Bundestag researcher: "Significant challenges" for air cab operations

In a future transportation mix, air cabs will most likely only represent a niche offering in premium markets. This is the conclusion reached by the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag (TAB) in a recently published short study on manned, fully electrically powered, vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The researchers expect that more and more eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) will be on the road in the near future. However, there are still “considerable challenges to successful operation”.

This primarily relates to regulatory issues, according to the analysis. This applies above all to aviation security and general air traffic regulations. In Germany, for example, this includes the obligation to have an airport. In addition, the scientists emphasize that “economically viable operator and business models beyond prestige projects still need to be proven”. Environmental policy aspects as a result of newly emerging burdens such as noise in the course of urban air mobility (UAM) also need to be clarified.

“The air cab is no longer a vision, it's a reality,” claimed the then Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer (CSU) back in 2018, adding that it was only frustrating that his colleague Dorothee Bär had recently been subjected to a shitstorm for making such an announcement. Even then, the promise was that politicians would quickly prepare the legal framework. For example: “Where do we let these things take off and land, where are the flight paths?”

Technological developments required

Legislators have not made much progress since then. Local flagship projects for small electric aircraft developers are also in trouble. Lilium had to file for insolvency for the second time in February after a failed rescue. Volocopter was recently taken over by Chinese automotive supplier Wanfeng, saving the Bruchsal-based company from insolvency. However, the approval for passenger operations is still delayed.

The TAB experts have identified four areas in which further technological developments are required to overcome the prototype stage that has been reached so far and to increase the performance and reliability of the overall system of a UAM based on eVTOL. They refer to automated systems for controlling aircraft, electric drive technologies, series production of lightweight components and the development or adaptation of supporting infrastructures such as maintenance and supply facilities.

According to the report, innovations in the field of drone technology are a prerequisite for the increased potential regarding the use of automated aircraft for passenger transportation. In the case of electrically powered air cabs, the aim is to achieve the highest level of automation, taking over all functions from take-off to landing. However, as fully automated flying places high technical demands, concepts with remote control by pilots are being developed and tested in parallel.

Integration into transportation concepts and economic efficiency

“It is estimated that around 200 players worldwide are working on concepts for electrically powered vertical take-off aircraft,” the researchers state. In addition to numerous start-ups, 72 percent of the 25 largest aircraft manufacturers and 64 percent of the 25 largest suppliers are involved in some form of activity in the field of advanced air mobility. The local players include Airbus and Siemens. Audi has also discovered the topic for itself.

According to the study, in addition to technology, the integration of autonomous air cabs into existing transportation concepts is likely to play a decisive role, for example as a feeder service to airports. The UAM requirement also results in high demands on the design of the safety and control architecture. In principle, the scientists see air cabs as a potentially politically relevant part of the transport transition. This could create an “additional, attractive mobility offer that relieves inner-city traffic in specific areas”. However, “high demand” is not yet expected in the medium term. A market launch would depend not least on economic aspects.

(mho)