CityAirbus NextGen

Airbus' electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) prototype

Ushering in the next generation of CityAirbus, the fully electric vehicle is equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its uniquely designed distributed propulsion system.

Pioneering Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

ELECTRIC FLIGHT

Building on the expertise of partners in various urban and remote environments, the CityAirbus NextGen prototype will be a technological lever in the creation of a more integrated and innovative mobility ecosystem. Together with partners from many different sectors, we are working to develop advanced air mobility services in countries around the world. 

CityAirbus NextGen

The CityAirbus NextGen prototype

CityAirbus NextGen is an all-electric, four-seat vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) prototype. Based on a lift and cruise concept, it boasts an 80-km operational range and a cruise speed of 120 km/h – making it perfectly suited to a variety of flight operations. 

The aircraft’s configuration incorporates innovative design elements that make for a robust and seamless architecture:
●    Fixed wings
●    A V-shaped tail
●    Eight electric-powered propellers as part of its uniquely designed distributed propulsion system

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Developing the AAM ecosystem

A holistic approach

Airbus is leading the effort to make AAM a reality by working with authorities to develop policies and the highest safety standards for its responsible deployment. We aim to ensure the readiness of the ecosystem from infrastructure planning to airspace integration in collaboration with committed partners around the world.

Safety is paramount in all Airbus activities and we work closely with regulators to help define the highest safety standards. 

In Germany, Airbus is leading the Air Mobility Initiative (AMI), which is establishing a series of research projects focused on three main areas: eVTOL, UTM services, and airport and city integration, including vertiports.

The future of eVTOL missions

Connecting communities

AAM can offer an integrated mobility system that complements existing transport modes by providing additional services to cities and communities.

CityAirbus NextGen will be suitable for a variety of flight operations, such as medical use cases, shuttle services and eco-tourism. Airbus Helicopters and International SOS have joined forces to launch LifeSaver, a next-generation emergency medical services programme designed to improve, modernise and support healthcare systems worldwide.

Digital rendering of CityAirbus NextGen with LCI's color scheme

Partnerships for market readiness

An international network

Airbus is working with a network of trusted operators around the world to explore possible advanced air mobility (AAM) markets. The benefit of looking at specific use cases is to see where this new technology will add value to the communities they serve.

Medical services

  • Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation in Norway to study aircraft medical configuration and equipment 
  • The Estonian Ministry of Health to look to examine a country’s health system
  • Rotorcraft operator Hiratagakuen in Japan to study route optimisation

Ecosystem for scheduled flights and eco-tourism

  • The Helicopter Service (THC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to enable the safe introduction of an urban air mobility system 
  • ITA, Enel and UrbanV to set up an AAM ecosystem in Italy
  • Ecocopter to gain insight into AAM services in Latin America
  • Avincis to partner on the development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) 
  • LCI to develop partnership scenarios and business models in three core AAM areas: strategy, commercialisation and financing
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The foundations for CityAirbus NextGen

A lift and cruise concept

The idea for an efficient air transport service between strategic locations in urban and suburban environments – and what we now call CityAirbus NextGen –  first originated from our belief that urban and advanced mobility can be moved into the sky to provide communities with additional ways to reach their destination, by complementing existing means of transport. With decades of experience certifying aircraft, Airbus successfully developed two electric VTOL demonstrators, CityAirbus and Vahana. 

The lessons learned from this double-demonstrator approach, as well as the continuous improvements in sound technology across Airbus’ portfolio of products, have been essential to creating the CityAirbus NextGen prototype, Airbus’ new generation of eVTOL. 

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