Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

There will be more than 430,000 urban air taxis in operation by 2040, according to a new Frost &amp; Sullivan study. The international consulting firm predicts that operations will begin as early as 2022, initially in the UAE, New Zealand, and Singapore, followed by Brazil and Mexico.&nbsp;"Globally, almost 50 cities are considering the feasibility of UAM, and most of the applications are focused on&nbsp;cargo drones, which will eventually open up the market for passenger UAM vehicles," said Frost &amp; Sullivan senior mobility analyst Joe Praveen Vijayakumar.&nbsp;

 


"Safety, noise levels from propulsion, infrastructure for landing and takeoff in urban areas, and favorable regulations will be key focus areas for the commercialization of air taxis," noted&nbsp;Vijayakumar.&nbsp;"Original equipment manufacturers&nbsp;will be looking to especially invest in&nbsp;hybrid fuel systems,&nbsp;lightweight high-strength composite materials, and alternative energy sources such as&nbsp;solar&nbsp;and&nbsp;lightweight high-capacity batteries&nbsp;to achieve fuel efficiency and longer range."

 


The study notes the potential for companies to profit by incorporating multiple fail-safe mechanisms in their vehicles to instill confidence in potential passengers; collaborating with companies developing innovative next-generation&nbsp;rotors&nbsp;and&nbsp;propellers&nbsp;that can muzzle sound; establishing the support infrastructure, including landing and takeoff stations,&nbsp;passenger waiting lounges, and&nbsp;landing pads in residential buildings; and developing internal cybersecurity capabilities or acquiring cybersecurity startups to safeguard their vehicles.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Study: 430,000 Urban Air Taxis By 2040

A new Frost & Sullivan study predicts urban air taxis will begin operations in 2022 and grow to a worldwide fleet of 430,000 by 2040. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Contender to replace the branch's Airbus UH-72 Lakota trainers

Robinson Reveals R66 for Army Helicopter Training

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Universal Vulkaan Aviation has now ordered seven VIP helicopters

Leonardo’s Indian Distributor UVA Orders Two AW169s

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Fireflighting mission is ideal for large rotorcraft nearing the end of their useful lives.

Sikorsky S-92 Helicopters Get a Second Life as Firefighters

Kerry Lynch

Sloane is coming up on its 109th sale of the AW109.

Leonardo, Sloane Mark 30-year Partnership with AW109 Order

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

HAI Heli-Expo 2020

More In Rotorcraft

Robinson Reveals R66 for Army Helicopter Training

Contender to replace the branch's Airbus UH-72 Lakota trainers

Leonardo’s Indian Distributor UVA Orders Two AW169s

Universal Vulkaan Aviation has now ordered seven VIP helicopters

Sikorsky S-92 Helicopters Get a Second Life as Firefighters

Fireflighting mission is ideal for large rotorcraft nearing the end of their useful lives.

Leonardo, Sloane Mark 30-year Partnership with AW109 Order

Sloane is coming up on its 109th sale of the AW109.

Leonardo Taps Rising Demand for VIP Helicopters

Italian aircraft manufacturer is the sole OEM exhibiting at EBACE 2025

Rain Tests Autonomous Black Hawk on Burning Brush

Two weeks of testing highlighted the value of quick-reaction fire suppression

FAA Concerned About Bell 206L Vertical Vibrations

Pilots need to know to pull collective to eliminate so-called collective bounce

Alpine Helicopters Picks Camp’s Mx and Inventory Tools

Systems will streamline operations, reduce downtime, and improve reliability

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