iscover
A number of Australian businesses have joined the ranks of Greenbird – an industry consortium working to establish advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions, or air taxis, in Australia.
Clean energy provider H2 Energy Company (h2ec), engineering consultancy firm AvLogix Solutions, and uncrewed systems management platform FlyFreely have all been welcomed into the industry collaboration.
They join other recent additions to Greenbird such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer AMSL Aero, as well as Archerfield Airport, Griffith University and Aviation Projects, in a bid to see a fully functioning air taxi system in place in the Queensland capital ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
All three new members of Greenbird have been working hard towards greener energy and aviation solutions here at home.
h2ec is currently collaborating within the aviation sector to develop hydrogen energy opportunities at various Australian airports, while AvLogix Solutions currently specialises in the automation of operations and processes related to baggage handling systems, cargo facilities and parcel freight logistics.
FlyFreely helps commercial operators manage all aspects of operations, compliance and fleet management, and already has a deep understanding of the remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) industry, according to Greenbird.
Greenbird director Sara Hales said, “Greenbird is bringing together international expertise and local supply chain partners to develop and enable local industry capability in this important emerging sector.
“It’s great to see these Australian businesses taking the lead and getting involved in the most significant change to mobility since the introduction of air transportation.
“Greenbird’s industry-led approach will help to provide a clear path to commercialisation for advanced air mobility investment in Australia,” she added.
It comes after Perth-based company Electro.Aero, which specialises in electric aviation charging technology, joined Greenbird as an ecosystem partner in March.
At the time, Greenbird director Keith Tonkin said, “Charging systems are a key element of the infrastructure required to enable emerging aviation technologies with electric propulsion systems.
“Greenbird’s representation of the emerging aviation technology ecosystem is enhanced by the addition of a charging system developer.”
Many of Greenbird’s partners are Queensland based, given the consortium’s goal to support the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games through aerial mobility solutions.
It comes after Archerfield Airport was also revealed as a founding ecosystem partner of Greenbird.
The Brisbane-based metropolitan airport, based 11 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, will help propel Greenbird’s goal to see a fully functioning air taxi system in place in the Queensland capital ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
According to Greenbird, Archerfield’s location, situated between the main three proposed zones for Olympic and Paralympic events, presents a prime opportunity for Brisbane’s future AAM transportation network.
Greenbird was established earlier this year by Aviation Projects director Keith Tonkin and AVISTRA managing director Sara Hales.
The platform will work collaboratively towards solidifying Australia’s Queensland-based AAM market by attracting investment into the sector and working with government and regulators to create safe air taxi operations.
Other local and global industry leaders, including Griffith University, Aviator Group, Nautilus Aviation and UK-based Skyports, have also jumped onboard the Greenbird project.
“With the upcoming 2032 Olympics, there is now a deadline and point of leverage for industry attraction,” Greenbird director Keith Tonkin said.
“If action is taken now, Australia could see the deployment of eVTOL operations as early as 2024, with early commercialisation in 2026, early autonomous operations in 2032 and full ecosystem maturity expected around 2035.”
