Skyways to the Future 2024

The India AAM stack FIGURE 1 Form factor (VTOL, STOL)Propulsion systemsBattery technologyAvionics, automation VertiportsAir traffic management (ATM)Communication networkMaintenance, repair and overhaul Regulatory frameworkSustainable developmentEnhanced mobilityResearch and development (R&D), manufacturing and Supply chain considerationsAAM – India stack Ecosystem integration (level 3) Workforce, training and certification Vehicle technology layer (level 2) Infrastructure layer (level 1) Foundational layer (level 0)Safety and securityUrban planningRegional integrationMultimodal transportPublic acceptance Enabling ecosystem required to fulfil the product and operational requirement End user and operational requirements being translated into product requirement End user requirement being translated into operational requirements Source: World Economic Forum; Deloitte. Definitions and principles AAM encompasses a diverse range of technologies, including eVTOL aircraft, electric drones and other urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles. The core components of AAM include: –Electric propulsion: Reducing noise and emissions compared to traditional aviation –Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and STOL: Enabling operations from dedicated infrastructure (vertiports) or modified infrastructure –Piloted, remotely piloted, autonomous or semi-autonomous operations: Increasing efficiency and safety in the future –On-demand services: Offering a flexible and personalized transport option Additionally, AAM significantly intersects with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), given its coverage across sectors – urban planning, agriculture, supply chain and logistics, emergency services, public health and safety. The SDGs cover various social, economic and environmental global challenges to achieve an equitable future. More recently, the Asia and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Civil Aviation (Delhi) highlighted the importance of “identifying opportunities for innovation and the adoption and integration of new technologies, such as AAM, to keep pace with global advancement in information technology and artificial intelligence”.5 AAM: What’s in it for India? In many ways, transport systems are the veins of the Indian economy. India’s transport system is central to India’s economy. As India’s metropolitan cities stand at the forefront of the nation’s economic growth, its citizens’ transport and mobility needs must be met effectively and efficiently. Cities with a higher travel demand indicate an upward trend in economic activity. Furthermore, several major cities are now subject to traffic congestion during rush hour. The late arrival of a commuter to their workplace is not only a loss for the commuter but also a productivity loss for the organization. In 2023, a survey in Bengaluru, India, revealed that 57% of private vehicle owners and 55% of public transport users regularly arrived late to the office. The study also estimated that approximately 700,000 productive hours were lost due to lateness in 2018, leading to a financial cost of INR 11.7 billion (Indian rupees).6 Additionally, AAM can increase accessibility in rural and hard-to- reach areas. The role of advanced and short-haul air mobility for all (ASHA) stands to expand significantly in these contexts. Skyways to the Future: Operational Concepts for Advanced Air Mobility in India 7