Page 32 - SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2024 - INSIGHT

‘Social Acceptance

is Critical for the

Success of UAM’

Alan Lim, Director,
Alton Aviation Consulting in Singapore.

here will not be a ‘big bang’ OEMs have raised more than realistic goal?
increase in Advanced Air US$11B in capital. A record cap-
Mobility (AAM) and Urban ital was raised in 2021 amidst The launch of air taxi services in
T Air Mobility (UAM) opera- announcements of test flights 2024-25 appears possible for some
tions in a few years, but the sector and the initiation of the first steps AAM vehicles, contingent upon
is expected to come of age in the towards certification. However, their development and certification
next 20 to 30 years, according to funding has since slowed from progress. It is anticipated that a
Alan Lim, Director, Alton Aviation the peak of US$5.3B, with only number of these vehicles will com-
Consulting, Singapore. US$3.2B raised in 2022 and mence service within the next two
US$1.5B in 2023. years, although initial operations
Alton Aviation is the Singapore are expected to be on a smaller
Airshow’s partner in deliver- With a long path ahead toward scale. Notably, Paris is planning
ing a discussion on AAM at the certification and operationalization, to trial air taxi services for pas-
AeroForum during the event. “We financing remains a key area of senger transport during the 2024
envision established operations concern for OEMs; liquidity issues Olympic Games. Similarly, in APAC,
with full market adoption globally in could jeopardize their ability to EHang, having recently received
the next 20 to 30 years,” Lim tells reach their certification timelines. its type certificate and Certificate of
Arun Sivasankaran. “The timeline As some OEMs near their EIS and Airworthiness from the Civil Aviation
is expected to be sufficient for the enter the final stages of obtain- Administration of China, is plan-
AAM technology to achieve a state ing certification, we will see an ning to launch aerial tourism and
of maturity, allowing for mainstream increased need for funds. local sightseeing services using its
adoption and acceptance. Initially, EH216-S aircraft at the demonstra-
AAM services will likely take off in For OEMs, the potential of cer- tion centre in Shenzhen Bao’an.
launch cities and major metropoli- tification and commercialization
tans, but as the technology evolves will be key in bolstering investor To date, while there have been
and becomes more integrated into confidence and securing funding. many press releases describing the
our transportation systems, its However, in terms of funding of the launch of air taxi operations in cities
adoption will extend well beyond industry, we will likely not reach the around the globe, we have not seen
these initial urban centers.” extents of 2021 which was fueled the supporting infrastructure ready
by a combination of a low interest for such a service. Full-scale com-
Q Funding for urban air mobility rate environment and hype in UAM mercialization of air taxi services
(UAM) declined in 2022 after a (amidst the severely diminished will likely take more time, as opera-
record 2021 but picked up last commercial aviation environment). tors focus on smaller scale tourism
year. Do you expect funding for and air taxi services first. It is imper-
the advanced air mobility (AAM) Q Some of the players in the UAM ative to establish both regulatory
sector to increase in 2024? sector are targeting the launch and societal acceptance for air taxi
of air taxi services in the 2024- operations, a process that neces-
Between 2018 and 2023, eVTOL 25 period. Do you think that is a sitates substantial collaboration

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