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2024-05-03

Eve Unveils Vector Software for Safer Urban Flights

Eve Air Mobility (Eve) announced at the Airspace World event in Geneva the name of its Urban Air Traffic Management (Urban ATM) software and provided updates on the solution’s development.

Named Vector, this agnostic software solution aims to tackle the distinct air traffic and network management hurdles of present and forthcoming Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.

Its focus lies on fleet and vertiport operators, along with future service providers for AAM, including Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs).

The company is making strides towards an operational version of the software that customers can test and trial, thereby effectively advancing market progress.

Johann Bordais, Eve’s CEO, elaborated: “Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flights will become an established transportation mode for communities worldwide. Eve expects first deliveries and entry into service as soon as 2026 and has been addressing the airspace and Air Traffic Management challenges to support the introduction and growth of the market in a harmonised and safe way.

Vector will streamline AAM operations from day 1, coordinating all stakeholders involved to enhance safety, optimise performance, and maximise resource usage.”

Integration Hub

Vector will allow eVTOLs to be integrated with other aircraft flying in low-level urban airspace from day one of operations and provide the automation needed to enable Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market scalability.

To date, Eve has successfully onboarded 14 customers for the Vector solution, encompassing a diverse range of stakeholders such as fleet operators, vertiports, and providers of airspace and flow management services.

With Vector, eVTOL operators will experience significant improvements in operational efficiency, allowing for smoother and more streamlined flight operations.

Vertiports, on the other hand, will benefit from enhanced management of resource allocation, ensuring seamless coordination among all parties involved in operations.

Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and Providers of Services (PSU) for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will leverage Vector to optimise the utilisation of airspace and air traffic networks, catering to the needs of all users while maintaining safety and efficiency.

Simulation Partnership

In November 2023, Eve partnered with Flexjet to conduct a simulation to authenticate and refine Vector’s capabilities under real-scenario settings and better understand the software’s commercial viability and applications. The simulation took place in the UK and involved 18 flights across eight aerodromes, exercising 26 different routes with alternative landing locations to test the standby flight plan functionality.

Additionally, the team conducted tests on delays occurring at departure and destination points, assessing their impacts on incoming flights.

They also examined flight cancellations stemming from airspace and weather constraints, as well as in-flight emergencies, which encompassed requests for alternative landing locations.

The Eve-Flexjet simulation revealed disparities between existing Air Traffic Management systems and the necessary infrastructure to facilitate Urban Air Mobility operations from the outset. One critical gap identified is the lack of integration between fleet and vertiport operator systems, essential for coordinating eVTOL flights safely and efficiently.

Bridging the Gaps

Consequently, Eve has prioritised the development of services aimed at bridging these gaps. These include integrated flight planning synchronised with airspace and vertiport resource availability, management of alternate landing locations integrated into flight planning to accommodate the endurance limitations of electric aircraft, and conformance management to alert stakeholders when flights deviate from their planned routes and potentially impact other flights.

“Flight dispatchers are responsible for nearly all aspects of an operation, which requires extensive decision-making and tracking abilities. Urban ATM services can support these activities in preparation for AAM operations through increased levels of automation and an integrated view of the relevant information tied to a specific flight.

Eve has been actively incorporating features, including feedback received through user testing, into Vector to ensure the value of its services translates directly to the end users,” explained Brenden Hedblom, Eve’s head of traffic management solutions.

Testing it in real-world scenarios is the best way to ensure the services provide optimal value. The company anticipates advancing towards an operational version of the software this year, enabling customers to test and trial it, thereby advancing the market and preparing the UAM ecosystem for initial operations.

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