Advancing Aviation Mobility

A major highlight at this year’s Wings India was the Advanced Air Mobility Conference.

A ‘first of its kind’ event in India, that became a dynamic platform for industry experts, innovators, policymakers, and influencers to convene and delve into the forefront of cutting-edge aviation technologies in India. Renowned speakers from top companies and organisations offered insights, shared experiences, and presented developments, offered a thorough comprehension of the opportunities and challenges on the horizon in the Indian aviation landscape.

Autonomous aviation is poised to reshape the future workforce, usher in new industries, and revolutionise communities and lifestyles. It is crucial for stakeholders to anticipate these changes, and optimise benefits while addressing potential drawbacks. India stands as a potential global hub for Advanced Air Mobility solutions. These range from electric VTOL (Vertical Take-Off & Landing) urban air taxis to hybrid-powered regional aircraft designs, promising to redefine aviation and open untapped markets in the decades ahead. India, with its vast potential, presents a fertile ground for the implementation of these cutting-edge technologies, offering solutions for regional connectivity between its burgeoning cities and addressing traffic congestion within urban centers.

DRONE TECHNOLOGIES ARE UPLIFTING LIVES AND MAKING A TANGIBLE IMPACT ON THE AVIATION LANDSCAPE

At the recently concluded Dubai Air Show, Bengaluru emerged as a potential launchpad for the future of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as Eve Air Mobility and Hunch Mobility collaborated to introduce electric commuter flights to the Indian subcontinent. InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, has inked a deal with Archer Aviation to explore the introduction of eVTOL air taxi services in India. Hence, Advanced Air Mobility emerges as the frontier in the evolution of civil aviation.

This initiative during Wings India, laid the groundwork for the imminent transformation of regional connectivity, the functioning of vertiports and airports, and access to finance for infrastructure among others. The Aviation Innovation Zone at the Wings India Exhibition was an opportunity for Advanced Air Mobility companies and start-ups to showcase their solutions whether for Regional Air Mobility or Urban Air Mobility.

Several new eVTOLs companies showcased their ideas, prototypes and even mock ups to attract the industry, potential investors as well as the visitors towards their advanced technology. Companies like Nalwar, Airark, e-Plane were among those present. What was interesting to note was that many of the eVTOL start-ups at Wings India were fairly new, a couple of them as recent as established in 2023 and were still ready with their technologies or mock-ups and fairly optimistic to enter the extremely nascent industry. Some of these mock-ups were also at display and became major attractions for visitors from the industry as well as public.

The Advanced Air Mobility - India conference also featured deliberations on the ecosystem under the following subheads:

• Revolutionising Transportation: The Future of eVTOLS in India - building a case for localised manufacturing
• Navigating the Skies: Air Traffic Management for Advanced Air Mobility - ensure total deconfliction with the uninvolved
• Regulating the Future: Policy, Economics and Legal Considerations around AAM and the need to develop an India CONOPS
• Keynote Addresses: India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

An exciting roundtable on Advanced Air Mobility – India Conference discussed revolutionising transportation through localised eVTOL manufacturing, AAM infrastructure retrofitting, and addressing regulatory aspects.

Apart from drones and eVTOLs, there were also other interesting techologies that graced Wings India in the form of cabin advancements, engine technologies, seats, aircraft design and more that offered a glimpse into the future of advanced air mobility. For one instance, Lufthansa Technik displayed a physical model alongside a VR experience of their engine washing technology Cyclean that enables airlines to clean their engines quickly and very efficiently. Lufthansa Technik states that while results vary between operating conditions and engine types, experience shows that frequent washes produce a fuel flow reduction of up to 1 per cent. They also featured their coating technology, AeroSHARK that boasts of close to 5 million tonnes of kerosene per year fuel savings on the global fleet of aircraft.

THE AVIATION INNOVATION ZONE AT THE WINGS INDIA EXHIBITION WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY COMPANIES AND STARTUPS TO SHOWCASE THEIR SOLUTIONS WHETHER FOR REGIONAL AIR MOBILITY OR URBAN AIR MOBILITY.

A captivating roundtable explored the transformative impact of drone technology on various sectors. Worldwide, drones are becoming crucial tools, from aiding police stations to delivering crucial medicines. Drone technologies are uplifting lives in agriculture, healthcare, and beyond, making a tangible impact on the aviation landscape.

The Advanced Air Mobility – India Conference at Wings India 2024 featured panels on revolutionising transportation with localised eVTOL manufacturing, retrofitting cities with AAM infrastructure, ensuring air traffic management for AAM, and discussing regulatory aspects, including policy, economics, and legal considerations for developing an India CONOPS.

Here are some key takeaways from the roundtable on “Drone Technology - Flight to the Future: Drones Revolutionising the Aviation Landscape” at the show:

• Worldwide, drones are transforming the way we work, serving as crucial tools in various applications.
• In regions like Arunachal Pradesh, drones are facilitating the delivery of medicines, bridging gaps in remote areas and ensuring healthcare accessibility.
• Drone technologies are uplifting the lives of farmers, introducing innovative approaches to cultivation and sustainability.
• The NAMO Drone Didi scheme empowers women, making them integral stakeholders in local farming supply chains.
• From aiding police stations to delivering crucial medicines, drones are making a tangible impact on various sectors.
• Drones will revolutionise cities, transport, and the environment.