Rolls-Royce and private aviation firm Luxaviation to develop vertiports

Rolls-Royce and private aviation company Luxaviation are to partner on the development of vertiports for eVTOL aircraft.

Rolls-Royce is to provide electrification solutions, maintenance support services, and digital solutions for Luxaviation’s planned network of vertiports.

Luxaviation has a presence at over 120 private VIP terminals across the world and provides Fixed Based Operator (FBO) passenger services as well as charter and private aircraft management services.

The development of eVTOL aircraft, also known as Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) or Urban Air Mobilty offers an opportunity to improve connections to airport terminals. Many electric and hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft developers are initially targeting this market, because of the limited range of the vehicles and the more convenient travel private aviation passengers require.

The agreement signed between Rolls-Royce Electrical, Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Luxaviation covers operations, vertiports and surrounding infrastructure to support AAM. The strategic partnership will look at three main areas: charging and energy infrastructure for vertiports, maintenance provision for electric aircraft and digital solutions for related applications across AAM

Rob Watson, president of Rolls Royce Electrical said, “We will be the leading provider of all electric and hybrid-electric power and propulsion systems for AAM. As part of our strategy, we are looking to ensure we understand how we can deliver maintenance and services for these new aircraft building on our existing MRO and analytics capabilities.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Luxaviation who we believe will be a leading player in the AAM industry and that this collaboration will help both partners to be at the forefront of this new market.

“This strategic partnership also leverages capabilities and technology across Rolls-Royce as we develop
the electrical power and propulsion systems for eVTOL and commuter aircraft. Rolls-Royce is set to build
on our existing network to offer maintenance services for electrical systems.

“Further, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is able to offer microgrid solutions to support fast-charging of electric aircraft and deliver reliable, cost-effective and climate friendly, sustainable power to vertiports.”

Christophe Lapierre, Luxaviation’s head of strategy and president of business aviation support services
said, “We are convinced that Rolls-Royce and Luxaviation, two market leaders with a global network,
talent, expertise, and vision across entire value chain will accelerate the deployment of Advanced Air
Mobility through this strategic partnership.

“Our common vision to enable early adoption by leveraging existing capabilities places this partnership at
an advanced position, considerably pushing the evolution of this new industry segment. Our concept is to
provide a solution that is agile and in continuous evolution to scale up Advanced Air Mobility operations
alongside regulatory development pace and market demand.”

Last week Farnborough Airport, which also caters for business and private aviation announced it is working with eVTOL aircraft-developer Vertical Aerospace on the potential market for offering AAM services.