Large-scale flight demonstrations are planned in seven countries under a European program to expand its U-space concept of operations for unmanned traffic management to include urban air mobility.
Europe’s SESAR air traffic management research program has launched a follow up to the Gulf of Finland’s U-space project focused on the safe and secure integration of unmanned aircraft and air taxis in urban airspace.
Israel plans to conduct simultaneous flights by multiple drones from different manufacturers in managed urban airspace under government-supported pilot programs to improve the country’s transportation options.
A European Union-funded project is researching the use of urban air mobility for emergency medical services, with test flights in Finland, Germany and Norway planned for 2023.
Studies exploring how unmanned air systems could be used to help respond to oil spills at sea will be undertaken by a partnership of UK firms FlyLogix and Oil Spill Response Ltd.
GKN Aerospace is to lead the study of a “park-and-ride” concept for urban air transport under the UK’s Future Flight Challenge to develop a next-generation integrated aviation system.
Electric aircraft pioneer Pipistrel has teamed with unmanned aircraft specialist C-Astral Aerospace to expand the capability of the in-development Nuuva V20 cargo drone to encompass intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
A South Korean team including an airport operator, air-taxi developer and communications provider has been formed to commercialize urban air mobility in the country beginning in 2025.
As it ramps up plans to launch its regional air mobility service, German startup Lilium has partnered with airport constructor and operator Ferrovial to develop and operate a network of at least 10 vertiports across Florida.
Autonomous cargo aircraft startup Elroy Air has joined NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign project and will exchange information leading up to flight tests in 2022.
Flying Ship is a U.S. startup that plans to modernize the Russian ekranoplan ground-effect vehicle concept and bring unmanned aircraft technology to maritime logistics while avoiding the onerous burden of aerospace regulation.
The burgeoning urban air mobility sector is poised to open up private air travel to unprecedented markets. But benefits will only be maximized if decisions are made now to ensure UAM systems are accessible to the disabled, experts say.
The FAA expects to certify the first of a new generation of advanced or urban air mobility (AAM/UAM) aircraft later in 2021 and says regulations will be in place in time for initial piloted electric vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) operations to begin as early as 2023.
While it has a large potential domestic market for advanced air mobility, the U.S. needs a clear national strategy if it is to lead this new market globally, a report by consultants Deloitte and the Aerospace Industries Association says.
As the UK launches a series of projects under its Future Flight Challenge, a new study highlights the potential socio-economic benefits of an integrated aviation system built on freight-carrying drones, urban air taxis and hybrid-electric regional aircraft.
A digital blueprint for a medical delivery drone network that could connect hospitals, laboratories and surgeries across Scotland is to be developed under an 18-month project begun in December.
Single European Sky ATM Research, the organization coordinating European air traffic management research, has launched a project to develop and test a concept of operations for urban air transport of passengers and cargo.
