Siemens and Skyway collaborate on vertiport operations

Siemens and Skyway, the US-based aviation and aerospace component manufacturer, have agreed to work together to determine the electrical and digital infrastructure needed to support vertiport operations.

In a statement, the companies explained that vertiports are hubs for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles such as air taxis and drones. They added that the scope of collaboration involves both companies researching energy demands of vertiports and developing sustainable electrical supply, standard charging processes, and a “system of systems” to support aircraft operations. 

Innovation around vertiport infrastructure will be critical to the future scalability of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight operations. As such, one of the main objectives of the collaborative effort is to develop vertiports, which will include researching, developing, planning, and being part of the construction and operation of them.

While Skyway has the knowledge of airspace mission planning and management, as well as air traffic navigation and unmanned aircraft operations, Siemens will contribute the infrastructure expertise in electrification, vehicle charging, and facility operations.

Thus, the two companies will work together to design and engineer a universal eVTOL charging process by evaluating the charging, power, and software requirements to ensure reliable and efficient operations.

In addition, Siemens and Skyway will collaborate on innovative ideas to standardise overall vertiport planning and design, and to reduce energy consumption.

“Sustainable energy solutions will be the foundation and the necessity for adoption of Urban Air Mobility with the electrification of eVTOL aircraft,” said Clifford Cruz, Skyway CEO. “Combining our companies´ resources and industry foresight can influence vertiport construction efforts and general UAM solutions on an industry-wide scale while setting a new precedent for modern transportation.”

Evolution of the Industry

As the aviation industry evolves and innovations in both flight and air traffic operations continue to be made, eVTOLs will bring forward a new mobility market that will positively impact communities through traffic decongestion and connection to areas not well served by the current aviation system, the companies said.

“It is exciting for Siemens to contribute to the evolution of the Urban Air Mobility Industry,” said John Kasuda, Head of Airports at Siemens Smart Infrastructure North America. 

“The development and efficient operations of vertiports will require innovative solutions to meet the expected demands of fast aircraft turnaround times and a network of varying landing facilities,” he concluded.