Unifly, a key player in the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology landscape, is proud to announce its collaboration with Terra Drone Corporation and Aloft Technologies Inc. in the development of a global UAS Traffic Management (UTM) infrastructure that kickstarts the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry worldwide.

This partnership marks the first collaboration among multiple UTM leaders, pooling together expertise from Unifly, Aloft and Terra Drone. Anchored by Terra Drone’s strategic investments in Unifly and Aloft, this partnership represents a significant milestone in the evolution of UTM for AAM, bringing together leading expertise from multiple industry leaders. 

As a group, the three companies are driven by a shared vision: to ensure the safe and efficient coexistence of aircraft, drones, and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in daily life. Central to the common mission is the recognition of the indispensable role of UTM. By leveraging their profound expertise and extensive track records in UTM across diverse regions, this alliance represents a unified effort to establish a global standard for UTM in AAM worldwide.

The announcement unveiled at the prestigious XPONENTIAL 2024 expo in San Diego, showcases the commitment of the three companies to advancing UTM technologies for the future of aerial transportation.

Terra Drone, Unifly, and Aloft are embarking on this joint business development to seize the opportunities presented by the rapid global progress in eVTOLs, which are poised to revolutionise transportation. According to research by Morgan Stanley, the Urban Air Mobility (UAM), part of the AAM market is expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050. As eVTOLs capture worldwide imagination through test flights and prototype showcases, this collaboration aims to seize the momentum and spearhead UTM evolution to align with the needs of the AAM sector.

Recognizing the evolving needs of the AAM industry and in anticipation of the upcoming surge in eVTOL aircraft and drone activities, the companies proudly announce initiatives aimed at enhancing their existing UTM platforms. With a focus on automation, the platforms currently offer advanced planning features and sophisticated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) parsing capabilities. These strategic initiatives entail incorporating additional functionalities crucial for the sector’s growth while fortifying their platforms with enhanced automation. By streamlining operational efficiencies and integrating sophisticated UTM technology into the design and operation framework of AAM, the partners aim to set new standards in UTM and to facilitate the seamless integration of eVTOLs and drones into the national airspace, bolstering the potential for the AAM industry.

In pursuit of this vision, Unifly, Terra Drone, and Aloft are actively seeking collaboration with a broad array of partners, including eVTOL manufacturers, eVTOL operators, vertiport operators, aviation authorities, air navigation service providers (ANSPs), and urban planners to seamlessly integrate AAM into city infrastructures, and educational institutions for research and development. By forging strategic partnerships across these diverse sectors, the partners seek to create a cohesive ecosystem that not only supports the growth of AAM but also addresses the broader challenges of urban mobility, sustainability, and air traffic safety.

Source: Unifly