Electric, automated aviation has the potential to transform the world with new forms of low-cost, environmentally-friendlier, and more efficient transportation both for people and goods. In many ways, it is like the dawning of broadband, some 20 plus years ago, when there were hundreds of start-ups inventing technologies and creating ecosystems to usher in a new era.

Just like then the technical challenges are large, but the bigger, longer-term challenges may lie in public perception of the benefits of a new way of travel. It will require working with the public and policymakers to understand their concerns and to address them by complementing and enhancing existing infrastructure so that there is a net benefit to the community.

In the above ViodiTV Real-Time Conversation, Anna Dietrich, Co-Executive Director of CAMI and Darrell Swanson of Swanson Aviation Consultancy, Ltd., leaders in this nascent industry, explain how they are working with communities, planners, and the aviation industry to understand what will be needed to make air travel part of the everyday experience for everyday people.

Rounding out this conversation is self-proclaimed #aviationgeek, Matt Polka, president, and CEO of ACA Connects,. ACA is an association of 800+ broadband ISPs that serve mostly rural America. Polka is someone who is well acquainted with rural America and the potential opportunities that new low-cost and clean air travel could provide to his members and their customers.

Highlights of the conversation:

• 01:54 – Anna Dietrich provides an overview of Advanced Air Mobility in a brief presentation called, “The 3rd dimension isn’t just for cities.”
• 08:10  The radius of travel and how it has changed as people moved from walking to horses to vehicles and air travel, is described.
• 09:13 – Swanson provides the concept of distributed aviation, the inefficiencies of hydrocarbon, and the improved economics of electric aviation.
• 18:23 – How do the economics of an electric aircraft compare to the cost of a bus? The group uses this as a launch point for a general discussion of the economics of electric flight.
• 21:46 – Matt Polka talks about how electric aviation could provide another physical connectivity that is needed in rural areas.
• 24:38 – The group discusses the type of infrastructure changes needed, which will include good broadband and a robust electric grid.
• 27:50 – Swanson means to say 10,000 passengers per hour, not per annum, on 3-acres of land. See this interview for more details https://viodi.com/2020/02/27/a-top-100-airport-equivalent-on-3-acres-vertiport-of-the-future/
• 28:43 – What sort of opportunities to re-use existing infrastructure, particularly in rural areas for pilot projects. Darrell suggests it will open up new use-cases, such as nighttime cargo delivery in rural areas, that can use existing infrastructure.
• 30:31 – Dietrich points out the low-hanging fruit of converting fixed-wing aircraft to electric, which brings environmental, noise, and cost benefits with minimal physical infrastructure changes.
• 33:43 – An acronym that may be unfamiliar to many Americans is mentioned by Swanson, WC, or Water Closet. Swanson points out that the initial routes for these aircraft will be shorter than the need for an onboard restroom. He floats the idea of a runway within a runway concept at existing airports.
• 35:21 – Polka asks about the infrastructure and the amount of expected government financial support versus what private industry might supply. Swanson indicates from his European perspective that private investment works and he sees it being more efficient. Dietrich points out that government agencies and policymakers need to see the public benefit to this new form of aviation before any significant public monies will be invested. Those electric aviation use cases where the public benefit overlaps with existing public investments will provide opportunities for this nascent industry.
• 40:32 – Building on Dietrich’s comment, Swanson gives an example of how (Public Service Obligations (PSO) could be performed much more efficiently, with less pollution, and cost-effectively using electric aviation, instead of conventional craft.  Matt describes the parallels of electric aviation potential and broadband in connecting rural areas.
• 42:30 – This author asks the potential for electric aviation to displace fixed transportation infrastructures, such as high-speed rail. He cites an earlier interview and analysis of the potential economics based on the type of fuel cost savings anticipated by Bye Aerospace.  Dietrich and Swanson suggest that planners need to take a holistic approach that considers multiple modes of transportation to serve the right kind of trip at the right time to the right person.  Swanson points to this paper produced in conjunction with Pascal+Watson on interconnecting different transport modes.
• 46:07 – Someone on the YouTube chat feed asks about using eVTOLs as ski lift replacements. Another asks Swanson to elaborate on the runway within the runway concept. The conversation briefly veers into the topic of hydrogen as a fuel source for electric aircraft. Swanson suggests that smaller regional airports could garner new income streams as they adapt their infrastructure to support electric aviation (e.g. they could be an electricity source/store for communities).
• 49:20 – Matt asks if the traveling public is ready for electric aviation? Anna points out that perceived safety and experience will be key to acceptance. Turbulence and weather will be additional factors that determine how broadly electric aviation takes-off from a total available market perspective.
• 53:00 – The idea of a single ticket to cover multiple modes of transport in a (MaaS) Mobility as a Service framework is discussed.
• 54:49 – The impact of electric aviation on community economic development, particularly for applications such as cargo delivery to remote communities. Sabrewing, which was featured in an earlier ViodiTV interview, was referenced as a way to lower the cost of cargo delivery.
• 57:22 – Last week’s Agility Prime launch event was discussed and whether this will be a historical marker on the path to electric aviation.
• 59:40 – In closing comments, Matt Polka talks about how both CAMI and ACA Connects is about communicating and connecting.

Finally, thank you for those on the YouTube Livechat, particularly the for helping to answer questions. And thank you Pascal+Watson for the use of your image in this week’s promotional thumbnail.

[Note: Ken Pyle represents San Jose’s District 1 as a commissioner for the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. Opinions expressed are his and do not reflect any part of his role as commissioner.]