Shannon based Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) announced it has partnered with Electric Aviation Maven (EA Maven) to explore the potential impact of advanced air mobility (AAM) in Ireland. With its compact size and mild climate, Ireland presents an ideal environment for innovative air travel solutions like air taxis.
Recognizing the challenges of navigating the country and the opportunity for more sustainable and efficient transportation, FMCI is committed to transforming Ireland’s mobility landscape.
Current 87% of journeys are undertaken by car, transitioning to electric air mobility solutions presents a promising avenue for decarbonisation. By reducing reliance on surface transport, air mobility solutions can cut emissions, ease road congestion, and save time, potentially freeing up 111,500 hours weekly for regional travellers alone.
For Urban Air Mobility the study identified 174 potential routes connecting 103 population centre’s across urban areas. Dublin, with 74 routes, remains the primary transport hub for origin and destination points.
However, other cities like Limerick and Shannon (29 routes combined), as well as Cork (27 routes), also show strong potential for air travel alternatives. Meanwhile, existing airport infrastructure in regional areas lends itself to 50 potential routes with fixed wing electric or hybrid aircraft.
EA Maven Partner & Co-Founder Darrell Swanson said: “Ireland offers a unique opportunity for eVTOL OEMs and Operators who will be able to access a market of 89 million travellers annually seeking to undertake business or access the diverse historical, cultural and leisure opportunities across the country. With a potential economic impact of €96 million in time savings from Urban Air Mobility alone the opportunity is significant. Given the transportation mix with 87% of the journeys being undertaken by car there is a significant opportunity to help decarbonise road transport. With respect to Regional Air Mobility, the 16 airports assessed shows that there are up to 50 potential domestic routes with a target market of 78 million travellers annually which could contribute €192 million in economic stimulation through time savings.”
Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) CEO Russell Vickers said “Advanced Air Mobility has the potential to significantly improve how we sustainably move people and goods across Ireland and its regions. This study with EA Maven highlights the need to decentralise our current transportation methods, instead embracing more balanced and multimodal solutions that connect cities, towns, and regions more effectively. FMCI is at the helm of this transformation, fostering industry growth, supporting new technologies, and building a network of regional links across the country to make this vision of the future a reality.”
Image Credit: Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI)
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 20 November 2024 All Rights Reserved
