On Air with Air Cargo Next – Details, episodes & analysis

Israeli aircraft developer Air has one rule when it comes to electric aviation: Keep it simple. 

The startup’s Air One electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is simple, comfortable and efficient, with eight motors and a user-friendly control system, Air Chief Executive and co-founder Rani Plaut tells Air Cargo Next in this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.”    

“The core of the design is trying to keep things as simple as possible,” he said. “We don’t have any moving parts. Our solution is based on smart compromises and a little bit of aerodynamic trickery versus high complexity.” 

Air One, capable of traveling up to 150 miles per hour with a payload of 550 pounds, debuted in 2022, and Air joined the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program in 2023 to expand technology transition paths for electric aircraft manufacturers.   

The eVTOL, which is intended to optimize last-mile cargo deliveries, can also be used recreationally and seats two people, Plaut said. 

“The cargo unit is the same unit, simply without the seats and the avionics,” he said. “And since we have started testing the aircraft, as all the individual companies are doing by remotely piloting or autonomous piloting, it is already set for cargo use cases. So far, we have $17 million in purchase orders for cargo units.” 

Air generated more than $1 million in revenue in 2023 and, this year, that number is expected to reach $7 million, Plaut said. 

In this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next,” the CEO discusses how the company was founded, why eVTOL designs should remain simple and Air’s next moves. 

AI, which is increasingly improving operations in the supply chain, may also be a gamechanger for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) looking to broaden their networks, Yikun Shao, head of North America supply chain at Alibaba, told Air Cargo Next.

Dallas-based airfreight consolidation company Aircon is using AI and machine learning to offer a platform that helps smaller freight forwarders consolidate shipments. Aircon Chief Executive Chris Condon discusses the benefits and challenges of airfreight consolidation. 

Quantum-South's Product Lead Matteo Stipanicic discusses quantum computing, artificial intelligence and challenges to technology integration in the supply chain in this episode of "On Air with Air Cargo Next."

Risk management solutions provider Overhaul is using AI to mitigate cargo thefts.

With products like RiskGPT, launched in July, Overhaul integrated AI into its software to scrape the internet for information on cargo theft and synthesize it. Overhaul response teams use then use the information to determine where a crime is likely to occur and quickly identify a corrective path. 

In this episode of "On Air with Air Cargo Next," Tristan Koch, chief commercial officer at Awery Aviation Software discusses the future of AI in air cargo, how it can attract new talent and where the industry stands in the digitalization shift.

In the latest episode of the “On Air with Air Cargo Next” podcast, James Golding, head of cargo at London Heathrow Airport; Kenneth Chircop, general manager at Dronamics; and Mike van Berkel, account manager at VRR, discuss community cargo systems, drones and sustainability ahead of their appearances at the upcoming Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023, set for Sept. 18-19 in Brussels.

In the latest episode of the “On Air with Air Cargo Next” podcast, Celine Hourcade, founder of Change Horizon, and Gianluca Marcangelo, head of industry relations and marketing at Challenge Group, discuss cybersecurity and digitization ahead of their appearances at the upcoming Air Cargo Tech Summit 2023, set for Sept. 18-19 in Brussels.

Today we will be speaking with Michelle Williams, managing director of strategy and business services at Southwest Airlines Cargo, and Ed de Reyes, chair and chief executive of Sabrewing Aircraft. Each will participate in panel discussions at our second annual Air Cargo Tech Summit in Brussels on Sept. 18-19.