Air One – world’s first fully operational Urban-Air Port for eVTOL aircraft and drone technology to go operational soon

Prashant-prabhakar

22 Apr 2022

Flying air taxis and eVTOL aircraft are touted to be the next game-changers when it comes to urban air mobility (UAM) with many developers joining the bandwagon to create multi-functional, state-of-the-art electric flying car models and drones.

Representative | sUAS News

Urban-Air Port, a UK based Aviation and aerospace manufacturing company, has designed "Air One"- an airport, or a "vertiport", for the safe operations of electric flying cars and drones in Coventry, UK.

Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. EVTOLs will need Urban Air PortsRicky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port, reportedly said

Ricky Sandhu | Trendsmap

According to Sandhu, while there has been an unprecedented interest in the development of eVTOL aircraft, the same couldn't be said for the appropriate infrastructure required for the handling of their operations.

The 17,000-square-foot airport,  constructed from steel and aluminium wrapped in a tensile translucent fabric, is designed to be "a world-first fully-operational 'pop up' urban airport and charging hub for future electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft".

We wanted to create a multi-functional operations hub for manned and unmanned vehicles providing aircraft command and control, refuelling, cargo and passenger loading. This new, green intermodal infrastructure will remove the largest, single constraint to sustainable air mobility and significantly cut congestion and air pollution from passenger and cargo transport and create a zero-emission ecosystem.Ricky Sandhu

The airport layout

Located in the centre of Coventry in the West Midlands, the airport will feature a 14-metre-wide, dome-shaped launchpad, sitting atop the middle of the prefabricated building.

urban airport

Upon touch down on the landing platform, the flying car or drone will drop down inside the hanger, where it can recharge and unload to be ready for its next flight.

Facilities also include a passenger lounge, security screening area, restaurants, shops and a designated drone area.

Representative | dezeen

A defence and logistics area, away from the passenger lounge, will house disaster relief operations, airside-mobile-clinics, air evacuation hubs, defence and logistics lines and other emergency services.

While the EVTOL cars will transport passengers around the country, the autonomous drones will collect and deliver emergency supplies and equipment for the British police and emergency services.

Owing to its central city location, the "vertiport"  has a 60 per cent smaller footprint than traditional heliports.

In Coventry, we are in an ultra-dense location where almost half a million people work and live right next to the main train station in the city centre. Our solution is compact but high capacity- that means we take up less space in the heart of a city where these electric vehicles can land and take off efficiently and quickly providing a new mode of sustainable transport and new connectivityexplained Sandhu

Hydrogen fuel cells will be used to power the airport.

In Coventry, we are powering AirOne from hydrogen fuel cells that will also power our fast EV chargers. The EV chargers are for ground transport vehicles so we provide a seamless journey that is zero-emissionSandhu said

The airport has been designed in such a way that the architecture can be adapted and modified to be suitable for other modes of transport, such as flying buses or scooters in the future. Not surprisingly, the company also has plans of opening more than 200 such "airports" in cities around the world in the next five years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZcvhO3-fAk

The choice of building materials for the Air One are in line with Urban-Air Port's DNA and are based on rapid deployability, flat-packed system, modularity and demountability. This allows for a quick installation and dismantling processes and transportation to the next venue said Sandhu

Supernal- the Urban Air Mobility Division of South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor, currently has one of its flying air car models - the Air Taxi SA-1, parked in the hangar for display. Reportedly, the company is planning to commercialize the aerial vehicle by 2028.

Urban-Air Port

“In the future, streets will be three-dimensional with less need for roads; as such there will be more space for green areas. Greener, cleaner and safe streets for better connected, walkable and sustainable cities. The vehicles on the road will be shared, so there will be no need to actually own a car"-says Sandhu.

Also according to Sandhu, the launch of Air One marks an important step in the burgeoning flying vehicle industry and could reduce congestion and air pollution in cities, providing a solution to the growing climate crisis.

Cleaner, inter-city flight technology is vital not only to reducing emissions, but to better connecting remote communities, from small towns in the UK to isolated settlements all around the world. As we build back greener from the pandemic, initiatives like the government-backed Air One project will help us develop the infrastructure needed to make our dreams of flying taxis a reality Kwasi Kwarteng – Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of United Kingdom

Reportedly, flying cars that transport passengers could start using the airport in 2025, while the first cargo drone is set to take off on 25 April 2022-Urban-Air Port.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: URBAN AIR PORT

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Air India announces group medical insurance scheme for its employees

Radhika Bansal

22 Apr 2022

In an attempt to provide better medical facilities across a large network of hospitals across the country, Air India announced a Group Medical Insurance scheme that will be activated from 15 May 2022. 

"This medical insurance scheme will be fully extendable to both permanent and fixed term contract employees and their dependents based in India," the airline said in a statement. 

The sum insured provided would be INR 7.5 lakh per annum per family (maximum family size 7 - Employees Spouse/Partner + 3 Children + 2 Parent/Parent-in-Law) with an option of corporate buffer, to be used by employees In case of medical exigencies, it added.

Air India announces group medical insurance scheme for its employees

A detailed insurance policy and the network of hospitals will be shared in due course highlighting all benefits provided as part of the policy, the carrier added. 

A dedicated helpline would be provided for employees to reach out to the assigned Third-Party Administrator (TPA) that would assist in the insurance clarifications, claim processing and any other queries regarding the insurance policy. 

"With the introduction of the medical insurance policy, employees would have the necessary support at their time of need anywhere in the country."

A detailed insurance policy and the network of hospitals will be shared in due course highlighting all benefits provided as part of the policy

The new medical insurance scheme's announcement comes days after the carrier had said that it will be restoring salaries of employees in a phased manner to pre-pandemic levels as the aviation sector is recovering with the decline of COVID-19 cases in the country.

ALSO READ - Air India begins restoring salaries to pre-pandemic levels gradually

The Indian aviation sector was badly hit due to the pandemic-induced travel restrictions during the last two years and therefore, all airlines in India had cut salaries.

Air India is restoring salaries of employees in a phased manner to pre-pandemic levels as the aviation sector is recovering with the decline of COVID-19 cases in the country

From April 1 this year, flying allowance, special pay, and wide-body allowance of pilots are being restored by 20%, 25%, and 25%, respectively, the document had stated.

ALSO READ - Medical insurance for retired Air India employees finalised by the government

Earlier in January, the government has finalised a solution to provide medical insurance to the 30,000 retired staff members of Air India who had opted for the post-retirement medical scheme, a huge relief for the ex-workers as this was not among the pre-conditions for transfer of the airline to the Tata Group.

The number of retired employees at Air India is about 50,000, of these, about 30,000 have opted for the post-retirement medical scheme.

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TIDCO and GE team up to establish an aviation engine technology centre in Tamil Nadu

Radhika Bansal

21 Apr 2022

US-based aircraft engine manufacturer GE has partnered with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to set up a Centre of Excellence in the southern state on emerging aviation engine technologies.

“GE will bring its rich 100-year aerospace experience to this CoE. The CoE can leverage GE’s technology and research capabilities in an agile environment. GE’s team will be backed by its India technology centre team located in Bengaluru which has been working on aerospace technology design development for over 20 years.”Vikram Reddy, GM, Aviation Engineering, GE

"An investment of around INR 141.26 crore over five years was proposed to be funded by TIDCO and GE in two phases," stated a joint press release issued on Monday, April 18.

The Centre of Excellence will work towards technology development of aviation engine parts such as compressor heat exchangers, combustor components, casing, frames, gears, and splines, it noted.

“The GE partnership with government of Tamil Nadu is a significant milestone in the growth of the aerospace and defence ecosystem in the state. With the establishment of this facility, Tamil Nadu will emerge as an aerospace and defence hub for research and development and advanced manufacturing of aerospace parts. The partnership with GE will help attract investments in the defence and aerospace sector in the state.”B Krishnamoorthy, Additional Secretary and Project Director, TIDCO

An operating unit of General Electric, the world’s largest corporation, GE Aviation is a major producer of jet and turboprop engines and components for both commercial and military aircraft.

It also produces integrated digital, electric power and mechanical systems for aircraft. The company has an extensive global service network to support its products, with operations in more than 50 locations worldwide.

An operating unit of General Electric, the world’s largest corporation, GE Aviation is a major producer of jet and turboprop engines and components for both commercial and military aircraft.

The Tamil Nadu government has planned to develop a new airport in the industrial belt of Hosur (in Krishnagiri district and located about 40 km from Bengaluru), and a study on air traffic and other aspects has been ordered, state Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Tuesday, April 19.

ALSO READ - Tamil Nadu plans to develop an airport in Hosur’s industrial belt

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) has been directed to undertake a study on the air traffic and its growth in surrounding regions, market demand and potential sites for developing an airport in Hosur, which is one of the industrial hubs in the state, he said. TIDCO is in the process of selecting a consultant for undertaking the study.

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Go First and SpiceJet announce sale on air tickets

Radhika Bansal

21 Apr 2022

Private carriers Go First and SpiceJet on April 20 announced sales, with the air tickets priced as low as close to INR 2,500.

While the sale has begun, both the airlines are offering tickets at discounted rates for the flights scheduled between June and September -- the monsoon season.

https://twitter.com/GoFirstairways/status/1516762597084778503

The booking period for the Go First sale will last from April 20-25, and the tickets can be booked for flights scheduled between June 20 and September 30, 2022, the aircraft operator said, adding that "the offer is applicable only on domestic flights". The fares are starting from INR 2,490 (all inclusive).

The booking period for the SpiceJet sale, which also began today, will last till April 23. The travel period ranges from June 20 to September 25. "Now book your domestic flights at unbelievable fare starting at just INR 2492/ (sic)," the airline said in a social media post.

https://twitter.com/flyspicejet/status/1516738570878210048

Vistara has also announced a Summertime Sale across its domestic and international network. Vistara is offering discounted airfare on all three classes of travel - Economy, Premium Economy and Business. 

The sales have been announced at a time when the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices are on a boil.  The surge in fuel rate is expected to push the airfares, which in turn would hinder the recovery of the pandemic-hit aviation sector.

ALSO READ - Jet fuel prices increased by 18% reaching an all-time high

Notably, the state-owned fuel retailers had hiked the ATF prices by 18%, the steepest ever, on March 16 to bring the prices to INR 110,666.29 per kl in the national capital.

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Vietjet to resume India-Vietnam flights from April 29 with new routes

Radhika Bansal

21 Apr 2022

Vietjet will operate six flights between India and Vietnam in a phased manner starting April 29. In a statement, the airline said flights on the Delhi-Hanoi route and Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City route which were operating before the COVID-19 pandemic will resume on April 29 and April 30, respectively.

Before the pandemic, Vietjet had operated two direct routes linking India's capital city of New Delhi with Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi and the financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City in addition to charter flights from Vietnam to Bodh Gaya, the Indian Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Vietjet to resume India-Vietnam flights from April 29 with new routes

The carrier announced new flights on the Mumbai-Hanoi route and Mumbai-Ho Chi Minh City route from June 3 and June 4, respectively. The flights on Mumbai - Phu Quoc route and the New Delhi-Phu Quoc route will start from September 9, it noted.

"With flights of just over five hours per leg, and a convenient flight schedule on offer throughout the week, Vietjet's renewed and increased connectivity between Vietnam and India will create many more trade and tourism opportunities between the two countries, helping to boost the economies of both."Dinh Viet Phuong, Dinh Viet Phuong, Vietjet

India resumed scheduled international passenger flights on March 27 after a two-year-long hiatus due to the pandemic.

During this period, only limited international passenger flights were operating to and from India under air bubble arrangements formed with specific countries. India had no such air bubble arrangement with Vietnam.

VietJet Air is a low-cost carrier based in Hanoi Noi Bai Airport, Vietnam.

VietJet Air is a low-cost carrier based in Hanoi Noi Bai Airport, Vietnam. The carrier began operating in December 2011, after several delayed attempts, initially with 3 A320 aircraft to Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

VietJet had planned to utilise the AirAsia brand after receiving an investment from the Malaysian LCC but went ahead with the VietJet brand after AirAsia was denied regulatory approvals. The carrier operates services across Asia.

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Go First halts Srinagar-Sharjah flights due to a lack of bilateral rights

Radhika Bansal

21 Apr 2022

Go First has stopped operating the Srinagar-Sharjah flights from March 27 as it does not have the requisite bilateral rights.

Airlines need bilateral rights — which are granted under an air services agreement signed between the two countries — to operate scheduled international passenger flights.

Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Go First’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight on October 23, 2021, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the United Arab Emirates after around 11 years.

Go First halts Srinagar-Sharjah flights due to a lack of bilateral rights

ALSO READ - Go First begins direct passenger service between Srinagar and Sharjah

“We were operating Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar flight under air bubble arrangement that was in place till March 26, 2022. All air bubble arrangements were cancelled when India resumed scheduled international passenger flights on March 27, 2022,” Go First spokesperson told PTI.

Scheduled international passenger flights operate under a bilateral air services agreement signed between the two countries, the spokesperson noted.

“Go First stopped operating Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar flight from March 27 as it does not have the requisite bilateral rights. Once we have the bilateral rights, we will resume operating flights on this route,” the spokesperson added.?

Go First commenced its direct passenger services to Sharjah in the UAE from Srinagar.

India suspended all scheduled international flights on March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. From July 2020 onwards, India started forming bilateral air bubble arrangements with countries, including the UAE, to allow limited passenger flights under specific restrictions.

The stop-gap measure of air bubble arrangements was removed when India resumed scheduled international flights on March 27 this year.

Before a country’s airline can operate international flights to another country, the two have to negotiate and sign a “bilateral air services agreement”, which decides how many total flights (or seats) per week can be allowed to fly from one nation to another.

Before a country’s airline can operate international flights to another country, the two have to negotiate and sign a “bilateral air services agreement”

Once such an agreement is signed, each country is free to allocate these flying rights to its respective airlines. Even after such flying rights are allocated to an airline, it must have slots at both airports to start flight operations.

A slot is a date and time at which an airline’s aircraft are permitted to depart or arrive at an airport. The slots are allocated by a committee that consists of officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, airport operators, airlines, and Indian aviation regulator DGCA, among others.

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