Skyway and Moonware have announced a partnership to advance the readiness of ground infrastructure for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Skyway specialises in air traffic navigation and vertiport airspace management services, while Moonware supplies AI-powered software and autonomous ground vehicles for aviation ground operations.
The two companies will work together to digitally integrate ground operations into urban air traffic systems, enabling streamlined airside operations.
Through this partnership, Skyway will enhance its Vertiport Management System (VMS) using Moonware’s HALO tool. This tool is designed to coordinate and automate aviation ground services, providing features such as automated crew scheduling, ground service equipment allocation and real-time airside visibility.
Javier Vidal, Moonware CEO said:This partnership enables ground operations to be digitally integrated into UATM systems from the very start, agnostic of the type of airfield, and equips operators with a tool that will streamline their airside workflow.
Some of the primary challenges associated with ground operations for eVTOL aircraft relate to their battery constraints and range limitations.
Moonware and Skyway will thus also establish requirements to deploy Moonware’s autonomous and electric pushback vehicle, ALTAS to taxi eVTOLs within vertiports. This will provide aircraft manufacturers with an extended range through engine-off taxiing, while also reducing energy consumption and vertiport noise.
Clifford Cruz, Skyway CEO said:Effective ground operations are critical to establishing long-term revenue growth for vertiport stakeholders, including airline operators. Vertiport uptime and organisation of assets via Moonware's technologies will increase Skyway's facility operation offerings value proposition.
This collaboration further advances Skyway’s ambition to develop infrastructure for future eVTOL aircraft. It builds upon a recent partnership with Siemens to develop the electrical and digital infrastructure required for vertiport operations.
