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An Operator’s Guide to Buying AAM Aircraft
OEMs face multiple challenges including securing financing
and extending cash runways
Alan Lim, Director, Alton Aviation Consultancy
he focus over the past few services, and utility services
months has been about (agricultural, industrial).
T AAM vehicle certification
– not just hybrid and electric The different design, config-
VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and uration, and powertrain used
Landing) aircraft, but electric for each aircraft will lead to a
CTOL (Conventional Takeoff and wide range of performance
Landing) aircraft as well. Apart capabilities. Depending on an
from overcoming certification operators’ business model and
hurdles, OEMs face multiple choice of use case / mission, the
challenges including securing importance of range, payload,
financing and extending cash infrastructure requirements, and
runways, ensuring holistic infra- operating cost will be different.
structure support, and finding
customers to buy their aircraft. Range – Operators will need to
While all eyes are on the OEMs, Aircraft Selection consider the amount of flexibility
operators, as buyers of the Considerations in range they require, which will
aircraft, need to come into focus depend on the types of missions
as well. Operators need to make The most common use cases that the aircraft will be deployed
AAM aircraft selection decisions currently being explored by on.
from over a thousand AAM con- OEMs and operators for AAM A shorter-ranged, all-electric air-
cepts in the market. Financing vehicles include passenger craft can only be used on urban
these purchases would be transportation (both urban and air mobility missions, last mile
another key decision operators regional air mobility), freight / parcel deliveries, and some util-
will have to make thereafter. logistics services, air medical ity missions. Hybrid aircraft and
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