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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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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Archer completes longest flight for piloted Midnight aircraft
The 55-mile flight follows a series of key developments in Archer’s commercialization roadmap, including the continuation of its manufacturing ramp-up throughout the U.S. and the activation of its Launch Edition program in the UAE.
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Material solutions reduce critical weight, address challenges for aircraft development
CAMX 2025: Greene Tweed highlights lightweight composite innovations such as Xycomp DLF for aerospace and advanced air mobility.
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Beta Alia aircraft flight kicks off Test Arena operations in Norway
Demonstration eVTOL flights through the Test Arena established by Avinor and CAA Norway are designed to evaluate use cases and routes for zero- and low-emission aviation in the Nordic region.
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ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ’s CW Tech Days: Infrastructure event offers a series of expert presentations on composite materials, processes and applications that should and will be considered for use in the infrastructure and construction markets.
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In the Automated Composites knowledge center, CGTech brings you vital information about all things automated composites, from the manufacturing processes to the vendors and necessary tools.
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Latest Advanced Air Mobility News And Updates
Archer acquires assets from Overair, Mission Critical Composites
Aiming to accelerate its defense aircraft portfolio, acquisitions include a patent portfolio from tiltrotor aircraft specialist Overair, and a composites manufacturing site.
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Aciturri Aerostructures to build Vertical's VX4 eVTOL airframe
Under a long-term agreement, Aciturri will supply the airframe for Vertical’s composites-intensive VX4, providing manufacturing engineering and design support.
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Joby preps conforming aircraft for TIA flight testing, acquires Blade Air Mobility
Joby Aviation is advancing toward FAA certification of its electric eVTOL aircraft while acquiring Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business to accelerate commercialization and expand operations in the U.S. and Europe.
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Hartzell AAM propeller gains FAA Part 35 type certification
Certification testing of Hartzell’s five-bladed composite propeller was conducted exclusively on Beta Technologies’ electric propulsion systems for the Alia VTOL and CTOL, with the goal that the design will serve similar AAM architectures in future.
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Seoul National University VABS to design UAM, rotorcraft blades
University conducts research to establish conceptual and detailed design methodologies applicable to composite UAM systems and to develop digital twin technologies that can be used in aerospace.
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CompPair advances HealTech composites in real-world solutions
New projects, collaborations and sustainability efforts highlight the prospect of healable materials for automotive, AAM, space and beyond.
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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.
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FAQ: 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.