Composites Use in Advanced Air Mobility
Urban air mobility (UAM), sometimes referred to as advanced air mobility (AAM), is a market that continues to evolve and mature. Aircraft of this genre are designed to perform one of two functions. One is to provide piloted or autonomous air taxi service, transporting people from point A to point B (heliport/airport-to-heliport/airport) over a distance of 25-400 kilometers, intracity or intercity. The second function is to provide autonomous cargo transport in similar environments.
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Purdue, AnalySwift launch CompositesAI platform to democratize air mobility structure design
CompositesAI integrates with AnalySwift’s VABS and SwiftComp software to streamline the design, simulation and performance evaluation of composite structures — especially rotor blades, shells and panels.
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Archer wins competitive bid process to acquire Lilium’s patent portfolio
Acquisition bolsters Archer’s rapidly growing patent portfolio by adding ~300 patent assets covering current and next-gen eVTOL technologies.
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China's Aerofugia begins production of AE200-100 eVTOL aircraft
Eight-rotor piloted composite aircraft moves into prototype phase for airworthiness certification and large-scale production delivery.
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GE Aerospace, Beta partner on hybrid-electric flight advancement
The companies will co‑develop a hybrid‑electric turbogenerator for use in AAM systems, leveraging GE’s engine tech and Beta’s electric propulsion capabilities.
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Soracle to lead Archer eVTOL aircraft establishment in Osaka
Japan Airlines and Sumitomo joint venture intends to deploy Midnight as the core part of its fleet of air taxi services available in Osaka.
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Kratos becomes exclusive U.S. manufacturer for Elroy Air Chaparral VTOL cargo drone
Five-year partnership leverages Kratos’ expertise in scaled infrastructure and delivering affordable, jet-powered composite unmanned aircraft to put the Chaparral into high-volume production.
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Latest Advanced Air Mobility News And Updates
Hybrid eVTOL orders builds Plana’s FAA certification, U.S. relocation momentum
Korean AAM company Vonaer will purchase a total of 20 eVTOL aircraft, ramping up Plana’s certification, capital raising and market entry goals.
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Midnight eVTOL aircraft reaches highest altitude flight to date
Altitudes of 7,000 feet surpass the aircraft’s intended operational altitudes of up to 4,000 feet, marking the flexibility of the platform.
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SkyDrive partners with Duc Hélices for eVTOL composite rotors
The Japanese eVTOL manufacturer will work with the French propeller specialist on flight-critical rotors for its SD-05, accelerating testing progress and supporting certification efforts.
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Electroformed barrier technology hits project milestones, use case potential
Under the LEEF project, leading edge protection layer for composite structures developed by Ultima Forma and Polar Technology is being considered for eVTOL/UAV rotor and propeller blades, aerofoils and outlet guide vanes.
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Joby demonstrates piloted eVTOL flight in FAA-controlled airspace
The flight between two public California airports, and the aircraft’s ability to integrate with other airliners, is built on years of eVTOL testing and 40,000+ miles flown across the Joby fleet.
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EHang deepens Hefei partnership for VT35 long-range eVTOL
Joint investment in VT35 product hub across Hefei, China, will cover everything from R&D to operations, building up the aircraft’s certifications and range of applications.
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Paris Air Show highlights advanced materials, industry momentum
This year’s international air show offered a glimpse of the rapidly expanding future for composites in aerospace.
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Prepreg compression molding supports higher-rate propeller manufacturing
To meet increasing UAV market demands, Mejzlik Propellers has added a higher-rate compression molding line to its custom CFRP propeller capabilities.
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Composites end markets: Aviation and advanced air mobility (2025)
Despite persistent supply chain issues, markets were set for healthy growth before Trump policies and tariffs, yet long-term trends favor composites in new platforms. Meanwhile, advanced air mobility shakes out and moves forward.
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Aerospace prepregs with braided reinforcement demonstrate improved production rates, cost
A recent time study compares the layup of a wing spar using prepreg with A&P’s TX-45 continuous braided reinforcement versus traditional twill woven prepreg.
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JEC World 2025 highlights: Trends in aerospace, new space and defense
CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis discusses trends in aerospace on display at JEC World — as the composites industry awaits a new single aisle aircraft program, the industry puts continued focus on new space, defense, UAM.
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Composites reinvent aerospace, AAM and space
Celebrating National Composites Week, CW shares ways in which composites continue to make a significant impact in aerospace and space market developments.
Read MoreFAQ: Advanced Air Mobility
What is urban air mobility?
- Urban air mobility (UAM), sometimes called advanced air mobility (AAM), is an emerging aerospace market. These aircraft can be piloted or autonomous, designed for cargo transport or as air taxis for transporting people intercity or intracity.
- Source: Composites end markets: Aerospace
What is an eVTOL?
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are some of the first models to be developed for the urban air mobility market.
They are powered by electric propulsion (generally batteries), and are designed to take off and land vertically. These can include propeller-centric, helicopter-style aircraft as well as fixed-wing aircraft.
How are composites being used in urban air mobility?
UAM aircraft are in various stages of development. Most, if not all, are using composites to some extent for aircraft bodies, wings or other components. The focus has been on technologies that are already qualified for commercial aircraft use – such as hand layup and autoclave cure of prepreg carbon fiber/epoxy.
As progress continues, additional composite materials such as thermoplastic composites will likely become more widely used.