Composites Use in Advanced Air Mobility
Urban air mobility (UAM), sometimes referred to as advanced air mobility (AAM), is a market that continues to evolve and mature. Aircraft of this genre are designed to perform one of two functions. One is to provide piloted or autonomous air taxi service, transporting people from point A to point B (heliport/airport-to-heliport/airport) over a distance of 25-400 kilometers, intracity or intercity. The second function is to provide autonomous cargo transport in similar environments.
Latest Advanced Air Mobility Articles
VIEW ALL
Horizon Aircraft provides update on technical flight testing
Positive progress during eVTOL prototype testing approaches full transition to forward flight, aids in final full-scale aircraft design for completion and testing in 2026.
Watch
Lilium looks to France to establish high-volume eVTOL production
Lilium is keen to expand its industrial footprint through leveraging of France’s aerospace heritage and vast supplier base in aerospace and electrification, in preparation for the eVTOL aircraft market demand.
Read More
Archer completes installation of high-volume battery pack manufacturing line
“Automotive-style” line has the capability of producing up to 15,000 battery packs — complete with composite enclosures and cylindrical cells — per year to keep up with eVTOL aircraft production goals.
Read More
NIAR adds flight test facility for eVTOL aircraft testing
In addition to providing a controlled environment for conducting restrained eVTOL aircraft operation, NIAR provides material development and other testing options.
Read More
Beta’s Alia eVTOL achieves piloted transition flight
Full transition from VTOL hover, to wing-borne cruise, and back to hover, prepares Beta for next steps in progressing its aircraft platforms.
Watch
Lilium begins composite battery packs production for Lilium Jet
First units off the battery assembly line in Munich will be used for verification testing ahead of first piloted flight, targeted for end of 2024.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
Closed mold processes offer many advantages over open molding. This knowledge center details the basics of closed mold methods and the products and tools essential to producing a part correctly.
LEARN MORE
Review the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.
LEARN MORE
The composites industry is increasingly recognizing the imperative of sustainability in its operations. As demand for lightweight and durable materials rises across various sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with traditional composite manufacturing processes.
LEARN MORE
Latest Advanced Air Mobility News And Updates
EHang secures production certification from CAAC
With production, type and standard airworthiness certification under its belt the AAM company is cleared for mass production of the EH216-S.
Read More
Archer successfully completes multiple battery pack drop tests for Midnight aircraft
Proprietary battery pack design integrated into a composite battery enclosure passed extreme impact scenario simulations, setting the stage for upcoming for-credit testing with the FAA.
Read More
Stellantis increases strategic shareholding in Archer Aviation
Stellantis signals its continued confidence and partnership in the eVTOL company with the purchase of nearly 8.3 million shares.
Read More
Joby acquires facility in Ohio, scales up eVTOL aircraft manufacture
Existing facility at Dayton International Airport will enable 500 eVTOLs per year, serving as Joby’s initial manufacturing footprint in the region.
Read More
Airbus debuts CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype
Unveiling coincided with the opening of the new CityAirbus test center in Donauwörth, Germany, ahead of the aircraft’s maiden flight later this year.
Read More
Volocopter receives green light for VoloCity serial production
Production organization approval (POA) extension gives Volocopter the ability to design and produce the eVTOL aircraft in Bruchsal once it receives type certification.
Read More
.jpg;maxWidth=300;quality=90;format=webp)
Featured Posts
How composites have become a necessity
Composites used to be one of many material options across industries and applications, but that's not the case anymore.
Read More
Plant tour: Joby Aviation, Marina, Calif., U.S.
As the advanced air mobility market begins to take shape, market leader Joby Aviation works to industrialize composites manufacturing for its first-generation, composites-intensive, all-electric air taxi.
Read More
Composites opportunities in eVTOLs
As eVTOL OEMs seek to advance program certification, production scale-up and lightweighting, AAM’s penetration into the composites market is moving on an upward trajectory.
Read More
Composites end markets: Aerospace (2023)
With COVID in the past and passengers flying again, commercial aircraft production is ramping up. The aerocomposites supply chain is busy developing new M&P for an approaching next-generation aircraft program.
Read More
We're going to need a lot of propeller blades
As advanced air mobility expands and annual shipsets get into the thousands, the demand for composite propeller blades is expected to skyrocket. What are the implications for the composites supply chain?
Read More
Overair's Butterfly eVTOL prototype to integrate composites-intensive design
Aiming for first flight tests in the latter half of 2023, Overair’s Butterfly aircraft uses Toray carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg strategically to cut weight on its battery-powered, quiet aircraft.
Watch
FAQ: Advanced Air Mobility
What is urban air mobility?
- Urban air mobility (UAM), sometimes called advanced air mobility (AAM), is an emerging aerospace market. These aircraft can be piloted or autonomous, designed for cargo transport or as air taxis for transporting people intercity or intracity.
- Source: Composites end markets: Aerospace
What is an eVTOL?
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are some of the first models to be developed for the urban air mobility market.
They are powered by electric propulsion (generally batteries), and are designed to take off and land vertically. These can include propeller-centric, helicopter-style aircraft as well as fixed-wing aircraft.
How are composites being used in urban air mobility?
UAM aircraft are in various stages of development. Most, if not all, are using composites to some extent for aircraft bodies, wings or other components. The focus has been on technologies that are already qualified for commercial aircraft use – such as hand layup and autoclave cure of prepreg carbon fiber/epoxy.
As progress continues, additional composite materials such as thermoplastic composites will likely become more widely used.
