My very first management consulting assignment in the 1970s (ouch!) was for Sikorsky, which hired my company to explore whether there was a civilian market for Blackhawk helicopters. The US withdrawal from Vietnam was disastrous for Sikorsky's business, and they were desperate for new market applications. Much to their dismay, our conclusions were very similar to yours for eVTOLs. For various cost and logistical reasons it was, and still is, a very niche-y market. There are two additional limitations for eVTOLs in city center-to-airport operations. 1) A surprisingly few number of airport trips in major cities originate or end in "downtown." 2) eVTOLs are poorly equipped to handle significant passenger baggage. Net, net, a costly, niche market. Anyone who views a Jetsons future of urban air mobility as a cure for congestion, replacing the mass transportation needs of large cities is living in a cartoon world!
My very first management consulting assignment in the 1970s (ouch!) was for Sikorsky, which hired my company to explore whether there was a civilian market for Blackhawk helicopters. The US withdrawal from Vietnam was disastrous for Sikorsky's business, and they were desperate for new market applications. Much to their dismay, our conclusions were very similar to yours for eVTOLs. For various cost and logistical reasons it was, and still is, a very niche-y market. There are two additional limitations for eVTOLs in city center-to-airport operations. 1) A surprisingly few number of airport trips in major cities originate or end in "downtown." 2) eVTOLs are poorly equipped to handle significant passenger baggage. Net, net, a costly, niche market. Anyone who views a Jetsons future of urban air mobility as a cure for congestion, replacing the mass transportation needs of large cities is living in a cartoon world!