Supernal and Urban-Air Port debut world’s first functional AAM
Several new electric vehicles connected to EV chargers on the vertiport's exterior, which are powered by off-grid hydrogen fuel cells.
Supernal and Urban-Air Port today announced the debut of Air-One® – Urban-Air Port’s proprietary deployable operations hub for manned and unmanned vehicles – marking the first functional multi-modal infrastructure hub equipped to handle future electric air travel.
The vertiport is open for public visitation in Coventry, U.K., and will be redeployed in additional cities worldwide later this year to continue highlighting future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) passenger journeys and operations first-hand.
“The Air-One activation is an important step for the Advanced Air Mobility industry and demonstrates how eVTOLs can easily integrate with existing transportation networks to address local needs,” said Mike Whitaker, chief commercial officer, Supernal.
“The reality is no single mode of transportation – current or future – can solve cities’ traffic and congestion challenges. Supernal is working with partners like Urban-Air Port to design infrastructure that brings multiple modes of transportation together under one ‘roof’ and enable AAM to reach its full potential.”
The 17,000 square-foot radial Air-One was erected in 11 weeks and is divided into fully outfitted “zones,” including a passenger lounge, café, retail pop-up, cargo logistics hub, electric and hydrogen-air vehicle hangar, security screening, command and control center. The zones are anchored by a patented 56-foot circular final approach and takeoff (FATO) platform that raises 19 feet in the sky – using a compact, state-of-the-art, synchronized link-lift system – to enable future electric air vehicle takeoffs and landings.
The activation also features Supernal’s initial concept eVTOL vehicle, S-A1, on display in the vehicle hangar, live drone demonstrations from the FATO and several new electric vehicles connected to EV chargers on the vertiport’s exterior, which are powered by off-grid hydrogen fuel cells. Located .2 miles from main Coventry rail and bus stations, the activation demonstrates how the compact, prefabricated Air-One can enable seamless multi-modal travel, including AAM.
