Skyportz has launched an air taxi manufacturing hub and landing pad in Qld at Australian Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Petrie...

<div class="row" data-reactroot=""><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p>Flying taxis could transport athletes around the 2032 Brisbane Olympics with the first landing site chosen and plans to manufacture the aircraft in Queensland unveiled.</p><p>Skyportz announced its plans to create a transport hub north of Brisbane in Moreton Bay at the Air Taxi World Congress in London.</p><p>The plans details the hub, the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (AACME), which is expected to be completed by 2023.</p><p>The development, headed up by Venlo Investments, will transform a 3ha site within <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/moreton-bay-innovation-hub">The Mill</a> at Moreton Bay based in Petrie, near the new Sunshine Coast University Campus. </p><p>Skyportz chief executive Clem Newton-Brown said they had been accumulating sites since 2018 and have 400 property partners ready to build “mini airports” across the country. </p><p>“There is strong political support to develop a new era in clean, green electric aviation in Australia, however, we are waiting on federal standards and new state regulations to be developed before we can proceed to building a network,” Newton-Brown said.</p><p>“For this reason we are focusing initially on existing aviation infrastructure and places where it is possible to get a permit for a helipad which can transition into a future Skyportz. </p><p>“The AACME site was already proposing a helipad so this partnership has enabled us to bring forward our plans.”</p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/03519723-6643-4ca9-b2f2-3e49cc1228f7.jpg" width="800"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:center;opacity:0.8">▲ The Mill is a 460-hectare state priority development area and includes the Petrie Town Centre, Petrie Rail Station and the former Amcor Petrie Paper Mill site.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>Newton-Brown, a former deputy lord mayor of Melbourne and Yarra River water taxi service provider, said they were also in the process of identifying sites near the Olympic venues to join the network of facilities.</p><p>AAMCE director Ty Hermans said the site was perfectly suited to become a major transport hub and support the future of air mobility and was located near a major metro train station.</p><p>“We are providing for it as part of our design phase that we are currently in at the moment,” Hermans told <em>The Urban Developer</em>.</p><p>“Obviously it is subject to various approvals in the future. </p><p>“To us it makes perfect sense that the most advanced manufacturing centre in Australia should include the most advanced transport system possible in its design.</p><p>“Brisbane is busily preparing for the Olympic Games in 2032 which will provide a great opportunity for the city to embrace a new form of transportation and showcase it to the world.”</p><p>Hermans said the development was quickly gaining international interest and would be focused on commercial manufacturing rather than innovation. </p><p>The announcement follows <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/vicinity-pilots-drone-delivery-model">Vicinity Centres strategy</a> to increase its drone delivery program across the country for retail purchases.</p><p>However, the Skyportz vehicles operate on a larger scale with the company <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/vicinity-pilots-drone-delivery-model">signing an agreement</a> with Electra.aero to buy 100 vehicles with the ability to lift up to 800kg expected to service Melbourne.</p></div></div></div></div></div>

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<div class="row" data-reactroot=""><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><strong>German aviation startup Volocopter has announced it will perform the next set of inner urban flight tests, as it expands its business operations into Singapore.</strong></p><p>Volocopter chief executive Florian Reuter says the team is preparing to start implementing the first fixed routes in cities.</p><p>“Singapore is a logical partner. The city is a true pioneer in technology and city development,&quot; Florian said.</p><p>Related: <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/rolls-royce-plans-flying-taxi">Rolls Royce Plans Flying Taxi</a></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/163be466-22b3-401c-8048-a3104de63289.jpg" width="900"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:left;opacity:0.8">Flight tests will be designed to verify the ability of Volocopter’s eVTOL vehicles to operate in Singapore’s urban landscape.</span><span style="float:right;opacity:0.8">Supplied</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>Similar to a helicopter in resemblance, the Volocopter is based on drone technology and can fly two people for nearly 30 kilometres. <br><br>Volocopter, welcomed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Ministry of Transport and the Economic Development Board, will work to create the scope of flight trials before flight tests can commence in the second half of 2019.</p><p>Related: <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/uber-plans-flying-taxi-service-by-2023">Uber Plans Flying Taxi-Service by 2023</a></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/875c2be8-c3f3-4a75-b16c-f6b44effd2a7.jpg" width="3264"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:left;opacity:0.8">Volocopters are emission-free, electrically powered aircrafts that take off and land vertically. </span><span style="float:right;opacity:0.8">Supplied</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>Earlier this year, ride sharing giant Uber announced it hopes to offer rides through a new UberAir service by 2023. <br><br>Advancements in urban mobility hopes to solve the problem of congested cities and traffic problems with innovative transport systems such as flying cars, or eVTOLs.</p><p>Related: <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/uber-air-launches-skyports-the-helipads-of-the-future-">Uber Air Launches &#x27;Skyports&#x27; the Helipads of the Future</a></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/c1f12986-454d-43ae-98a7-b9f3ac944cd8.jpg" width="900"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:center;opacity:0.8">The Volocopter operate quietly that at a flight height of 100 metres, it isn&#x27;t heard over the typical background noise of a city. </span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>Volocopter&#x27;s vision is to integrate air taxis within existing transportation systems, providing mobility for up to 10,000 passengers a day.</p><p>&quot;Their decision to set up a local product design and engineering team in Singapore is a testament to Singapore’s aerospace engineering talent, as well as our prime position for industry players,&quot; EDB Singapore executive director Tan Kong Hwee said.</p><p>Related: <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/amazons-new-hq-an-orb-shaped-rainforest-">Amazon’s New HQ an Orb-Shaped Rainforest</a></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/ae50ed43-db92-436b-bd5b-976fc3a5779c.jpg" width="3264"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:center;opacity:0.8">No pilot. The Volocopter 2X is operated by a single joystick which controls altitude, balance and landing.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>Since 2016 Volocopter has held a preliminary permit to fly from the German authorities and is working with the European Aviation Safety Authority to receive a full commercial license. <br><br>Related: <a href="Star Wars Fan? LA Gets Two Major Attractions">Star Wars Fan? LA Gets Two Major Attractions</a></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><div><picture><img src="https://tud-prod-tudmedia-oj9w2zshuo0o.s3.amazonaws.com/raw/images/560bf2f0-3576-42fb-9194-71d0001ec6bc.jpg" width="900"/></picture><div><span style="align-content:left;opacity:0.8">Volocopter performed the first ever autonomous flight of an air taxi in Dubai last year. </span><span style="float:right;opacity:0.8">Photo: Nikolay Kazakov, Karlsruhe</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><p><br>To support its expansion plans in Singapore, Volocopter will be setting up a local product design and engineering team.</p><p>The company will also partner with real estate developers and mobility providers in Singapore to establish infrastructure to support flight testing.<br><br>The series of test flights are scheduled to take place in the second half of 2019.<br></p></div></div></div><div class="row ci"><div class="cell cs12 cx12"><div class="ci cl"><iframe sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-pointer-lock allow-same-origin allow-top-navigation allow-presentation" class="embed-responsive-item" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" style="max-width:574px;width:-webkit-fill-available" height="300px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jO24YaCYu80"></iframe></div></div></div></div></div>

Advancements in urban mobility continues as the latest announcement flying air taxis will be tested in Singapore.

AIR TAXIS