Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Urban-Air Port (UAP) to support the integration of vertiports into airports worldwide.
This collaboration aims to establish how UAP’s AirOne ground infrastructure technology can be incorporated within airport masterplan projects.
Specifically, NACO will support UAP on airport land-use planning, regional vertiport network business modelling, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demand simulation and surface transport intermodal connectivity modelling.
The two companies will also work to support regulatory pathways for vertiport integration for the first eVTOL use cases to and from airports.
“We are thrilled to be exploring the possibilities around electric flight such as eVTOL with Urban-Air Port®. The team has a huge amount of experience in developing facilities for this kind of technology – particularly with the launch of the world's first fully operational vertiport in Coventry in the UK – and we look forward to supporting Urban-Air Port by bringing our global experience in airport masterplanning and urban mobility to help develop sustainable air transportation and intermodal solutions fit for the future.”
NACO recognises UAP’s AirOne vertiport technology as a key enabler for the wider adoption of vertiports at airports. This is due to its provision of compact and scalable landing/take-off infrastructure for drones and eVTOL aircraft.
For example, Next Gen AirOne has a multi-stacked hangar that provides an 8+ stand vertiport configuration. This development builds on UAP’s test-bed installation in Coventry, UK.
“This is a major milestone for Urban-Air Port in terms of shaping the future of advanced air mobility, but also for us as a business. We passed the pilot stage with our successful build in Coventry, and we have demonstrated AirOne's commercial, and operational viability with our orders from the US and recognition from industry experts and regulatory bodies for safety.
“NACO is one of the world's best aviation planners and integrators, and as a valued partner, I'm delighted they see such great potential in UAPs technology and its relevance for airports around the world. I'm proud of what the team has achieved and excited to take UAP into its next phase – to enable the first routes to and from regional and international airports – paving the way with the best in the business.”
Alongside offering a compact footprint, UAPs ‘Vertical Airfield’ uses “aircraft carrier technology” to deliver greater efficiencies in operation and turnaround times.
The multimodal hub provides aircraft command and control, charging and refuelling, cargo and passenger facilities, alongside elevated take-off and landing with 360-degree situational awareness and substantial mitigation of ground effect and noise associated with eVTOL.
These vertiports can be deployed in urban, suburban and rural sites, but airports are expected to become the first commercial locations.
“NACO has a deep understanding of the nuances of airport planning and masterplanning, and their experience in optimising operational efficiency for their traditional airport clients is second to none. This is precisely what we believe at UAP for our vertiport clients. Sustainability is core to both of our companies and must underpin the future of aviation in a meaningful way – this is why I'm personally thrilled to be working in closer partnership with the like-minded and immensely talented team at NACO to ensure we advance this sector in the right way, that is viable and holistically sustainable.”
