{"id":24300,"date":"2022-12-12T17:46:46","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T17:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saj.pachecostudios.com?p=24300"},"modified":"2022-12-12T17:46:47","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T17:46:47","slug":"vports-inks-landmark-agreement-to-create-worlds-first-advanced-air-mobility-integrator-center-in-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/international-news\/vports-inks-landmark-agreement-to-create-worlds-first-advanced-air-mobility-integrator-center-in-dubai\/%20","title":{"rendered":"VPorts Inks Landmark Agreement to Create World\u2019s First Advanced Air Mobility Integrator Center in Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VPorts has announced a partnership with the UAE General\nCivil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub\n(MBRAH) at Dubai South to establish the world\u2019s first AAM integrator world center\nin Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set to establish Dubai and the UAE as a world-class global\nAAM hub, the ground-breaking project includes dedicated flight-testing\nairspace, assigned blocked airspace and innovative new technologies which will\nfoster the global growth of the international AAM industry and accelerate the\ncertification of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VPorts has signed a 25-year exclusive lease agreement with\nMBRAH, renewable for a further 25 years, to establish the state-of-the-art AAM\ncentre on a 37,000-square-metre site within Dubai South. The project, which\nrepresents an initial investment of $40 million over three years, is expected\nto generate US$7 billion in direct revenues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Combined,\nover the next 25 years and create 1,500 high-quality direct jobs. Development\nand construction of the AAM integrator world centre will start in 2023; it is\nexpected to begin operations and conduct its first flight test in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his comments, Tahnoon Saif, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid\nAerospace Hub, said: \u201cOur mandate at MBRAH is to attract top global players in\nthe aviation sector to establish their presence in the emirate and operate as\npart of our overall ecosystem. We are pleased to sign this agreement with VPorts\nto launch the first-of-its-kind integrator world centre, which will enable and\nsupport worldwide eVTOL manufacturers and operators with flight testing\nfacilities in all conditions. It will also help position Dubai as a world\nleader in advanced air mobility. We will spare no effort in supporting Vports\nso it can prosper, succeed, and connect with different stakeholders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As part of the agreement, VPorts will partner with private\ninvestors to deliver advanced infrastructure, development, and operations. Multiple\nrevenue streams and opportunities will be pursued and leveraged across all\nphases of development, from project conceptualisation through design,\ndevelopment, and long-term implementation. USA-based NEXA Capital Partners of\nWashington, DC, will lead the initial investment round, assembling a consortium\nof investors already active in the AAM sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGCAA\u2019s strategic plan is to build a sustainable and\ninnovative cluster for the Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem to thrive and grow\nthis new entrant mode of air transportation globally from a hub right here in\nDubai,\u201d said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of General Civil\nAviation Authority (GCAA). \u201cAs a leading civil aviation organization, we are\nreshaping the regulatory landscape to leverage the presence of the principal\nproject partners in Dubai to enable innovation and to foster AAM-related\ntechnology and know-how capacity building in the UAE and across the world. We\naim to build an efficient and sustainable framework that supports the growth and\nintegration of AAM.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this milestone agreement, Dubai has underlined its\nleadership to the Advanced Air Mobility sector,\u201d said Dr. Fethi Chebil, CEO and\nFounder of VPorts. \u201cThis is a landmark day that brings future mobility one step\ncloser to reality. VPorts is thrilled to be leading the development of this\nfirst and only AAM integrator world centre. Our presence in Dubai is aligned\nwith our strategy and ambition to build and operate 1,500 vertiports around the\nworld by 2045.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading-edge technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the support of MBRAH and the GCAA, VPorts will deploy\nits Vertiport Operation Control Centre (VOCC) hub as part of the AAM integrator\nworld centre in Dubai. The VOCC will have the capacity to manage air traffic\nintegration and set up communication protocols between eVTOLs, vertiports and\nAir Navigation Service Providers (ANSP). It will also leverage artificial\nintelligence to assess data related to resource management, ensuring efficient,\ntimely decision-making processes for all eVTOLs landing, taking off from, or\nflying to any vertiport in an eventual global network of sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorporating state-of-the-art technology, the VOCC will\nenable VPorts to centralise operations for optimal efficiency. It will also\nhave the capacity to manage non-flight-related operations, including cargo,\npersonnel and airside management, commercial activities, security screening,\ncybersecurity, ground handling and aircraft charging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vports team looks forward to working closely with\nUniversities and Research Groups in UAE to foster the most advanced technology\nthrough conducting collaborative R&D Projects, and to prepare the next\ngeneration of decision-makers who will further develop AAM in the UAE and\naround the world. VPorts, the “Smart Digital Green Innovation Network”,\na Network of 8 Universities in Canada and the University of Sharjah and the\nAmerican University of Sharjah are already in discussion to set up a\ncollaborative framework, where other universities in UAE are welcome to join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UAE\u2019s network of vertiports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By 2030, the network will extend to all major industrial\nareas across the UAE, providing a sustainable transportation solution via\nelectric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018\u2018We are excited to build the first vertiport network\nconnecting major UAE industrial areas,\u201d added Dr. Chebil. \u201cSimilar to\nheliports, the vertiports will be designed for take-off and landing by eVTOLs.\nOur initial growth strategy is based on the regional transportation of goods\nand the efficient movement of patients, organs for transplants and medical\nequipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VPorts\u2019 UAE network of vertiports will focus on locations\nthat optimise multimodal transportation connectivity, including Dubai South,\nJebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLogically, the first places to set up vertiports are\nexisting helipads,\u201d noted Dr. Chebil. \u201cIndustrial and cargo areas are also\nexcellent options to consider. We look forward to collaborating with each and\nevery Emirate to define the location of dedicated vertiports, safety and\nsecurity regulations, flight corridors, urban integration and business\ncommunity engagement for this important undertaking.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborative framework<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AAM integrator world centre will foster collaboration\namong the AAM industry ecosystem and help advance the technological and social\nadoption of AAM. GCAA and MBRAH have already engaged in studying the allocation\nof airspace blocked airspace between vertiports in Dubai to conduct flight\ntesting and facilitate air traffic management integration and technology\nadoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The co-location of the full ecosystem in the AAM integrator\nworld centre will foster eVTOL aircraft airworthiness certification in the UAE\nand elsewhere in the world. It will also provide a proper framework for\nairspace management and integration testing required for the efficient and safe\ndeployment of AAM, while offering a real-life framework for new technology\nadoption and deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRegulation authorities from the region and around the world\nwill be able to take advantage of the AAM integrator world centre in Dubai to\nbuild a regulatory framework for the benefit of their own jurisdiction,\ntherefore increasing global efficiency and the adoption,\u201d said Dr. Chebil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the coming months, VPorts will work with an extended\npartner network to engage with key strategic poles of expertise, including\neVTOL manufacturing, flight simulation and training, regulators, air navigation\nservice providers, technology service providers, operators, electric charging\nmanufacturers and urban planners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VPorts has announced a partnership with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South to establish the world\u2019s first AAM integrator world center in Dubai. Set to establish Dubai and the UAE as a world-class global AAM hub, the ground-breaking project includes dedicated flight-testing airspace, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[142,114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aam-uam","category-international-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vports-3-edit.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24304,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24300\/revisions\/24304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}