Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s advanced air mobility company, is to explore opportunities to develop AAM networks and fleet operations with Blade Urban Air Mobility. This will include studying varied AAM use cases in markets of shared interest and will further inform Supernal’s eVTOL vehicle product.

As part of a three-year agreement, Supernal and Blade will leverage each other’s expertise in aviation, technology and infrastructure access to further develop the AAM sector and exchange knowledge about their respective products, services and capabilities. Specifically Supernal, as an eVTOL OEM, will provide insights on technological and operational nuances to support the development of Blade’s future AAM service offerings. Blade, as an established air transport platform, and its operator partners will provide Supernal with feedback on aircraft design and safety, upgradeability, passenger comfort and flexibility for various operating markets.

“As Supernal prepares to finalise its eVTOL features, it is critical we collaborate with experienced commercial partners like Blade to ensure our eVTOL’s cabin features align with passenger expectations for comfort, safety and efficiency in the next generation of inter-city mobility,” says senior director of strategy and commercialisation David Rottblatt. “Supernal and Blade’s partnership underscores how the advanced air mobility industry has evolved; the dialogue is no longer about the feasibility of eVTOL technology, but rather how it can be optimised to suit existing commercial platforms and operators.”

With a shared goal to better understand capital, infrastructure and development solutions to help the AAM industry grow, Supernal and Blade will collaborate on scenario planning using hypothetical routes and networks in New York City to support air taxi, organ transplant transportation and other use cases. They will also work together to identify advantageous commercial arrangements in geographies of mutual interest, including southern California, using Supernal’s eVTOL vehicle and Blade’s aggregation platforms as an air charter broker.

“Our goal is to make aviation more accessible by preparing to adopt eVTOL aircraft,” says Melissa Tomkiel, president and general counsel, Blade. “In combining Blade’s expertise with Supernal’s forward-thinking innovations, this partnership is poised to accelerate advanced air mobility development and enable quiet, safe and emission-free transportation.”

In what marks Supernal’s first official FBO partnership, it will also be helping to prepare Clay Lacy’s FBO locations for eVTOL operations.

As part of a five-year partnership, Supernal and Clay Lacy will develop end-to-end operational plans for integrating AAM into existing airport infrastructure, with a focus on developing standards and procedures for ground handling, MRO and battery management. Supernal will also support Clay Lacy’s work to integrate sufficient power and charging infrastructure for electric aviation. Initially, the partnership will focus on two FBO locations at Orange County and Van Nuys, which aligns with Supernal’s southern California launch plans. In subsequent phases, the companies will apply their best practices and learnings to prepare Clay Lacy’s broader FBO network.

“Supernal is pleased to join Clay Lacy‘s efforts to adapt existing airport infrastructure to support advanced air mobility operations, which will begin later this decade,” says Diana Cooper, chief partnerships and policy officer, Supernal. “Clay Lacy’s facilities, award-winning customer service and commitment to sustainability make it an ideal partner for Supernal. Availability of infrastructure will be critical to scaling the AAM industry, and this partnership is the latest step in ensuring the ecosystem is thoughtfully designed for future commercial eVTOL operators.”

Supernal plans to deliver its first eVTOL vehicles to operators in 2028. The company’s vehicle will cruise at 120mph with an initial range of 60 miles to meet the growing demand for efficient, multimodal transportation options in urban environments.

“Clay Lacy Aviation has a 57 year history of firsts in the aviation industry, and we are committed to support the launch of sustainable, innovative solutions such as these from Supernal,” says president of real estate and sustainability Scott Cutshall. “Supernal and Clay Lacy share strong commitments to sustainable aviation, safe and efficient operations and a superior passenger experience that benefits the communities we serve.”

Clay Lacy is the first FBO in the world accredited under the National Business Aviation Association's Sustainable Flight Development programme.

Attendees at 2024 NBAA-BACE can learn more about Supernal’s eVTOL product concept vehicle, S-A2, through a virtual reality experience in Blade’s Lounge at the Henderson Executive airport.