The Revolution.Aero Podcast

In this episode we welcome Paul Briggs, Of Counsel at London-based law firm Bird & Bird. Paul has nearly four decades of experience in aviation law, including 17 years of being Joint Head of the International Aviation & Aerospace Sector Group at Bird & Bird. Now leading the firm’s efforts in sustainability, covering everything from SAF to eVTOLs, there are few better placed to discuss the commercial and legal issues presented by the latest revolution in aviation. Paul also hosts his own podcast entitled "Bird & Bird’s Aviation, Aerospace & Defence Pioneers Podcast: Sustainability" featuring business leaders from across the world of sustainable aviation.

In this episode we welcome Benjamin Zeitoun, partner at Starburst Ventures alongside Matteo Peraldo, partner at Alix Partners and Florent Francois, CEO and founder of C-981. Today's commercial aviation supply chain sees big players relying on an intricate network of small and medium-sized suppliers. It has in recent times proved resilient, but this episode's guests think time is running out for the current structure. The industry is at a crossroads where supplier's must choose to either digitise and adopt new processes and technology or not. Not doing so could well result in consolidation or failure. This episode discusses the state of the supply chain today, new technology in development and the investment driving it.

In this episode we welcome on our first all-electric aircraft OEM and our first eVTOL developer, BETA Technologies. BETA is a Vermont-based company developing two aircraft — an eVTOL it calls Alia or A250 and a conventional takeoff variant dubbed CX300 — and supporting electric charging infrastructure. To date the firm has raised over $1bn on its journey to commercialisation and made significant progress with highlights including a piloted transition flight in its eVTOL prototype earlier this year. Joining us from BETA is chief operating officer Blain Newton.

In this episode we welcome Kolin Schunck, senior manager of Strategic Innovation & Intelligence at Lufthansa’s Innovation Hub. There he focuses on all things sustainable aviation including sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen and electric aviation and advanced air mobility. Lufthansa's Innovation Hub this week announced its Startup Gate Program (see link below), if you are a startup feel free to apply to the programme below. The hub also published the latest edition in its AAM Radar Series today entitled Scalability (see link below also). Lufthansa Group & Lufthansa Innovation Hub Startup Gate ProgramThe AAM Radar SeriesThe AAM Radar Series x ScalabilityNewsletter Sign-Up Page

In this episode we welcome on Christian Grim and Jesper Vind from Bosch Campus in Germany. Christian is General Manager of Bosch General Aviation Technology and Jesper works on the business development management side. Located in in the German town of Holzkirchen near Munich, Bosch Campus includes about 25,000sqm of laboratory and office building space for its development engineers and partners. Bosch said the goal was to create a place where people and their work "take centre stage". The campus recently welcomed its first external partner Munich-based electric aircraft startup Vaeridion which has plans to commence battery R&D at the site.

In this episode we speak to Edison Yu, lead on research coverage of Space & Aerial Mobility at Deutsche Bank. There he focuses on what is known as the New Space economy and the advent of eVTOL/UAM. With respect to advanced air mobility, Yu closely follows the progress of all the listed eVTOL OEMs.

In this episode we speak to Scott Cutshall president of Real Estate and Sustainability at Clay Lacy Aviation. There he manages and develops the company’s real estate and infrastructure portfolio while leading the organisation’s sustainability, community engagement, governmental affairs and workforce development divisions. Cutshall serves on a number industry environmental and sustainability committees and is an active member of industry associations. Roles include the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) Environmental Committee, National Business Aviation Association Environmental Sub-Committee and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) General Aviation Committee.

In this episode we speak to Chris Rocheleau the chief operating officer of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) about the role the organisation and the wider industry is playing in making advanced air mobility (AAM) a reality. Rocheleau spent over 20 years in various roles with the FAA, including Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety where he assisted in leading the organisation responsible for setting safety standards and overseeing all aspects of the aviation industry including AAM and uncrewed aircraft systems.

In this episode we speak to Mario Asselin CEO and co-founder of The AirCraft Company, a Kansas-based startup developing a family of hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Co-founding the company alongside his wife Sylvie St-Georges, the pair have 65 years of combined experience in aircraft design including the Bombardier Global 7500 and the Global 8000. Accessibility is also a key piece of Asselin's vision for his aircraft family, the first member of which will be the SY30J Pangea forecast to enter service in 2029. Each aircraft will be wheelchair accessible, feature a disability friendly WC and have ample seat space to accommodate all.

In this episode we speak to Ronnie Fahy, CEO of Xplorate, an Australia-based aerial intelligence company that combines Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) with machine-learning to enable access to unprecedented data and insights from large infrastructure to terrain and, even, search and rescue. Xplorate has a growing list of major oil and gas and governmental clients and a number of world-first approvals for BVLOS operations, including a first regulatory authorisation to inspect a pipeline on a commercial basis in Australia.

In this episode we speak to Todd Graetz co-founder of Aerolane, a US-based startup which is endeavouring to expand the availability of air freight at the same cost as traditional trucking. How? Through an innovative aerial towing system that combines tried and tested technology with cutting-edge advancements.

In this episode we speak to Sergio Cecutta, founder and partner at SMG Consulting, a boutique management consulting firm that amongst many other things provides data and modelling of the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. Listen to find out more about how the SMG team create those models and how the insight gained helps to shape and inform Sergio's view of this burgeoning industry.

For our first episode we are joined by the managing partners of mobility investment firm DiamondStream Partners, Brian Flynn, David Spurlock and Dean Donovan.

Speakers include: Josh Stewart, BAE Systems Bapi Surampudi, Southwest Research Institute Evan Frank, Cuberg Kindly sponsored by BAE Systems

Looking at vertiports for successful implementation of the UAM services Speakers include: Adam Slepian, Supernal LLC Clint Harper, Urban Movement Labs, City of LA Andrea Wu, Urban Air Port https://supernal.aero/ https://www.revolution.aero/

This episode, sponsored by Pillsbury Withrop Shaw Pittman LLP considered renewable energy in the future of flight. Speakers included: Veronica Relea, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Brian Flynn, DiamondStream Partners Revolution.Aero website Find out more about Pillsbury

This episode, sponsored by BAE Systems, considered Safety considerations for aircraft batteries Speakers included: Joshua Stewart, BAE Systems Jesse Crispino, Jaunt Air Mobility Jonathan Harrison, Gamma Technologies https://www.revolution.aero/ Find out more about BAE Systems

Speakers included: Kevin Slattum, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP David Mayman, JetPack Aviation Ben Tigner, Overair Sponsored by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Kindly sponsored by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman this Revolution.Aero Town Hall discussed the place of SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) in the aviation revolution. Speakers included: Kirsten Bartok Touw, AirFinance Nick Fazioli, Jefferies LLC Matt Oresman, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Robin Riedel, McKinsey & Company See the data slide mentioned in the podcast here Find out more about the upcoming conference at www.revolution.aero Sign up for the Revolution.Aero Global 2021 virtual conference here

This special Revolution.Aero Town Hall took a look at intellectual property, patents and protecting ideas for manufacturers, a hot topic in light of the recent public litigation between two companies in the urban air mobility sector. Hosted by Yuvan Kumar of Revolution.Aero, speakers include: Kolin Schunck, Lufthansa Innovation Hub Christopher Kao, Pillsbury Katherine Stephens, Bird & Bird JOIN US FOR THE REVOLUTION.AERO GLOBAL 2021 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE TO HEAR MORE INSIGHTS, NEWS, DISCUSSIONS AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. (FREE TO ATTEND FOR QUALIFYING PROFESSIONALS) www.revolution.aero