Advanced Air Mobility 2024

–Loading and unloading passengers or cargo: Urban terminals should ensure interconnectivity between different transportation modes to ease intramodality and enable synergies in the overall transport networks. Transport authorities thereby become key stakeholders to ensure that new AAM infrastructure is well integrated with existing transport infrastructure. This hub role will provide opportunities to revalue the surrounding real estate. These terminals will need to comply with (new) safety and security protocols, while offering a seamless, fast and enjoyable experience to passengers. Vertiports, fulfilling the three previous functions, will not be the only ground infrastructure required for the successful rollout of AAM. To ensure safety, a good network of emergency sites will need to be in place. Other related AAM infrastructure will include vehicle manufacturing, training, as well as maintenance facilities. The main purpose of digital infrastructure is to enable air traffic services. This will require appropriate communication systems, data management and cybersecurity. Public authorities will play an important role in ensuring their availability. –Managing the airspace: Air traffic services and control are responsible for providing seamless airspace operations for all vehicles (even including medical services). While traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems are designed for manned aircraft, the rise of unmanned aerial vehicles necessitates the development of specialized unmanned aircraft systems traffic management (UTM),7 also called U-space8 in Europe. These systems must integrate seamlessly with existing air traffic control frameworks and involve the harmonization and standardization of protocols across different regions, with new requirements for all airspace users, such as aircraft-to-anything systems (A2X). These specialized systems will improve overall airspace efficiency for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and will lead to the emergence of Digital Flight Rules (DFR). –Communicating: Communication systems must accommodate different levels of vehicle automation that need to communicate with one another. To ensure reliable and secure communication infrastructure, while adapting to contextual constraints, a variety of technologies will be implemented such as very high frequency (VHF) radio, satcom (satellite communication) and 5G. –Processing data: Data management is a prerequisite for route planning, terrain mapping and collision avoidance. A vast amount of data from different sources and formats (for instance, radars, global positioning system (GPS) and weather monitoring systems) needs to be processed in real time, ensuring reliable and low-latency data management. Standards and protocols will enable the coexistence of different systems and ensure the ability to communicate between all types of devices (unmanned or piloted). –Securing: Cybersecurity is essential to ensure the safety, reliability and integrity of AAM operations. As the aircraft rely heavily on digital communication, navigation systems and data exchange, they are vulnerable to cyberthreats such as hacking, data breaches and signal interference. Effective cybersecurity measures protect against unauthorized access and control, safeguard sensitive data, and prevent malicious attacks that could compromise the safety of the aircraft, passengers and the public. New business and commercial models need to be implemented among stakeholders to ensure commercial viability of these infrastructure components. To enhance the effectiveness of multistakeholder collaborations, particularly in sectors where participants may not have a background in aviation standards, a comprehensive educational initiative is essential. This programme should aim to bring various stakeholders, including urban real estate developers, digital infrastructure providers and representatives from local governments and emergency services, up to speed on the relevant aviation regulations and standards. In this way, these diverse parties would engage more effectively in discussions and decision-making processes, ensuring that all viewpoints are considered and integrated into the development of common standards. This approach would enhance the overall quality and safety of the undertaken projects. Advanced Air Mobility: Shaping the Future of Aviation 12