A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

“How quickly the world has changed,” said moderator Cyrus Sigari, executive chairman and&nbsp;co-founder of&nbsp;jetAviva&nbsp;and co-founder and&nbsp;managing partner of AAM venture capital investment firm UP.Partners, before introducing the six panelists on Wednesday at the NBAA-BACE 2021 Day 2 Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) keynote session. The six—Eric Allison, head of product at Joby&nbsp;Aviation; Kyle Clark, CEO of Beta Technologies; Martin Peryea, CEO of Jaunt Air Mobility; Sebastian Thrun, CEO of Kitty Hawk Corp.; Melissa Tomkiel, president of Blade Urban Air Mobility; and Benjamin Tigner, CEO of Overair—lead companies that are bringing new technologies and solutions to AAM.
They explained what is happening and what’s coming in an inspiring session that evoked events from the debut of the Jetsons on television&nbsp;60 years ago&nbsp;to William Shatner’s journey to space aboard Blue Origin on the day of the forum.
All agreed that in getting public acceptance&nbsp;of AAMs, “the biggest issue is noise,” as Blade’s Tomkiel noted. Aircraft these companies are developing all incorporate quiet technology, in addition to electric motors, dramatically reducing sonic impacts.&nbsp;
Blade, rather than building its own AAM vehicle, is creating a support infrastructure while currently providing urban mobility via conventional rotorcraft. Tomkiel noted current service from New York City to JFK Airport is the same cost as black car service, and that airport landing fees represent most of the cost. She called for “partnerships with government and municipalities” to reduce such fees to promote greener eVTOL solutions.
All agreed vertical integration is “critical” for manufacturers, as Joby’s Allison said, with each company developing their own aircraft, engines, and operational support “to connect engineering and production, and quickly bring aircraft to market and keep up the cycle of innovation.” Joby, which bought&nbsp;Uber Elevate, is developing a piloted four-passenger eVTOL.
The six companies represented all have somewhat unique business models, aimed at exploiting different opportunities in the emerging AAM market.&nbsp;
Beta Technologies, which is developing a six-passenger, mast-mounted single propeller eVTOL, is pursuing an “early adoption path” within the existing regulatory environment, said Clark, starting with transporting organs for transplant, then cargo operations, and passenger service later.
“By the time the urban environment will accept AAMs, we’ll have thousands of aircraft and millions of hours of operational experience.”
Jaunt Air Mobility is developing a commuter eVTOL with a large, mast-mounted single propeller complemented by four smaller, fixed wing-mounted engines “that behaves like a typical airplane,” said Peryea. He cited a need for more public awareness of AAM's benefits, noting that Uber's car service had succeeded in educating consumers about its on-call offering, but “that voice is gone,” he said. “Everybody on stage needs to work on getting word out to the public.”
Kitty Hawk is developing the Flyer, a personal electric aircraft with eight propellers, with “the vision to make every person fly every day," said Thrun. “We want people to make traffic congestion go away, and make transportation faster and greener.”&nbsp;
Thrun sees a “set of new technologies that are completely mind-blowing,” including AI and machine learning, to transform AAM and “at some point get rid of pilots altogether,” he said. He predicted major advances following “a big moment where Silicon Valley gets interested in aviation.”
Overair,&nbsp;a spinoff of Karem Aircraft, is developing the Butterfly quad tiltrotor eVTOL, which Tigner believes can provide lift options “totally complementary to the existing aviation landscape.” With the company’s experience in already providing drone lift for the military, “We can put larger rotors on the system, with four vector thrust engines on its fixed wings,” and hover “in very challenging weather conditions.”
All six also see AAMs as helping “turn the corner on climate change,” as Beta Technologies'&nbsp;Clark said.&nbsp;
Joby’s Allision promised attendees, “We will democratize flight, and you’ll be part of it.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

AAM Set to 'Change the World,' Innovators Tell BACE Attendees

Day 2 Keynote brings six AAM Innovators to stage, highlights repaid eVTOL developments.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

City officials and a local university are working with manufacturer Electra 

Helsinki Evaluates Hybrid-electric Flight Connections

Platform offers 100 kilogram payload and 300 nm range 

Zuri Prepares to Fly Hybrid-electric Cargo Drone 

Broker says new aircraft production rates and tax changes are key drivers

Jetcraft Bullish on Preowned Business Aircraft Market

Amy Wilder

Aircraft flew Jacksonville to San Diego nonstop

SyberJet SJ30-2 Sets Unofficial Transcontinental Record

Hanneke Weitering

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Aircraft