FutureFlight
Uncrewed Traffic Management Pioneer Works to Kick-start Advanced Air Mobility in Asia
While eVTOL aircraft and uncrewed drones will operate differently in various countries, Heron AirBridge says a robust approach to air traffic management will be the key to success.
Eve Air Mobility's four-passenger eVTOL aircraft could operate in Singapore.
New eVTOL aircraft developers like Eve Air Mobility view Asian markets such as Singapore as early adopters of the new mode of transportation. (Image: Eve)

Singapore-based tech start-up, Heron AirBridge, is expanding its reach in the Asia-Pacific region with an uncrewed aircraft system traffic management (UTM) platform that it expects to be a key enabler of advanced air mobility (AAM) services mainly using new eVTOL aircraft. According to CEO and co-founder Ryan Lee, the company has already begun talks in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand as it contributes to the effort of securing regulatory compliance and public acceptance of the new mode of transportation.

“Every country in Asia is in a different state of economic development; there are different considerations, including political readiness and security concerns over building a low-altitude economy,” Lee told AIN. “Higher-income nations such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are motivated by the need to strengthen competitiveness and safety in key sectors while building viable domestic AAM industries. For lower-income countries, including Cambodia, Laos, and Timor Leste, a potential driver for AAM is infrastructure development. With rapid urbanization, AAM can provide a much cheaper option to build and maintain infrastructure more efficiently than traditional transportation systems, such as roads, railways, and tunnels.”