PS&S Architecture and Engineering, PC, Partners with VARON
WARREN New Jersey, March 11, 2024 – PS&S Architecture and Engineering, PC, (PS&S) announced today that the firm has engaged with VARON, an advanced air mobility system operating firm, which is currently developing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aerial tourism for the burgeoning air mobility market in Latin America. VARON, based in Florida and Colombia, will provide eVTOL services for aerial tourism in and around the Caribbean city of Cartegena in Colombia. New services to be generated include adventure rides, sightseeing, visits to natural parks, airport shuttles, and transportation between islands, beaches, and attraction locations.
This association will furnish VARON with a collaborative framework utilizing the resources of PS&S’s multi-disciplined, integrated design team of experienced architects, engineers, and environmental scientists for the purpose of offering advisement, planning, conceptual design, site and building design, and other related services for VARON’s vertiport requirements. Their vertiports are an integral part of VARON’s air mobility operational services.
VARON’s first vertiport, set in the outskirts of Cartagena, has been designed in collaboration with PS&S. It offers convenient roadway access and parking, with direct access to the terminal, which contains a passenger reception and exhibit area, monitored access to the flight line, and stairs leading up to the rooftop observation deck. The adjacent hangar will house up to four eVTOL aircraft and has been designed for streamlined eVTOL ground operations; the flight control center above will have unrestricted visibility to all flights, providing safe and secure tourist flight operations. This VARON vertiport design takes into first consideration eVTOL operation practicality and cost. More details can be seen here: https://www.varon.aero/implementation .
PS&S, founded in 1962, created their Urban Air Mobility Task Force (UAM/TF) in May 2019 initially to pursue design opportunities within the aerial transport industry. Led by PS&S CEO John Sartor, the task force is managed by architects Ted Osborne and Jennifer Ganley, together with a multi-disciplined engineering staff, and by architect, pilot, and former flight instructor Charles Clauser, who brings years of aviation knowledge, experience, and insights to the team.
In addition to a staff comprised of architects, interior designers, and the engineering disciplines of civil, survey, structural, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical personnel, the firm maintains strong working relationships with a variety of consultants in the air mobility space, including aerial infrastructure, heliport design, acoustical engineering, cost estimating, preconstruction services, and related infrastructure specialties.
“We are pleased to work with VARON as they have demonstrated a leadership position in offering advanced air mobility eco-system solutions that provide affordable and community-friendly transportation services,” said Sartor. “Our design philosophy and capabilities complement VARON’s commitment to increasing economic development around its vertiports.”
According to Felipe Varon, founder and Chief Executive Officer at VARON: “PS&S’ fully integrated design process provides VARON with vertiport solutions that meet our stringent aesthetic, functional and technical challenges. PS&S develops efficient, attractive, sustainable, and cost-effective architecture that meets the needs and vision of our air mobility flight operations and clients. Their proven success and their understanding of transit flow of people and intermodal vehicles was a major selection process for our business as we continue to grow our world-class network of partners to provide the highest level of safety and efficiency for our passengers.”
VARON is a transformative aerospace company. Our operating vision is to offer autonomous eVTOL (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) flight operations for urban and regional mobility, providing tourism services initially and other multiple markets in the future. “We see advanced air mobility in its entirety as a new form of mobility infrastructure, one that has potential for disruption”, said Varon.
Contacts
H. Ted Osborne, AIA, EVP, PS&S
Mobile: (+1) 908.295.6225
Felipe Varon, CEO, VARON
Mobile: (+57) 313.658.0294
varon.felipe@varon.aero