Exploring the Future of Air Mobility: An Interview with Borja Blond Arroyabe, CEO of AAM Operator at NEOM

In this exclusive written interview, Aviation 360 Magazine sits down with Borja Blond Arroyabe, CEO of AAM Operator at NEOM, for a captivating discussion on the future of air mobility. Led by Megha Mary Mathews, Editor of Aviation 360 Magazine, this conversation delves into Borja’s insights, initiatives, and vision for transforming urban transportation through innovative aerial mobility solutions. Join us as we uncover the groundbreaking developments shaping the aviation industry and NEOM’s pioneering role in this transformative journey.

Has COVID impacted the future mobility solutions?  With the rapid growth in the AAM industry, can you comment on the outlook of this industry?

Of course, the pandemic brought about shifts in how people and goods move, accelerating certain trends and prompting reevaluations of aviation technologies and infrastructures.

The emergence of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) from entities new to traditional aviation introduces significant challenges in training, maintenance, and customer support. These facets are crucial for guaranteeing safety, reliability, and the enduring success of the AAM ecosystem, especially in pioneering and visionary settings such as NEOM, where the timelines for full-scale service entry align closely with project activation milestones. Addressing these concerns necessitates a comprehensive approach, emphasizing the development of specialized training programs, the establishment of robust maintenance infrastructure, and the implementation of extensive customer support systems. Collaboration with established aviation experts, regulatory bodies, and technological innovators will be key in overcoming these obstacles, ensuring that AAM can achieve its full potential in revolutionizing urban mobility.

NEOM has garnered significant attention from foreign investors and stakeholders. What are some notable partnerships that have been established thus far?

NEOM stands as the epitome of innovation and vibrancy, with an ambitious yet attainable vision to serve as a model for future human societies. Its foundation is built on the principle of collaborative effort, emphasizing the importance of forging strong partnerships with authorities and industry leaders to ensure collective success in deploying Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within NEOM and throughout the Kingdom. In this collaborative spirit, NEOM has entered into several agreements with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to assist the authority in demonstrating and validating the technology. This cooperation aims to establish a new regulatory framework tailored for commercial eVTOL operations, setting a global benchmark for innovation and safety in air mobility.

Further illustrating this commitment to advancement in AAM, Volocopter has taken significant steps towards achieving Type certification for its fully electric, multirotor eVTOL, the Volocity. This endeavor is supported by a joint venture between NEOM and Volocopter, aimed at launching the first commercial operator of eVTOL aircraft. This partnership not only highlights NEOM’s role as a pioneer in integrating cutting-edge mobility solutions but also showcases its dedication to supporting industry leaders in navigating the certification process and operationalization of such advanced technologies.

Through these collaborative efforts, NEOM is not just facilitating the introduction of AAM but is actively shaping the future of urban air mobility on a global scale. The initiatives undertaken by NEOM and its partners demonstrate a proactive approach to overcoming the challenges associated with this new era of transportation, ensuring that AAM is safely, efficiently, and sustainably integrated into the urban landscape.

From the perspective of consumers, what do you perceive as the primary challenges currently confronting the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, and what measures are being taken to address them?

The typical airline passenger journey, familiar and routinized within the context of fixed-wing aircraft—from ticketing through to the cabin experience—contrasts sharply with the novel journey envisioned for eVTOL passengers. This new paradigm of air travel necessitates a complete redesign, one that we, alongside infrastructure and customer experience experts, are meticulously crafting to deliver an unparalleled flying experience. Our goal is to reimagine the customer journey as part of a seamlessly integrated multi-modal transport system, ensuring that every visitor to NEOM maximizes their travel experience.

NEOM’s approach, starting from a “clean sheet of paper,” allows for the thoughtful navigation of challenges, enabling us to devise customized solutions that align with both the unique capabilities of eVTOL aircraft and the specific profiles of our customers. In existing urban landscapes, public acceptance of such innovative air mobility solutions may pose significant challenges; however, NEOM is proactively planning to address these through optimized network planning. This strategic approach aims to offer a seamless travel experience, tailored to the individual needs and mission profiles of our customers.

By prioritizing this innovative, customer-centric approach, NEOM is not merely accommodating the advent of eVTOL technology but is actively shaping the future of urban air mobility. Our initiatives are designed to ensure that the transition to this new mode of transportation is as smooth and welcoming as possible.

By 2030, operators in the advanced air mobility sector could potentially match or even surpass today’s leading airlines in terms of daily flights and fleet size. What is your perspective on this projection?

Reflecting on my background in aviation, I perceive the data through a slightly different lens, particularly when considering leading airlines globally that operate fleets approaching 900 aircraft within highly developed networks. It’s imperative to acknowledge aviation as the safest mode of transportation, a status achieved because every operator is required to comply with and adhere to the highest safety standards. Thus, it is crucial that we ensure all systems and regulations, including traffic management technology, are thoroughly in place. We must remember that conventional aviation has evolved over decades to attain its current safety levels. AAM must undergo a similar evolutionary process. We are faced with numerous challenges in operating aircraft with smaller cabin sizes and significantly shorter ranges than conventional fixed-wing or rotorcraft in a cost-effective manner, while ensuring this new mode of transportation remains affordable for daily use by customers. While the industry anticipates maintenance cost savings, it is important to note that crew requirements are expected to remain consistent during the initial phases.

Accommodating hundreds of short flights daily in already congested airspace presents a formidable challenge. Furthermore, when we consider the cabin size and payload capacities of eVTOLs compared to fixed-wing aircraft, especially at distances typically covered by regional short-haul flights, it seems optimistic to expect rapid achievement of comparable operation scales.

Indeed, much of the industry forecasts an early adoption of autonomous flying, yet the timelines for reaching such a milestone appear overly ambitious. I prefer to prioritize covering all necessary aspects to ensure safe operations within shared airspace. Embracing this new category signifies our commitment to continuously reimagine aviation in a more sustainable and innovative way.

How do you anticipate the overall industry will impact air traffic patterns?

In the nascent stages of AAM, operations will indeed be piloted, leveraging predefined corridors as designated by authorities. I am of the belief that, during this initial phase, UTM services, in collaboration with ATM, whose primary mission is to ensure that all aircraft in the airspace remain safely separated and that air traffic is managed as efficiently as possible, will significantly enhance the safety of manned AAM operations, especially in uncontrolled airspace.

Furthermore, the advent of AAM presents a unique opportunity to advocate for the broader adoption of such services by both commercial and general aviation. This approach could indeed pave the path toward the evolution of a digitally integrated airspace. By starting to implement UTM services to enhance the safety of selected manned aviation operations, which currently have limited situational awareness, predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights in uncontrolled airspace, we lay the groundwork for a more secure and efficient aviation future.

Can you provide insights into some of the commercial routes currently in the developmental phase?

As many people already know, NEOM is recognized as a unique and monumental giga project, unparalleled in ambition and scope. By this, I refer to the challenge of covering and connecting a region as vast as Belgium, spanning from The Line to Trojena in the mountains, and extending to the futuristic industrial city of Oxagon. Our goal is to develop and operate routes that evolve with the technology and the broader industry, with the aim of offering the first bespoke eVTOL operator, fully integrated with NEOM transport network. This endeavor is not just about advancing transportation; it’s about redefining the possibilities for how we live, work, and connect within this expansive and visionary landscape.

Could you offer a brief commentary on the implications of the AAM industry for Saudi Vision and the broader Middle Eastern market, particularly in terms of its goals and its emphasis on sustainability?

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) transcends being merely a new way to transport passengers; it rigorously adheres to the aviation industry’s safety standards, presenting significant implications and opportunities. This endeavor aligns seamlessly with Vision 2030, aiming not just to introduce new electric aircraft but to adopt a comprehensive strategy that positions Saudi Arabia at the vanguard of the aviation sector. Leading this venture is an honor and carries with it the responsibility to contribute an operator’s perspective in developing an all-encompassing roadmap for the AAM ecosystem. This task involves fostering the next generation of industry leaders and effecting positive societal change through sustainable and dependable operations that touch upon all aspects of the industry, such as training, maintenance, navigation, and beyond.

AAM offers a substantial, yet attainable, opportunity—a challenge we have wholeheartedly accepted from the beginning by engaging all pertinent stakeholders in the industry’s successful introduction. This effort includes a commitment to nurturing and developing local Saudi talent. The nation is endowed with visionary leadership and one of the most dynamic and capable young populations I’ve had the privilege to encounter. The country’s intrinsic determination to make a historical impact is unmistakable; it’s woven into their very fabric, and now is their moment. Saudi Arabia is perfectly positioned to excel, adopting a sophisticated and calculated approach to flourish in this innovative era.