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
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Joby Aviation, Toyota Motor Launch Initial Phase of Strategic Alliance
The long-time partners have formed a joint venture that will establish groundwork for commercial production and support Joby’s expansion long-term, with the central goal of bringing AAM on a broader scale.
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Mel Composites Supports ELA Aviation’s Next-Gen Gyroplanes
The Spanish supplier continues to strengthen its position serving the AAM market with the delivery of foam core, woven fabrics, multiaxial reinforcements and vacuum consumables for ELA Aviation production models.
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Helix and Zoerkler Develop Ultra-Compact, Composite-Supported EPU for EVTOLs
Geared electric propulsion unit (EPU) architecture that is more compact and low mass than direct-drive systems can support AAM designers in optimizing air mobility space, weight and system efficiency.
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Vertical advances certification with second Valo eVTOL prototype flight
The second full-scale prototype will accelerate flight testing, support piloted demonstrations and advance Vertical Aerospace’s hybrid-electric aircraft program.
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A&P Technology overbraiding process advances U.S. Air Force defense composites
SNAPSHOT: AI-driven, in-line inspection system successfully validates the quality of complex 3D multilayer composite preforms to support AAM, hypersonics and other platforms.
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Alef Aeronautics' composites-intensive flying car enters production phase
The Model A Ultralight — a drive-and-fly eVTOL designed to lift off directly from public roads — marks the first step toward full-scale Model A manufacturing.
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Latest Advanced Air Mobility News And Updates
Honda hits milestone with successful first eVTOL aircraft flight
Japanese automaker heads toward full-scale validation phase after the conducted flight of its full-scale eight-rotor demonstrator, dubbed F1.
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Eve eVTOL prototype completes hover and low-speed flights block
Fifty-nine successful flights and 2:27:33 of accumulated flight time strengthen confidence in control, loads and aero‑propulsion models.
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Hyundai Motor Group, Korea Aerospace Industries to collaboratively develop future air mobility
Hyundai will leverage its EV electrified powertrain capabilities and Supernal affilitate in synergy with KAI’s composite aircraft development expertise.
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Sora Aviation secures funding to pursue RACES rCF project
RACES is part of the startup’s extensive research to support its S-1 eVTOL, advancing practical pathways for integrating rCF into aircraft structures.
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REGENT Seaglider autonomous drone, Squire, completes first ground-effect test flight
One of REGENT Defense’s portfolio of hydrofoiling seaglider marine craft designed for military use, Squire flies below radar targeting 70-knot speeds, 50-pound payload and range of 100 nautical miles.
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DLR demonstrates crashworthy composite eVTOL for emergency urban operations
The multi-department project developed airframe structure and safe battery integration, combining an optimized, crash-safe structural design with low-waste, lightweight composite production processes.
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Bonded fastening meets the digital factory
Automation and XR tools aim to scale adhesive fastening for composites at next-gen aerospace production rates.
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2025 CW rewind: The top stories and emerging trends of the composites industry
High-temp solutions, high-rate production and renewable energy trends set the stage for overcoming technical challenges and meeting global demand.
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National Composites Week 2025: Aviation and AAM
Commemorating the theme “Performance With Purpose,” CW has gathered key stories over the last year that exemplify how composites have progressed aviation, AAM and defense.
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Paris Air Show highlights advanced materials, industry momentum
This year’s international air show offered a glimpse of the rapidly expanding future for composites in aerospace.
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Prepreg compression molding supports higher-rate propeller manufacturing
To meet increasing UAV market demands, Mejzlik Propellers has added a higher-rate compression molding line to its custom CFRP propeller capabilities.
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Composites end markets: Aviation and advanced air mobility (2025)
Despite persistent supply chain issues, markets were set for healthy growth before Trump policies and tariffs, yet long-term trends favor composites in new platforms. Meanwhile, advanced air mobility shakes out and moves forward.
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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.
