Urban-Air Port® (UAP) released details of its pioneering collaboration with Micro Nav, global leaders in simulation of air traffic management and airspace operations. This partnership will allow UAP to precisely demonstrate the functionality of their Next-Gen AirOne vertiport, showing how it can be successfully integrated in real-time with flight schedules and aviation operations to help international, domestic and regional airport clients seamlessly integrate next-generation advanced air mobility infrastructure into their operations.

Preparing for the first eVTOL routes, together, UAP and Micro Nav will develop an industry-leading vertiport simulation that illustrates eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft ground movements for the next generation AirOne vertiport. The simulation will cover one of the most important elements this industry needs to fully grasp – the real eVTOL ground operations.

The team will test ground operations for each eVTOL aircraft, from landing on the TLOF (landing pad) and descending via UAP’s revolutionary Vertical Airfield, to the hangar doors opening and the minimal push-backs of the aircraft to/from the adjacent hangar. Micro Nav’s experience in offshore carrier-based operations simulation for the UK Ministry of Defence’s F35 aircraft provides unique experience and exceptional precision in high-pressure, rapid turnaround scenarios. UAP and Micro Nav will use the simulation to train its operators, clients and demonstrate how a UAP vertiport provides a viable and sustainable business case for eVTOL operators.

“We’re delighted to partner with such a respected, trusted world leader in ATM and airspace operations simulation as Micro Nav. Their relationships with high-capacity leading airports such as Dubai DXB and DWC, amongst many others, combined with their high precision offshore-carrier expertise is a powerful mix. Together, we can show not just the efficient functionality of the AirOne vertiport, from passenger movements to charging, but also its integration within wider airport operations. This is an important step in the global deployment of UAP’s technology and for the industry at large.” — Andrea Wu, CEO, Urban-Air Port

The simulation will also show arrival and departure passenger processing, eVTOL charging and MRO (maintenance, repair and operations). It will include several hours of operation, linked with a dozen aircraft movements an hour as a baseline for a “M” sized, eight-stand AirOne in several State of California, USA locations. It will highlight commuter routes to fast growing regions in close collaboration with local authorities, the regional FAA and real estate partners, and UAPs eVTOL OEMs and operator partners.

To effectively demonstrate how UAP’s vertiport operations function and can be integrated within an airport, the simulated arrivals and departures will be timed to connect to the flight schedule at a US international airport. A second phase of the simulation, developed in conjunction with additional partners, will include modelling the vertiport network, encompassing air movements and multiple vertiports. This is an exciting first step to building a viable pathway for this industry, and a model that can be stress-tested and rolled out at multiple locations simultaneously to define and guide the air space regulatory process and the ground-based planning process.

AirOne Vertiport 

The UAP Vertical Airfield overcomes many hurdles from a safety and environmental perspective and unlocks expensive and constrained real-estate for vertiport locations, allowing intermodal transportation in areas where demand is strong. Integration with complex airport masterplans and downtown locations pose great challenges to this fledgling industry, and this partnership will unlock some of these issues by demonstrating a variety of attributes and testing a variety of scenarios.

“Simulation has always been an important process in our deployment strategy. Our Vertiport technology challenges traditional aviation planning and leverages other industries such as off-shore carrier operations – the vertiport is often described by regulators as an onshore-aircraft carrier.

So, this partnership with Micro Nav, specialists in operational simulation for air traffic and airspace operations enables us to confidently evidence AirOne’s functionality to government regulators, airport operators and clients – to show just how safe, efficient and effective our infrastructure is. This important work sets a new milestone for the industry and will give us the tools we need to take the next step in installing UAP’s vertiports within airports and corresponding city sites around the world.” — Ricky Sandhu, Executive Chairman, Urban-Air Port

AirOne will support growth in eVTOL operations at airports, ultimately connecting air taxi passengers with onward flights, as well as providing a platform for other intermodal connectivity to support airports’ growth and accessibility. UAP’s vertiports can be deployed in urban, suburban and even rural sites, but airports will likely become the first commercial locations. The UAP team therefore values Micro Nav’s experience in delivering simulations for multiple airport types, including aircraft carriers and helicopter operations, and for a range of purposes, including training, testing and demonstration.

“Embracing the future, Micro Nav has also ventured into the burgeoning eVTOL and UAV market. By applying our best-in-class simulation technology, we are at the forefront of shaping the next generation of operational deployment in this exciting new airspace user segment. This expansion not only demonstrates our adaptability, but also underscores our dedication to driving advancements that deliver “safety first” outcomes that are fit for purpose for live operations. Micro Nav continues to lead the future of aviation training with precision and foresight.” — Greg Pile, Managing Director, Micro Nav

This collaboration builds on the announcement of UAP’s partnership with NACO just a few weeks ago, and will capitalise on the opportunity to integrate the cutting-edge infrastructure needed to provide enhanced safety for both eVTOL operations, pilots, passengers and communities.

“The beauty of simulations like this is it gives you the opportunity to explore how a UAM network will operate as close to reality as possible. You can tease out the pinch points in efficiency and start to explore solutions. This is key to successfully integrating the first routes and vertiports where efficiency is based on making every second count for the vehicles and, most importantly, the passengers.” — Huw Ross, Head of Airspace Management, Urban-Air Port