Happy new year and welcome back to the Revolution.Aero Podcast. For our first episode of 2025, we are joined by an expert in forecasting advanced air mobility. 

A principal at Renaissance Strategic Advisors, Jay Carmel has more than fifteen years of experience providing strategy development and M&A advisory services. Today he primarily covers aircraft OEM equipment suppliers, aftermarket service companies, start-ups and investors who are active in the commercial aerospace industry with a focus on disruptive innovation.

In this episode we welcome Dan Dalton, head of Global Partnerships at autonomous eVTOL developer Wisk. 

The Boeing-owned company is arguably leading the charge across efforts to introduce autonomous commercial airborne passenger services globally with a particular focus currently on initial launch markets in the US and Australia. 

We discuss why Wisk decided to take the approach it has, the risks involved and recent achievements at the company.

In this episode of the Revolution.Aero Podcast we are joined by Jamie Bullen, a senior consultant from Montfort Communications based in London. 

An experienced financial journalist and editor within the property, finance and aviation press, with former employers including Euromoney and Flight Global, Jamie is perfectly placed to give behind-the-scenes insight into what makes a startup do and say as it does. 

Our discussion covers the hype surrounding AAM, the impact of delayed timelines, what makes a good marketing strategy, how to you keep investors attracted to your vision and much more.

In this episode we are joined by Bristow’s chief transformation officer Dave Stepanek. A helicopter guy through and through, who previously served as Bristow’s chief operating officer, Dave has been charged with overseeing the organisation’s strategic diversification into new markets such as advanced air mobility, electric aircraft and unmanned cargo delivery.

Our discussion centres around Bristow's view of AAM and electrification. What will come first, what are the risk associated with operating new aircraft and how Bristow is supporting new aircraft OEMs with their respective programmes.

You can also download Dave's white paper A Philosophical Guide to Early Operations published earlier this year here.

In this episode we welcome Anthony Mc Loughlin, founder and CEO of Better Futures, to the podcast.

Mc Loughlin's firm is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for engineers . The company has identified, among others, a market niche in the burgeoning electric aviation sector and offers free demos via its website to enable engineers to explore the benefits of using an AI assistant in their day-to-day work.

Our conversation covers how Mc Loughlin's career inspired the vision for the company, the various branches of AI Better Futures is utilising to build its products and how Mc Loughlin hopes engineering and manufacturing will improve due to the benefits AI can bring.

Click here to access demo tools.

In this episode we welcome back Ronnie Fahy, CEO of Australian aerial intelligence firm Xplorate. 

Fresh off the back of gaining approval to inspect a full pipeline (550km) entirely beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in Queensland, Fahy tells us how the team got there and what it means to do so. 

We also look ahead at what's next for Xplorate from diversifying into new industries to gaining further approvals in Australia. 

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 Program
• The AAM Radar Series
• The AAM Radar Series x Scalability
• Newsletter Sign-Up Page