We followed the site suitability analysis with a Transportation Network Company (TNC) Market Analysis developing a dashboard to help illustrate TNC travel demand across the Southern California region. This data was used to assess the potential for medium- to long-distance TNC trip conversion to eVTOL trips for select proof-of-concept sites. This helped us get a sense of the travel demand market and the willingness to pay for trips that are driven by others.

We then expanded on the vertiport siting concept using visual storytelling to illustrate the “who” and “why” of an eVTOL trip. Graphic storyboards explored a set of eVTOL Journey Maps with a series of travelers and connected vertiport locations. This was especially useful in interrogating and exploring first/last mile assumptions, rider motivation assumptions, and associated elements that would be needed (beyond the vehicle and vertiport) to ensure a truly streamlined journey.

Wrapping up our holistic analysis, we developed an Implementation Requirements Study. In a collaborative effort engaging subject matter experts across the company, we investigated what it would take to go from vertiport concept to reality, implementing non-airport vertiports into a transportation network. Organized around the critical elements of addressing accessibility, safety, policy, land use compatibility, NEPA & CEQA, and approval processes, our study investigated these issues from both a 30,000-foot level as well as a Los Angeles region-specific level of detail.

How can we help you join the launch? Currently UAM, and more broadly Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM), is still in the process of regulatory development; and the FAA, who leads airspace regulation and aircraft certification, has officially signaled it will be up to state and local authorities to determine how vertiports are implemented. To our knowledge, our study is a first-of-its-kind in advancing the industry toward implementation. We feel honored as contributors at the leading edge of this conversation and are eager to serve others with our findings from this exciting emerging technology. If you are interested in learning more about how we can assist with analysis and potential integration for your jurisdiction, let’s talk further. For more insights and considerations, contact us!