Study highlights sustainable role for VTOL aircraft

Compiled by researchers at the University of Michigan in partnership with Ford Motor Company, the study looked at the primary energy use and greenhouse gas emissions during the five phases of VTOL flight: takeoff, climb, cruise, descent and landing. As VTOLs use the bulk of their energy during takeoff and climb, they are less efficient over shorter distances, needing a sustained period of low-energy cruise to deliver gains.

During trips of 100km, for example, it was found that a VTOL carrying a pilot and three passengers had lower greenhouse gas emissions than ground-based cars, which have an average vehicle occupancy of 1.54. According to the research, published in Nature Communications, emissions tied to the VTOL were 52 per cent lower than petrol-powered cars and 6 per cent lower than battery-electric cars.

"To me, it was very surprising to see that VTOLs were competitive with regard to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in certain scenarios," said Gregory Keoleian, senior author of the study and director of the Centre for Sustainable Systems at U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability.