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ArunSampath Article UAM - UDAN - SAE - MEMag - Jun2021
ArunSampath Article UAM - UDAN - SAE - MEMag - Jun2021
ArunSampath Article UAM - UDAN - SAE - MEMag - Jun2021
Trends Trends
UDAN AND URBAN AIR MOBILITY – CHALLENGES AND infrastructure is found wanting.
UAM has been accumulating new
OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA use cases to offer alternative air
transport in emergency services,
eCommerce delivery, mission critical
applications such as fire and crowd
control, short-haul professional
travel (e.g., airport to downtown,
city centre to suburbs), and tourism.
A list of eVTOL companies is shown
in Figure 1 (Ref[4]), where different
Fig 2. UAM Key Components (Ref [4])
organizations have matured into
number of operational airports by 2018. The second different stages of design, development, validation, and
component had the objective of adding several hundred serial production.
financially viable, capped-airfare, new regional flight
Short Haul Travel in India – UDAN vs UAM
routes to connect more than 100 underserved and
unserved airports in smaller towns with each other and In looking at similarities between UDAN and UAM, it is
also to improve connectivity with larger cities/airports important to note the major components as shown in
nearby through the creation of “Viability Gap Funding Figure 2 and listed below: (Ref [4])
(VGF)” with contributions from both GOI and State 1. aircraft for UDAN and vehicles (Autonomous Air
Traffic congestion worldwide is a recurring/ubiquitous 2016) including UDAN-RCS, where UDAN (Ude Desh ka Governments (Ref[2]). MoCA subsequently included Vehicles (AAVs), eVTOLs etc.) for UAM
phenomenon that reduces productivity, increases Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development program air routes along India’s vast coastline to connect them
through amphibian seaplanes and helicopters with 2. command-and-control platforms
pollution from stranded or slow-moving vehicles, and with Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to enhance
impacts the health of travellers through increased stress regional air connectivity across the country through successful launches from Statue of Unity in Kevadia to 3. navigation and positioning systems
levels. Additionally, due to inadequacies in ground fiscal support and infrastructure development. The Sabarmati in Gujarat and from Kollam to Kochi in Kerala.
4. regulatory, safety, and comfort systems
transportation infrastructure in many densely populated primary objective of UDAN scheme is to operationalize In August 2020, MoCA approved 78 additional routes to
cities around the world, especially in emerging markets approximately 425 unserved and underserved regional be awarded under the 4th round of UDAN-RCS with focus 5. base points including infrastructure of landing pads
like India, alternate modes of transport for better airports with regular scheduled and give the common on boosting connectivity in the North East, hilly states, for AAVs and eVTOLs or runways for aircraft, charging
connectivity are of paramount need with the inherent citizen an opportunity to fly through affordable and and islands (Ref [3]). ports or fuel refilling stations etc.
conditions that they are widespread and affordable. In widespread air travel (Ref [1], [2]). The UDAN scheme Urban Air Mobility (UAM) 6. user interface for booking, transportation to the
this context, short-haul air transport finds a place with had two components, with the first component to airport or launching pad, and further travel to the
two important segments; one that focuses on Urban develop new airports and enhance the existing regional The increasing urbanization in many cities across the
destination
Air Mobility (UAM) primarily in large metropolitan cities airports and achieve the target of almost doubling the world has increased traffic congestion and pollution
using electrified Vertical Take Off levels, leading to many hours of lost productivity Eviation, an electric aircraft start-up from Israel
and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles and impact on the health of the residents, ultimately announced that their aircraft “Alice”, with a length of
and the second that focuses affecting the economic growth of the
more on inter-city commute by country. Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
operationalizing underused/ is a relatively new concept aimed
unused airports using fixed wing at offering safe and efficient air
aircraft. traffic operations in a metropolitan
area for manned and unmanned
UDAN-RCS Scheme of aircraft systems (Ref [4]). Over the
Government of India last few years, UAM has evolved
In June 2016, the Ministry of Civil into a disruptive transportation
Aviation (MoCA), Government of mode, ready to offer an alternative
India (GOI), released the National to existing ground transportation,
Civil Aviation Policy 2016 (NCAP Fig 1. eVTOL Companies (Ref [4]) especially in areas where Fig 3. Eviation Alice Electric Aircraft (Ref [6])