The strategic agreement will integrate Heron AirBridge’s UTM system with SITA’s vertiport solutions.
SINGAPORE – 21 September 2023 – Heron AirBridge, known for its comprehensive unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) solutions, has entered into a proof of concept (PoC) agreement with globally acclaimed travel and transport technology provider SITA. The objective is to collaborate on urban air mobility (UAM) vertiport solutions for Singaporean airspace by integrating Heron AirBridge’s UTM system with SITA’s vertiport solutions.
This strategic agreement is part of an ongoing effort to develop an end-to-end framework of workflows and processes for the safe and efficient operation of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles within urban environments. The initiative focuses on connecting Heron AirBridge’s advanced and flexible UTM system to SITA’s new Vertiport Management System (VMS) and building a first minimum viable product (MVP) that will enable dynamic real-time data exchanges between the vertiport system, the eVTOL operators and the UTM from the flight scheduling phase to the time of the actual flight operation.
Ryan Lee, CEO and cofounder of Heron AirBridge, said: “SITA is a world leader of air transport communication and information technology. We are excited and proud to be selected as their go-to partner for this opportunity. This partnership symbolizes the close cooperation needed between companies from different regions to work together to develop best-in-class services that will benefit the emerging advanced air mobility industry globally.”
The partnership will leverage both parties’ expertise, capabilities, and extensive network. SITA is already collaborating with several UAM and vertiport operators. The new alliance will fully complement existing partnerships to create a scalable and robust model that connects eVTOLs, vertiports and UTM systems as one integrated eco-system.
Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific, SITA, said: “UAM represents an exciting evolution of the air transport industry and is currently experiencing rapid innovation and growth. As a collaborative innovator in the air transport industry, we’re uniquely positioned to support Heron AirBridge take the next steps in delivering operational excellence via the latest technologies. We’re excited to enrich and complement our overall vertiport infrastructure. With this latest strategic agreement, we are well positioned to deploy integrated land and airside solutions for any company or airport looking to build a vertiport.”
The SITA collaboration comes on the heels of Heron AirBridge’s accreditation by renowned audit and certification institution TÜV SÜD. The UTM technology specialist has recently received ISO 27001 certification for its cybersecurity services and drone mission and traffic management solutions, achieving the world’s most notable standard for information security management. The accreditation highlights the firm’s unwavering commitment to providing a secure digital aviation environment to support its growing partner base. It ensures that the Heron AirBridge platform meets rigorous security requirements, and that effective policies and controls are in place to minimize the risks of cyber-attacks.
About Heron AirBridge Pte Ltd
Founded in 2022 Heron AirBridge is a subsidiary of the Heron Technology Group, a cybersecurity and drone technology services provider from Singapore. It focuses on researching and developing cutting-edge Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and drone technology solutions while emphasising safety and security standards across its platforms and services.
The company’s proprietary unmanned traffic management (UTM) platform, AirBridge, was launched in 2021. AirBridge is an operator and OEM-agnostic platform that enables seamless and secure access to the low-altitude airspace for complex beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
To learn more about Heron AirBridge, please visit: www.heron-technology.com/aviation
About SITA
SITA is the air transport industry’s IT provider, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. Its technology powers more seamless, safe and sustainable air travel.
With around 2,500 customers, SITA’s solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to customers of 17,000 aircraft globally. SITA also provides technological solutions that help more than 70 governments strike the balance between secure borders and seamless travel. Their communications network connects every corner of the globe and bridges 45% of the air transport community’s data exchange.
In 2021, SITA became a certified CarbonNeutral® company in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol — the leading global standard for carbon neutral programs. The firm is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions for all operations through their UN-recognised Planet+ program while also developing solutions to help the aviation industry meet its carbon reduction objectives, including reduced fuel burn and greater operational efficiencies. In 2022, SITA announced its commitment to setting science-based emission reduction targets aligned to the Science Based Targets initiative Net-Zero Standard.
SITA is 100% owned by the industry and driven by its needs. It is one of the most internationally diverse companies, providing services in over 200 countries and territories.
For more information about SITA, please visit www.sita.aero.
For any questions about this press release, please get in touch with the following:
Fabrice Ancey, chief commercial officer and co-founder of Heron AirBridge
Email: fabrice.ancey@heron-technology.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heronairbridge
Website: https://heron-technology.com/aviation/
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