While startups have been racking up conditional orders for their in-development advanced air mobility aircraft, news concerning the infrastructure that will been needed to support all these aircraft has been slower coming. But there were signs of progress at the Farnborough Airshow.
Customer interest in advanced air mobility continued to expand at the Farnborough Airshow, both by mission and geography, diversifying the orderbook beyond its early focus on airlines and lessors.
The advanced air mobility supply base is beginning to look quite familiar to aerospace industry watchers, as established companies with commercial aircraft experience are rising to the top. It is a trend that was reinforced by news from the Farnborough International Airshow.
As startups advance zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion toward production by the mid-2020s for aircraft with up to 50 seats, a UK research program is indicating the technology’s potential to power regional airliners with 100 seats.
Satellite communications provider Inmarsat and Flight Crowd, a not-for-profit organization formed to promote public awareness of urban air mobility, will collaborate on a series of outreach events.
