It may sound futuristic, but vertical take-off and landing travel terminals are not that far off becoming reality. News that Luxembourg-based luxury jet and helicopter service provider Luxaviation this week signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce means that its plans for a network of so-called vertiports is advancing apace.
Rolls-Royce, the iconic British civil aerospace and power systems company, will partner with Luxaviation to provide charging and energy infrastructure for the vertiports, which are being developed with Munich-based start-up Lilium. Under the terms of the MoU, Rolls-Royce will also take charge of maintenance provision for electric aircraft and provide digital solutions for related applications as the two companies collaborate on leading the development and deployment of Advanced Air Mobility solutions.
Lilium is well-advanced in the process of developing and deploying a seven-seater vertical take-off and landing jet. The vertiports it is working on are based on a “lean, modular design” that allows them to be adapted to scale. This means they could be built, for example, at existing airport terminals, near shopping centres or busy car parks or even alongside residential developments.
Luxaviation and Rolls-Royce will work on the operations and surrounding infrastructure to support the vertiports which the engineering company says “will transform the way we travel”.
Our concept is to provide a solution that is agile and in continuous evolution to scale up Advanced Air Mobility operations
Rob Watson, President of Rolls Royce Electrical said the company was delighted to collaborate with Luxaviation, who it believes will be a leading player in the AAM industry. “As part of our strategy, we are looking to ensure we understand how we can deliver maintenance and services for these new aircraft building on our existing MRO and analytics capabilities,” Watson explained in a press statement on Monday.
Sustainable power for vertiports
“This strategic partnership also leverages capabilities and technology across Rolls-Royce as we develop the electrical power and propulsion systems for eVTOL and commuter aircraft,” Watson added. “Further, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is able to offer microgrid solutions to support fast-charging of electric aircraft and deliver reliable, cost-effective and climate friendly, sustainable power to vertiports.”
Luxaviation’s head of strategy and president business aviation support services, Christophe Lapierre, said he is convinced that the two companies will accelerate the deployment of Advanced Air Mobility through the strategic partnership. “Our common vision to enable early adoption by leveraging existing capabilities places this partnership at an advanced position, considerably pushing the evolution of this new industry segment,” Lapierre explained. “Our concept is to provide a solution that is agile and in continuous evolution to scale up Advanced Air Mobility operations alongside regulatory development pace and market demand.”