MORRIS PLAINS, Feb. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Many industry observers expect 2024 to be a pivotal year for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle pioneers seeking to create the urban air mobility (UAM) market. As capital becomes more difficult to raise and the path to certification continues to be challenging, consolidation among the 500 or so companies aiming to provide electric aircraft services may begin to bear fruit.
At the same time, as some companies get closer to starting flight services, the question of what exactly the passenger experience will look like is coming into greater focus.
One of the most important benefits for potential travelers is saving time. A McKinsey & Company survey of consumer sentiment on UAM in 2021 found that 35% of US travelers prioritized saving time over anything else, with this highlighted by 47% of Brazilian travelers. This may indicate that ground transportation issues are key to creating a worthwhile alternative. In second place by a large margin for American travelers, at only 15%, was the novelty factor of electric helicopter travel.
How can you save time connecting from the city center to the airport?
At a December 2023 event in New York City designed to draw attention to the city's bona fides as a breeding ground for urban air transportation and to seek bids to develop a heliport in midtown Manhattan, New York City Mayor Eric Adams cited safety and sustainability among critical goals. Those familiar with Manhattan's geography and the traffic issues associated with its connections to major local airports will appreciate the potential benefits UAM will bring in avoiding ground traffic as well.
What does true comfort look like for UAM?
Wealthier travellers, who are likely to be early adopters of services, typically take a ride-sharing or car service directly from their home or workplace to their local airport. After going through security and purchasing a cup of coffee, you can reach the departure gate 20 to 30 minutes after arriving at the airport.
While UAM companies understand the need for point-to-point services well, achieving or exceeding the same level of convenience will require connecting urban transportation networks to the airport's verticals. Locating vertical airfields at existing airports may seem easy, but the proximity of the vertical airfield to the passenger terminal and gate will be essential. If air traffic control (ATC) or other restrictions require that the e-plane land at a remote corner of the airport and that passengers use a bus service that connects to the security portion outside the airport, the time saved by the flight may be cancelled.
On the other hand, quickly clearing security at a downtown hub before boarding a flight that takes you a short distance from your gate will create the kind of value that passengers are more likely to come back for.
A final word on comfort. Regular users of ride-sharing apps often cite ease of use as the reason they switched from taxis in the past decade. In most cities today, a clean car arrives at your door within minutes of booking. To achieve roughly the same levels of comfort, UAM operators will need to maintain regular, reliable schedules.
When considering comfort, designers must consider how to make the experience as passenger-centric as possible. Gilmore's group has done significant research on this matter. In one study, more passengers expressed “extreme concern” about not having a flight attendant than not having a pilot on board. The same report found that passengers were more concerned about the prospect of sitting face-to-face with other passengers than the prospect of flying in an all-electric plane.
By highlighting traveler expectations regarding seating and service, this study suggests that electric helicopter operators will need to understand and take these issues into account to succeed with early adopters, who are likely to be mainstream travelers with well-established expectations.
Add to this the need to provide easy and safe boarding and exit, accessibility for passengers with special needs, and space for more than just carry-on luggage, and the challenge facing engineers and designers is clear. A lot of efficiency will be lost if passengers have to send golf clubs or large suitcases to the airport by car.
How does the cost factor?
McKinsey's 2021 report explored how much consumers are willing to pay more for UAM compared to current airport transportation. It found that 16% of Americans were willing to spend five times the cost of regular ground transportation. This number rises to 30% of Brazilians and 36% of Indians, and this may indicate congestion in major cities in those countries. Germany ranked lowest in terms of consumers willing to pay more, which may have more to do with current efficient ground transportation systems than cost.
Unlocking potential may have more to do with identifying markets based on demographics, need, and accessibility than pure cost. In the early days of operation, flight price is unlikely to be a major issue given the exclusivity and novelty factor that creates early demand. Cost will be increasingly important as operations expand and expand into additional markets, as will comfort and passenger comfort.
The future of UAM is bright
With UAM expected to become a reality in the next few years, it will be fascinating to see how everyday services materialize. The exciting future of urban aviation is just around the corner!
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