UrbanX aims to land electric vertical aircraft here by 2027

Rolling into the new year, UrbanX is actively working together with its partners at Eve Air Mobility as well as local and state officials, infrastructure, energy and technology providers to establish the necessary framework for launching eVTOL aircraft in Miami-Dade County.

UrbanX is committed to operating a social enterprise business model and public-private partnerships to ensure the service the company provides benefits not only passengers but also the surrounding community, said Lucy Morillo, UrbanX president and CEO.

Ms. Morillo said she has been actively meeting with local officials and key stakeholders in the community, including local trauma centers, to see how eVTOLs can assist in their efforts to save lives.

Through collaboration with local governments, UrbanX will extend benefits not only to passengers but also to the surrounding community, she said.

This includes meeting the demands of private corporations, airports, airlines, and cruise lines, as well as public agencies and hospitals in need of rapid transportation, such as medical transport.

“I am committed to operating UrbanX under a social enterprise business model, working in conjunction with local governments and key stakeholders to ensure the service we offer benefits the surrounding communities and generates positive change,” she added. “One of my first tasks as CEO of UrbanX is the establishment of an advisory board made up of community leaders and industry experts to gain valuable insight and strategic guidance to ensure that UrbanX achieves its mission of redefining urban transportation while servicing community’s needs and identifying how to further introduce eVOTLs to the public sector. It’s important that we benefit the communities in which we do business.”

UrbanX is a subsidiary of the Miami-based airline GlobalX, a US 121 domestic flag airline with over 600 aviation professionals and 14 aircraft under operating certificate and the fastest growing North American domestic and international hybrid charter/cargo airline serving both passenger charter and cargo markets. Offices are based in the GlobalX office at Miami International Airport.

In 2022, GlobalX signed a letter of intent to purchase 200 electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) from Eve Air Mobility, a leading developer of UAM solutions backed by Embraer, the world’s third largest commercial aircraft manufacturer with more than 50 years of aerospace expertise.

“We have tremendous confidence in Embraer Aircraft. They have designed and built and certified great aircraft (such as the EMB-175 and 190). They have the technical expertise to build a great e-vtol aircraft,” said Ed Wegel, chairman and CEO of GlobalX.

Embraer is also well known in Florida with major operations in Fort Lauderdale and Melbourne. The management of GlobalX has previously ordered and taken delivery of over 80 Embraer aircraft.

Ms. Morillo said she is actively meeting with infrastructure, energy and technology providers to prepare the infrastructure needed to support urban air mobility in Miami-Dade County. She also sits on several advisory boards, including the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Advanced Air Mobility Advisory Committee (AAMAC), the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA), and EVE Air Mobility’s Advisory Board.

There is a lot of work to be done to build out the UAM ecosystem in Miami-Dade County, including government and industry collaboration, regulations and certifications, airspace integration, infrastructure and vertiport development, and community engagement, Ms. Morillo explained.

eVTOLs will land at vertiports, which are designated take-off and landing sites akin to bus stations for urban flights. Some vertiports will also have electric charging stations and passenger lounges and parking.

“Vertiport locations will be selected in consultation with local governments and land planning authorities to ensure regulatory and environmental compliance, accessibility, ease of use, and minimal disruption to the surrounding areas,” she said. “We have created a partnership with Ferrovial but there is also an opportunity for us to build our own vertiports.”

Regulations and certifications will also be needed.

“Global X has an experienced licensing team to ensure we obtain the necessary licenses to operate eVTOLs. We will start the certification of part 135 operator in the second half of 2024, which will provide us with our AOC (air operators certificate) and the operating platform to add the Eve aircraft at the end of 2026,” Ms. Morillo said. “Then, we anticipate the Eve e-vtol certification will take 90-120 days after the first aircraft delivery, which will then allow us to schedule our first flight at the beginning of 2027.”

Beyond government and industry collaboration, community engagement will also be critical to transform electric UAM into a reality.

“UrbanX will be actively informing and consulting Miami-Dade residents to ensure that UAM operations deliver meaningful benefits that improve our communities,” she explained. “We will continue to meet with key stakeholders throughout this community to see how UAM can benefit their services and we will continue to educate our communities.”

The UrbanX team will be focused on sales and marketing, customer services, and developing the public-private partnership with major stakeholders in Miami.

“This is a very complementary relationship that ensures best-in-class operations, customer service, and community-focused sales and marketing,” Ms. Morillo said. “One will focus on what they do best – which is operations – and the other will focus on what we do best, which is community, and making sure we provide best-in-class services for South Florida and beyond.”