Jeppesen ForeFlight and UrbanLink Air Mobility today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on electronic flight bag (EFB) requirements and dispatch procedures supporting electric vertical takeoff and landing (e-VTOL) and other all-electric aircraft operations in the South Florida airspace.
Under the MOU, the companies will jointly define and document EFB functional, performance, and connectivity requirements alongside dispatch standard operating procedures for e-VTOL, short takeoff and landing (STOL), seaplane, and conventional aircraft operations, said the companies in a press release. “The collaboration will also address airway planning and integration, air traffic control (ATC) coordination, airport operations, and vertiport operations that will support UrbanLink’s advanced air mobility network across South Florida,” said the release.
“The two companies will establish a joint Steering Committee to oversee the work. Deliverables are expected to include an EFB requirements specification, a consolidated set of dispatch SOPs, an integration and ATC coordination plan, airport and vertiport operations procedures, and a validation and trials plan incorporating tabletop exercises and simulations ahead of any operational deployment.
“As advanced air mobility moves from concept to commercial reality, operators need flight deck tools and dispatch standards built specifically for electric aircraft,” said Brad Surak, CEO, Jeppesen ForeFlight. “Working with UrbanLink gives us a real-world testbed in one of the busiest and most complex airspace environments in the country that will let us shape EFB and dispatch standards for e-VTOL operations from the ground up.”
“South Florida’s airspace and vertiport infrastructure are still being defined for electric aircraft, and getting the operational fundamentals right from day one is critical,” said Ed Wegel, Founder and Chairman, UrbanLink Air Mobility. “Partnering with Jeppesen ForeFlight gives us access to decades of flight deck and dispatch expertise as we build out our EFB requirements and operating procedures for e-VTOL and all-electric aircraft.”
For more information