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unconventional aircraft replacing ground transportation emis-  As AAMs begin to mature within the commer-
        sions with Urban Air mobility eVTOLs. This emissions-focused  cial aviation industry McKinsey sees adoption
        view was the number one answer of respondents from the IFS  on the horizon, firstly, seeing an establish-
        webinar, with attendees feeling the biggest impact of AAM is the  ment of an aerospace-grade supply chain and
        potential to reduce greenhouse gases.                          secondly, it predicts an emergence of organi-
                                                                       zations focusing on operations and ongoing
        Societal benefits are also clear to see. A recent report on trans-  maintenance and support. In order to capture
        port connectivity by the UK Government revealed that two in  as much market share as possible, it’s likely
        three people thought that improved transport links would have  that many AAM organizations will look to be a
        a positive impact on people’s ability to access job opportunities.  “one-stop” shop throughout an AAVs lifecycle.
        The regional and short-haul advantages of AAM could apply here
        to positively impact commuting opportunities, but from a cargo  Software must match the evo-
        perspective it could provide better linkage to rural communities   lution of AAVs throughout their
        by delivering vital supplies and services to under-served areas.
                                                                       lifecycle to be long-lasting
        In the U.S., AAM-specific legislations gained house approval
        and funding which provided a $25 million grant to support AAM   For organizations and AAVs to be able to
        development. Furthermore the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure   move in partnership along their journey it is
        Modernization Act now allows for planning and building to start   crucial for software to be the central focus for
        using existing airports to establish “vertiports” and associated   growth to establish dominance in a maturing
        charging infrastructure but crucially, the legislation aims to   market.
        include communities in the process bringing new technology     A once in a lifetime opportunity has arisen
        and new green jobs to diverse communities.                     in the AAM industry for businesses to gain a

        This all of course comes at a cost. A recent assessment in Sydney   market share with AAM organizations requir-
                                                                       ing software capable of matching where the
        estimated AAM ground infrastructure will cost $136 million and   organization  is  along  the  different  points
        another $100 million in low-altitude air traffic control—but the   of production or use of AAV assets. As the
        estimated revenue outcome for AAM in Sydney alone is estimated   industry moves beyond “start-up mode” to
        at $4 billon.                                                  becoming airborne, challenges evolve around

        Get ahead of the market by starting today                      manufacturing, operations and ongoing AAV
                                                                       asset support. It’s also crucial for end-to-end
        AAM is currently a very disruptive landscape full of start-ups   systems to link all the data sources together
                                                                       with stakeholders in the AAM ecosystem. It’s
        or spin-offs and joint ventures, all racing to be first to market.   all about uncrewed system design, manufac-
        But AAM organizations will face the same challenges when       turing, supply chain, and aftermarket services
        going from that inflection point of moving from design, proof-  that need a digital backbone capable of sup-
        of-concept, and prototyping, to commercialization, widescale   porting sustainment now and into the future.
        operations, and ongoing maintenance/support. The lion’s share   AAM manufacturers must position themselves
        of the market will actually be grabbed by the companies that   with the right strategy and software now or
        can get to mass production the fastest.                        miss out on a rapidly growing market.

        ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE                                                    JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2023 | 27
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