Mariya Tarabanovska:

When the whole world seems to be falling apart due to the actions taken by global political leaders faced with COVID-19 threats, what hopes are there for the near-term future to be more safe and sustainable?

I think the answer to that depends on who is paying the bill - if governments step in to save national airlines and prop up the industry, then they can demand greener and safer technologies in return. If they don't then it's a return to business as usual.


Personally, my view is that unless the concept vehicles for UAM have a direct military use, then funding will be low for that particular aspect


Probably both the best of times and the worst of times to be in the aviation sector


Regards


OMS

COVID.  I think the ever-changing parameters of COVID 19 has caught all off guard, maybe with the exception of New Zealand.  Flying has always had risks associated with the transmission of viruses between people; sitting in a tube at close proximity with other people from 2 to 12+ hours is not the healthiest of environments.  However, the direction for safe and sustainable carriage of passengers and flight has been provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and I think this was correct for them to provide guidance to the members states.

Furlough.  As one of those who has been affected by the partial collapse of the aviation industry.  I have high hopes it will pick-up again in the long term and that is not wishful thinking.  The industry has always had ups and downs and the current situation is most probably the worst coupled with the lack of confidence with Boeing 737 Max aircraft issues.  Over the years reliability, maintainability and safety of our aircraft has greatly improved and this caused a downward trend in employment.  However, the growth of the airline industry helped absorb some of the workforce.  But this growth did have a downside: pollution and this is where you come in.

Electric Air Vehicles.  Electric flight has really taken off, excuse the pun, and we have seen evidence of passenger flights occurring; albeit on short flights, but it is happening.  The use of Vertical Take Off platforms is also not new, many companies are using them to deliver goods, so having a flying taxi is the next step forward and it should be pursued.  Helicopters have grown in popularity.  Why; because you do not require a runway; some second hand helicopters cost less than a middle of the range saloon car and the time it saves in travel is phenomenal.  But the downside is that they are expensive to run depending on whether you have a combustion engine or a jet engine.  I see an urban vehicle being the first step.

John Beirne:

Mariya,

Thank you for organising this Event.  Sameer provided a excellent presentation, which answered some of the questions and observations below.  This is an interesting subject and one that is gaining momentum.  Some of the proto-types UAM look fantastic. 

John

Thank you very much John, very glad you found the webinar interesting! The conversation will continue!