Future Vic: Electrified urban air mobility, or drone travel is future of aviation

The future of aviation could see commuters sharing rides in electric aircraft to regional cities and towns.

Wisk Aero is the world’s first all-electric, autonomous, four-seat air taxi designed for passenger transport. Picture: Wisk Aero

Forget V/Line – Victorians could soon be travelling in ride-share-style electric aircraft to regional cities and towns.

Centres such as Bendigo and Ballarat could be the perfect destinations for limited-range battery-operated travel.

Adriano Di Pietro, director of Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub at Swinburne, said chartering zero-emission aircraft could be an environmentally-friendly – and traffic-free – travel option.

Joby Aviation electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Picture: supplied

“Electrification of general aviation aircraft is happening right now. There’s already aircraft flying around that have a battery and electric motor just like a little Cessna,’’ Dr Di Pietro said.

“They’ve got a very, very short flight time, of course.

“It’s vision of the future aviation stuff which means it looks like a drone. It has four quad rotors, takes off vertically and it’s electrically powered.’’

The prediction comes as major advances occur in urban air mobility:

MELBOURNE start-up Skyportz revealed its designs for a proposed “vertiport” on the Yarra River’s north bank to replace the current helipad. The hub plan, revealed by the Herald Sun last week, would accommodate electric air taxis but also charge e-scooters, bikes and even boats.

THE state government has released a Victorian Advanced Air Mobility Action Plan which aims to examine possible electric aircraft operations.

ELECTRIC air taxis or eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft are moving from concept and development stage to production by US companies Wisk Aero and Joby Aviation.

GERMAN manufacturer Volocopter has confirmed its electric-powered passenger aircraft will fly at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.

Dr di Pietro said the government’s action plan was big step.

“That’s definitely going to be showing a pathway for the industry. There’s a whole industry that we can build here in Victoria,’’ he said.

Skyportz has released its plans for a vertiport on the north bank of the Yarra River at Batman Park. Piturec: Contreras Earl and Pascall+Watson

Regional Victoria has great potential to be at the forefront of the passenger operations because of the state’s geography and many large towns and cities were near each other.

The first generation of air taxis have 30-minute flight time or about a 100km, he said, but those capabilities would improve in later iterations.

Dr di Pietro believed later models of the aircraft could be a combination of hydrogen fuel cell and battery system.

Clem Newton-Brown, chief executive of Melbourne start-up Skyportz, said he expected regional tourism would be at the forefront of electric taxi operations, similar to current helicopter joy flights.

Skyportz has also partnered with Perth-based battery and aircraft charging company Electro. Aero to develop a portable electric aircraft charging station.

National aviation regulator CASA last year released its road map for the future of urban air mobility.

Dr Di Pietro said significant hurdles had to be cleared before takeoff including solving air traffic issues, safety certification, charging infrastructure and finding landing and takeoff locations.

“My view will be that the journey we’re on is really uncrewed (first). It’s drones getting larger and larger doing things like autonomous freight, airfreight deliveries, over regions and unpopulated areas.

“And then it would be graduating to larger aircraft over urban areas and people (as passengers) being included would be one of the last steps.’’