Urban Air Mobility

 

The percentage of individuals inhabiting metropolitan landscapes has been seeing a marked increase per decade –  in Greece particularly it is estimated that 70% of the population lives in the country’s major urban centres –  making transport within these areas particularly problematic.

Urban Air Mobility is a new air transportation system for passengers and cargo in and around densely populated and built environments, made possible by vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft (eVTOL) equipped with new technologies such as enhanced battery technologies and electric propulsion. These aircraft will have a pilot on board or be remotely piloted

WHEN WILL URBAN AIR MOBILITY APPEAR IN EUROPEAN CITIES? 

Some UAM operations are already taking place in third countries, such as Switzerland, for instance for the delivery of goods or of medical equipment.

In Europe, UAM solutions are currently being tested through pilot projects and demonstrators. Commercial UAM operations in the EU could happen within 3 to 5 years! Read about HUSI’s contribution to the advancement of UAM through pilot projects here.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is expected to create environmental benefits as well as advantages for citizen and businesses – related to commercial as well as emergency use cases. Within the specific context of the standardization of unmanned aerial vehicle operation, in place of other transport methods, the alleviation of the conditions produced by carbon emissions, fossil fuel extraction and urban congestion, amongst others, is well documented. HUSI is working within this framework to create an integrated approach to address mobility and supply chains, testing balanced strategies to face the rising challenges of these two growing sectors and to achieve sustainable development and a better quality of life in the participating cities.

PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE

Citizens’ acceptance and future UAM users’ confidence will be essential to the successful deployment of Urban air Mobility in Europe. Public acceptance of Urban Air Mobility, confidence in interacting with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and positive relationships with the industry and legislative environment is paramount in any plan for successful establishment of an ecosystem of Urban Air Mobility normalisation in Europe. The Institute, its partners and accomplished industry professionals are dedicated to researching current trends in public impressions of unmanned air vehicles and the concept of urban air mobility particularly attitudes amongst different demographics, expectations and concerns of the European public