extend their space beyond ground level, unlocking new possibilities for transportation, logistics and associated industry and jobs.
Drones and eVTOLs offer faster, on-demand transportation for people and cargo delivery times. By leveraging three dimensions it can provide a complementary solution to ground-based transportation, enhancing overall urban mobility.
Decentralising transportation can be done by creating vertical landing and takeoff points. These vertiports can be strategically located throughout communities, improving accessibility to various neighbourhoods and reducing the distance individuals need to travel to access transportation hubs. Drone drop off and collection points can utilise property and generate new kinds of businesses and services. Like in the days of expansion out West when towns and communities sprung up to service those seeking economic freedoms and adventure.
The power local communities hold in their air rights is an avenue for significant economic growth. Integrating UAM with existing local transportation networks will enhance connectivity, streamline urban mobility and help transportation authorities and municipalities. Rather than cities digging tunnels underground or laying light rail tracks with the associated costs, we take to the skies.
Skyscrapers owe their existence to advancements in construction techniques and materials. Similarly, UAM is driven by advancements in drone and eVTOL technology, including battery efficiency and autonomous navigation. Just as skyscrapers revolutionised our environment, UAM will positively reshape the urban landscape with the advent of the air rights owner as the significant stakeholder.
Like skyscrapers allowed cities to use limited land more efficiently, urban air transportation needs three dimensional airspace to alleviate transportation congestion and save the tens of thousands of people who die needlessly in road accidents each year.
The unlock for US growth in the 1800s was the railways. The unlock for growth in air travel in 1940s to the 1970s was the jet engine. The unlock for urban road mobility and ride share was GPS and the smartphone in the 2010s. The unlock for urban air mobility and utilising low altitude air space is air rights. jonathan@skytrades.io