Urban Aeronautics has been building the next generation of flying vehicles since 2001. With its success in the development of the Cormorant, an unmanned VTOL aircraft built for a variety of military, civil and emergency response missions, Urban Aeronautics is now setting its sights toward the manned civilian market through commuter air taxis, and emergency medical services (EMS). With the recent announcement of its partnership with the Boeing Company, Urban Aeronautics now joins forces with Ascent to accelerate the commercialisation of its hydrogen/electric-powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the CityHawk. CityHawk has a uniquely small footprint the size of a large SUV and yet has a seating capacity for up to six passengers. This combination maximizes the efficiency of vertiports and increases passenger traffic laying a foundation for a genuine mass transit solution.
Ascent is Asia’s first technology-powered urban air mobility service that enables users to avail of helicopter flights by the seat today, and eVTOLs in the future, to skip the traffic between activity hubs like international airports, central business districts and popular leisure destinations to regain control of their time in traffic-congested cities. This new business model allows users to experience seamless urban mobility through the skies on fuel-efficient flights, from US$150 per seat, a rate up to ten times more affordable than traditional chartering. Despite this innovation, urban air mobility is predicted to become even more affordable and environmentally sustainable with eVTOLs, a less expensive aircraft to produce, maintain and operate, relative to helicopters. Recent studies project that unmanned autonomous air taxi services could bring the price as low as $2 per mile.
“As we continue to advance on our development and look toward commercial flights within a few years, we are eager to work with Ascent. Thanks to Ascent’s unique operational experience, and growing footprint, we are now able to enrich our aircraft design and commercialisation approach, based on direct market insights. With this partnership, Urban Aeronautics can make an aircraft for the customer, with the customer,” says Dr. Rafi Yoeli, CEO of Urban Aeronautics.
Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, Founder and CEO of Ascent adds “The partnership with Urban Aeronautics is a great step forward in line with our objective to democratise sustainable urban air mobility. In addition to providing flights by the seat, and our commitment to climate neutrality, partnering with the industry pioneer in low-emission VTOLs brings us one step closer to doing so. We are honoured to bring Urban Aeronautics within our ecosystem"
About Ascent
Ascent is a Singapore based startup powering Air Mobility in Asia. Technology and experience driven, Ascent is a Global Air Mobility Platform that integrates ecosystems and runs operations such as air taxi, touristic, cargo and medical services, within urban areas and across regions. Ascent ambitions to democratize Air Mobility, as a convenient, reliable and sustainable mode of mobility that addresses congestion, connectivity, environmental sustainability and health issues generated by rapid urbanization and the pandemic. Ascent is operational in the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Chile and the United Arab Emirates. Awaiting all-electric aircraft such as eVTOLs, Ascent makes use of helicopters and planes today.
For more information, please visit www.ascent.flights
About Urban Aeronautics
Urban Aeronautics is the pioneer in developing unmanned and manned, internal-rotor, VTOL aircraft based on the Company's proprietary Fancraft™ technology. The Company operates through two subsidiaries: Tactical Robotics Ltd., which develops unmanned VTOL aircraft, and Metro Skyways Ltd., which develops manned VTOL aircraft primarily for civilian Air-Taxi and Air-Rescue roles. UrbanAero's long-range vision is to become the world leader in intra-urban aviation and to develop, manufacture and market a family of revolutionary, FAA certifiable and military urban aerial aircraft. UrbanAero’s Fancraft™ designs represent the aggregation and integration of cutting-edge technologies that include highly modified ducted fans, controls, stability systems, fly-by-wire technology, advanced composites and a low acoustic signature. A recent addition to UrbanAero’s Fancraft™ Technology is the integration of a 100% sustainable hydrogen/electric powertrain on its future UAM eVTOL entrant—the CityHawk.
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