With Embraer’s eVTOLs poised to be certified for operations by as early as 2025, we look at what Eve, Embraer’s urban air mobility spin-off company, has been doing to prepare for the advent of a low-noise, zero-emissions way of transport that can alleviate the pain points faced by commuters. Geelong to the city in 15 to 20 minutes? Here we go!
There may be several players in this market but we have a unique offer because our insights, products and systems are based on Embraer’s experience in designing, building, certifying and supporting aircraft over 52 years. In the last 20 years, Embraer has a track record of successfully certifying an average of more than one aircraft every year. The people that have designed, built and certified aircraft are the ones behind the design of Eve’s eVTOLs. This is a competitive advantage that very few eVTOL manufacturers have.
By tapping into Embraer’s portfolio of urban air traffic management (UATM) technologies developed by its subsidiary, Atech, the Eve team is taking a holistic approach in progressing the urban air mobility ecosystem. This includes collaborating with market leaders to create an advanced eVTOL, comprehensive global services and support network, and unique UATM solutions for every city.
How did we get here?
Traffic congestion is a challenge in many cities across the world. Sao Paulo, Brazil, the home country of Embraer, has the most helicopters in the world. Those who can afford the cost of helicopter rides have been using that as a mode of transport to overcome the massively congested roads. Our air traffic management system is used by Brazilian authorities and it has efficiently enabled the smooth operations of 1300 air taxi flights a day in Sao Paulo. We are channeling all this knowledge into developing a safe, piloted, low-noise, zero-emissions air travel journey that is affordable for time-pressed commuters to overcome ubiquitous traffic congestions and geographical constraints on land. We want to make eVTOLs accessible for the middle-class.
With the aim of optimising operations for urban environments, the eVTOLs are designed to be operable in different urban landscapes ensuring reliability as well as cost- and noise- minimization.
Urban air mobility solutions are more than just about eVTOLs, we are also concerned about the ecosystem around it – developing accessibility to ‘vertiports’ where the eVTOLs are based, making the eVTOL experience user-friendly for the mobility-impaired, the management of the air traffic systems, the service and support network of the eVTOLs and battery charging stations, just to name a few aspects.
One of the most important elements required for the Urban Air Mobility industry to scale up is regulatory support and community acceptance. Through several of our recent projects, Eve has been working diligently to create this exciting future with multiple members of the UAM ecosystem. This is one important step towards building trust and knowledge for the value urban air mobility can bring to communities, but there is still a tremendous amount of education, collaboration, and partnership that will be required. As an ecosystem integrator, Eve is committed to being a trusted community partner in the development or Urban Air Mobility.
Each country has its unique regulatory environment and factors which we must consider, but beyond that, we have been growing our partnerships with regional players. Eve has a partnership with Singapore-based Ascent Flights Global. Beginning in 2026, Eve will provide Ascent with up to 100,000 hours of flight time per year on its eVTOL aircraft for use in key cities such as Melbourne, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, and Tokyo.
Collaborations and partnerships will foster the development of UAM in Australia
Australia has a fond place in the heart of Embraer, our founding company. Embraer’s first aircraft type, the Bandeirante, first started operations in 1978 in Australia. Since then, Embraer’s aircraft, the ‘Bandits’, Brasilias and the E-Jets have played a key role in the development of regional aviation in the country.
We see Australia as one of the most advanced countries in terms of air traffic management, a mature market that would be receptive to the introduction of low noise, zero emissions eVTOLs.
At the end of 2020, we did a joint study with Airservices Australia to develop a new concept of operations (CONOPS) for the air taxi market that will allow eVTOLs to function efficiently among other aircraft in the airspace. The CONOPS explored new and practical concepts to safely facilitate the introduction of the air taxi industry.
Using Melbourne as a model, the CONOPS examines how existing air traffic management solutions can initially enable UAM operations while simultaneously preparing for scale of operations through new traffic management technologies. Melbourne was chosen because the city’s natural geographical constraints and distance is well-suited to low-noise zero-emission eVTOLs. It could also serve as a UAM ecosystem framework that can be adapted for countries across Asia Pacific.
In September, we announced a partnership with Microflite, one of Australia’s premier helicopter operators, that will lay the foundation for urban air mobility operations in Australia that is expected to start in 2026. Our partnership will start with the use of helicopters, where appropriate, as a proof of concept to validate parameters that will apply to future eVTOL operations. This partnership also aims to develop new services and procedures that will create a safe and scalable operating environment for eVTOL operations together with communities and other industry stakeholders.
Microflite has worked with Eve since 2019 by contributing to the CONOPs that was jointly developed by Eve and Airservices Australia.
With an eVTOL range of up to 100km, you could travel from Geelong to the city, Sorrento or Daylesford to Melbourne Airport in around 15 to 20 minutes.
UAM: Making it a reality
The interest in urban air mobility and low-noise, low-emissions eVTOLs is growing exponentially across the world. Governments and entities are looking at how this could be an alternative mode of transport for people, while establishing an air traffic system and orderly framework for this to grow.
We see the ramp up of eVTOL operations as an opportunity to drive domestic tourism, job creation and it will help communities and cities that want to grow and expand. The urban air mobility industry will be a reality in as early as five years’ time, and we are excited to be part of this new wave, building trust, cooperation, community and regulatory acceptance as we develop a sustainable framework for urban air mobility.
This piece was written by Ryan Both, APAC Lead for Eve Urban Air Mobility. Ryan Both has been in the Australian aviation industry for many years, working for Virgin Australia, Melbourne Airport and leading passenger, freight and missionized operations for customers including Qantas, Australian Border Force and Chevron.
This piece was written by Ryan Both, APAC Lead for Eve Urban Air Mobility. Ryan Both has been in the Australian aviation industry for many years, working for Virgin Australia, Melbourne Airport and leading passenger, freight and missionized operations for customers including Qantas, Australian Border Force and Chevron.
Main picture Boarding Eve’s eVTOL
