Photo: AMSL Aero
The Australian clean aviation tech startup AMSL Aero is kicking off the new year with a milestone – the first civil customer order for 20 of its flagship aircraft.
Airline operators from all over the world are starting to make efforts geared toward renewed fleets, whether it's retrofitted existing aircraft or new-generation designs. In Australia, Aviation Logistics has just taken a bold step. This general aviation and regional airline group believes that future aircraft will run on electricity or hydrogen, and it isn't afraid to put its money where its mouth is.
The group became the official launch partner for the Aussie-made Vertiia hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) after paying the deposits for ten units from AMSL Aero, with the option of adding ten more units. It plans to operate these hybrid-powered VTOLs through three of its associated companies, Air Link, AirMed, and Chartair, which is proof of the AMSL Aero aircraft's remarkable versatility.
It's not very often that we see one customer intending to use an eVTOL in all of its potential configurations. Because three different companies will operate the Vertiia aircraft, the VTOL will get to show what it can do when it comes to passenger transportation, cargo services, and aeromedical missions. This initial order from a single customer will actually cover multiple potential functions of this versatile green aircraft.
Vertiia emerged in the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry with one huge promise – to be the world's most efficient long-range zero-emission VTOL. Compared to most electric air taxis out there, which can only promise a short to medium, clean range, the Vertiia claims to be able to cover up to 1,000 km (621 miles) at 300 kph (186 mph), which opens up a whole new range of commercial possibilities.
Plus, hydrogen propulsion makes the Vertiia a pioneer in terms of emission-free passenger transportation. Most urban air taxis are expected to be purely electric, while hydrogen propulsion technology continues to evolve. On the other hand, the only feasible hydrogen-based alternatives at the moment represent retrofitting solutions designed for existing aircraft. This makes Vertiia one of the first passenger VTOLs designed from the start to run on hydrogen.
The only bad news is that it won't happen overnight. While some purely electric air taxis are gearing up to enter commercial service as soon as next year, this hydrogen-powered alternative isn't expected to take off earlier than 2027. That's when the Aviation Logistics group, the manufacturer's first civil customer, estimates it will be ready to launch regular flights operated by the three associated companies.
Vertiia is designed and developed in Australia, which makes it one of the industry trailblazers in this part of the world. In addition to the increased range, it also promises exceptional efficiency (it would use less energy per seat than a high-speed train) and quiet urban operations (65-70 decibels).
The group became the official launch partner for the Aussie-made Vertiia hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) after paying the deposits for ten units from AMSL Aero, with the option of adding ten more units. It plans to operate these hybrid-powered VTOLs through three of its associated companies, Air Link, AirMed, and Chartair, which is proof of the AMSL Aero aircraft's remarkable versatility.
It's not very often that we see one customer intending to use an eVTOL in all of its potential configurations. Because three different companies will operate the Vertiia aircraft, the VTOL will get to show what it can do when it comes to passenger transportation, cargo services, and aeromedical missions. This initial order from a single customer will actually cover multiple potential functions of this versatile green aircraft.
Vertiia emerged in the AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry with one huge promise – to be the world's most efficient long-range zero-emission VTOL. Compared to most electric air taxis out there, which can only promise a short to medium, clean range, the Vertiia claims to be able to cover up to 1,000 km (621 miles) at 300 kph (186 mph), which opens up a whole new range of commercial possibilities.
Plus, hydrogen propulsion makes the Vertiia a pioneer in terms of emission-free passenger transportation. Most urban air taxis are expected to be purely electric, while hydrogen propulsion technology continues to evolve. On the other hand, the only feasible hydrogen-based alternatives at the moment represent retrofitting solutions designed for existing aircraft. This makes Vertiia one of the first passenger VTOLs designed from the start to run on hydrogen.
The only bad news is that it won't happen overnight. While some purely electric air taxis are gearing up to enter commercial service as soon as next year, this hydrogen-powered alternative isn't expected to take off earlier than 2027. That's when the Aviation Logistics group, the manufacturer's first civil customer, estimates it will be ready to launch regular flights operated by the three associated companies.
Vertiia is designed and developed in Australia, which makes it one of the industry trailblazers in this part of the world. In addition to the increased range, it also promises exceptional efficiency (it would use less energy per seat than a high-speed train) and quiet urban operations (65-70 decibels).
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